TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to the field of medicine, in particular the treatment of cholestatic diseases, and more specifically PBC and/or PSC.

BACKGROUND

The present invention is dedicated to cholestasis or cholestatic diseases, also mainly characterized by two distinct pathologies: PBC (Primary Biliary Cholangitis, previously named Primary Biliary Cirrhosis (Beuers et al, 2015)) and/or PSC (Primary Sclerosing Cholangitis).

Cells in the liver produce bile, which passes through ducts within the liver to the gallbladder. Bile is a digestive liquid that is made in the liver. It travels through the bile ducts to the gallbladder and the small intestine, where it helps digest fats and fatty vitamins.

Cholestasis is a condition that results from an impairment of bile formation or bile flow to the gallbladder and duodenum (first section of the small intestine). The effects of cholestasis are profound and widespread, leading to worsening liver disease and systemic illness, liver failure, and the need for liver transplantation.

Cholestasis may be classified as intrahepatic or extrahepatic. Intrahepatic cholestasis primarily involves the bile canaliculi and the intrahepatic bile ducts. Extrahepatic cholestasis involves the extrahepatic ducts, the common hepatic duct or the common bile duct.

Primary Biliary Cholangitis, or PBC, is a chronic inflammatory intrahepatic, or long-term, liver disorder that slowly destroys the small-to-medium-sized bile ducts (tube-like structures that carry bile) within the liver. In patients with PBC, the bile ducts are destroyed by inflammation. This causes bile to remain in the liver, where gradual injury damages liver cells and causes cirrhosis, or scarring of the liver.

PBC is considered as a rare disease, with a prevalence of 40 cases per 100000. The diagnosis of PBC is typically established between the ages of 30 and 60 years. PBC develops in all races, and 90% of cases occur in women. The disease accounts for 2 to 3% of deaths due to cirrhosis (Boonstra et al, 2012; Zetterman, 2015).

Primary Biliary Cholangitis (PBC) was previously named Primary Biliary Cirrhosis, but health officials from around the world have overwhelmingly supported changing the name of Primary Biliary Cirrhosis to Primary Biliary Cholangitis. Since cirrhosis occurs only in the late stage, the name primary biliary cirrhosis is actually a misnomer for patients in the earlier stages of the illness. Changing the name to primary biliary cholangitis will better serve patients and the medical community worldwide (Beuers et al, 2015).

Although genetic or environmental factors are associated with the risk of PBC, the causes are still unknown, and most experts consider PBC as an autoimmune disease.

PBC advances slowly. Many patients lead active and productive lives for more than 10 to 15 years after diagnosis. Patients who show no symptoms at the time of diagnosis often remain symptom-free for years. Patients who have normal liver tests on treatment may have a normal life expectancy. PBC is a chronic illness and may lead to life-threatening complications, especially after cirrhosis develops.

The first signs being a generalized fatigue (in 70% of cases) and the appearance of pruritus and itching. However, most of the patients are asymptomatic in the early stage of the disease. The diagnosis is established by standard biomedical analyses including the measurement of anti-mitochondrial antibodies (AMAs, which reflect the autoimmune character), and liver enzymes such as alkaline phosphatase.

Ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA) and Obeticholic acid (OCA) are the only therapies approved by the FDA for the treatment of PBC (Purohit & Cappell, 2015). UDCA is the first line therapy for PBC but is efficient in only 60% of patients. The other 40% respond weakly or not at all to the treatment, and are therefore at high risk of developing cirrhosis, liver insufficiency, and ultimately requiring a liver transplantation.

Primary Sclerosing Cholangitis (PSC) is a chronic, or long-term, disease that slowly damages the extra- and intrahepatic bile ducts. In patients with PBC, the bile ducts are destroyed by inflammation, and in patients with PSC, they become blocked due to inflammation and deteriorating. In both cases, this causes bile to accumulate in the liver, where it gradually damages liver cells and causes cirrhosis, or damage of the liver.

As described for PBC, the cause is still unknown but the immune system is believed to play a major role. About 70 percent of patients are men. It may be related to bacterial or viral infections, as well as problems in the immune system. Genetic factors may also play a role. PSC is considered an uncommon disease, but recent studies suggest that it may be more common than previously thought. This disease is often associated with inflammatory diseases of the intestine such as hemorrhagic rectocolitis, and accounts for 40% of liver abnormalities related with this disease.

It is a rare disease that affects predominantly men (70% of the patients) with an estimated prevalence of 1 to 5 cases per 10 000 persons.

PSC advances very slowly. Many patients may have the disease for years before symptoms develop. Symptoms may remain at a stable level, they may come and go, or they may progress gradually. Liver failure may occur 10-15 years after diagnosis, but this may take even longer for some PSC patients. Many people with PSC will ultimately need a liver transplant, typically about 10 years after being diagnosed with the disease. PSC may also lead to bile duct cancer. Endoscopy and MRI tests may be done to monitor the disease.

Many people with PSC do not get symptoms, especially in the early stages of the disease. When symptoms do occur the most common are fatigue, pruritus, or itching of the skin, and jaundice, a yellowing of the skin and eyes. These symptoms may come and go, but they may worsen over time. As the disease continues, the bile ducts may become infected, which can lead to episodes of fever, chills and abdominal pain.

Because many PSC patients have no symptoms, the disease is often discovered through abnormal results on routine liver blood tests. The diagnosis will be completed based on a combination of biochemical, histological and imaging analyses. Formal diagnosis is usually made by cholangiography, an X-ray test involving injection of dye into the bile ducts, or by a MRI.

Although UDCA treatment may be beneficial for some patients, there is currently no therapy that significantly reduces the risk of death or the need for liver transplantation, which still remains the only solution for patient survival.

The need for novel therapeutic options for the management of cholestatic diseases, in particular PSC and/or PBC, is still clear and urgent.

Elafibranor is being developed by Genfit for the treatment of non-alcoholic steatohepatitis. The present inventors herein show that the profile of Elafibranor also makes it a therapeutic asset for the treatment of PBC.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

A clinical study has surprisingly shown that the treatment of patients with 1-[4-methylthiophenyl]-3-[3,5-dimethyl-4-carboxydimethylmethyloxyphenyl]prop-2-en-1-one (Elafibranor, formerly called GFT505) provides a relevant reduction of biochemical markers in the plasma, demonstrating that this compound is advantageous for the treatment of cholestatic diseases.

The present invention relates to elafibranor for use for the treatment of a cholestatic disease.

The present invention also provides the use of elafibranor in the preparation of a pharmaceutical composition for treating a cholestatic disease.

In a further embodiment, the present invention also discloses the use of elafibranor in the manufacture of a medicament for treating a cholestatic disease.

The present invention further relates to a method for treating a cholestatic disease in a subject in need thereof, comprising administering a therapeutic effective amount of elafibranor, in particular thereby inducing a reduction in cholestasis.

In a particular embodiment of the invention, elafibranor is administered at a dose varying between 0.01 mg and 1 g per administration, preferentially from 1 mg to 150 mg per administration, and more preferably from 70 mg to 130 mg. In a particular embodiment, elafibranor is administered once a day. In another particular embodiment, elafibranor is administered once a day at a dose of 80 or 120 mg.

The invention also provides a pharmaceutical composition comprising compound elafibranor for use for treating a cholestatic disease.

According to the invention, the pharmaceutical composition may be formulated in the form of injectable suspensions, gels, oils, pills, tablets, suppositories, powders, gel caps, capsules, aerosols or means of galenic forms or devices assuring a prolonged and/or slow release.

In particular, the pharmaceutical composition comprises compound elafibranor and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier and/or excipient.

In another embodiment of the invention, the invention also discloses a kit for treating a cholestatic disease or for use for treating a cholestatic disease, the kit comprising elafibranor.

According to the present invention, the disclosed method, compound, uses, composition or kit concern the treatment of a cholestatic disease preferably selected in the group consisting in Primary Biliary Cholangitis, Primary Sclerosing Cholangitis, Intrahepatic Cholestasis of Pregnancy, Progressive Familial Intrahepatic Cholestasis, Biliary atresia, Cholelithiasis, Infectious Cholangitis, Cholangitis associated with Langerhans cell histiocytosis, Alagille syndrome, Nonsyndromic ductal paucity, Drug-induced cholestasis, and Total parenteral nutrition-associated cholestasis.

In a preferred embodiment, the cholestatic disease is PBC or PSC.

In another preferred embodiment, the cholestatic disease is PBC.

