Assessing brodalumab in the treatment of primary sclerosing cholangitis (SABR-PSC pilot study): Protocol for a single-arm, multicentre, pilot study

Elzubeir, Amera, High, Juliet ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2555-2349, Hammond, Matthew ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0739-3412, Shepstone, Lee, Pond, Martin ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2725-3430, Walmsley, Martine, Trivedi, Palak, Culver, Emma, Aithal, Guruprasad, Dyson, Jessica, Thorburn, Douglas, Alexandre, Leo and Rushbrook, Simon (2025) Assessing brodalumab in the treatment of primary sclerosing cholangitis (SABR-PSC pilot study): Protocol for a single-arm, multicentre, pilot study. BMJ Open Gastroenterology, 12 (1). pp. 1-13. ISSN 2054-4774

[thumbnail of e001596.full]
Preview
PDF (e001596.full) - Published Version
Available under License Creative Commons Attribution Non-commercial.

Download (1MB) | Preview

Abstract

Introduction Primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC) is a rare immune-mediated hepatobiliary disease, characterised by progressive biliary fibrosis, cirrhosis, and end-stage liver disease. As yet, no licensed pharmacological therapy exists. While significant advancements have been made in our understanding of the pathophysiology, the exact aetiology remains poorly defined. Compelling evidence from basic science and translational studies implicates the role of T helper 17 cells (Th17) and the interleukin 17 (IL-17) pro-inflammatory signalling pathway in the pathogenesis of PSC. However, exploration of the safety and efficacy of inhibiting the IL-17 pathway in PSC is lacking. Methods and analysis This is a phase 2a, open-label, multicentre pilot study, testing the safety of brodalumab, a recombinant human monoclonal antibody that binds with high affinity to interleukin-17RA, in adults with PSC. This study will enrol 20 PSC patients across five large National Health Service tertiary centres in the UK. The primary outcome of the study relates to determining the safety and feasibility of administering brodalumab in early, non-cirrhotic PSC patients. Secondary efficacy outcomes include non-invasive assessment of liver fibrosis, changes in alkaline phosphatase values and other liver biochemical readouts, assessment of biliary metrics through quantitative MR cholangiography+, and quality of life evaluation on completion of follow-up (using the 5D-itch tool, the PSC-patient-reported outcome and PSC-specific Chronic Liver Disease Questionnaire). Ethics and dissemination Ethical approval for this study has been obtained from the London Bridge Research Ethics Committee (REC23/LO/0718). Written informed consent will be obtained from all trial participants prior to undertaking any trial-specific examinations or investigations. On completion of the study, results will be submitted for publication in peer-reviewed journals and presented at national and international hepatology meetings. A summary of the findings will also be shared with participants and PSC communities.

Item Type: Article
Uncontrolled Keywords: autoimmune biliary disease,autoimmune liver disease,liver,primary sclerosing cholangitis,gastroenterology ,/dk/atira/pure/subjectarea/asjc/2700/2715
Faculty \ School: Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences > Norwich Medical School
UEA Research Groups: Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences > Research Centres > Metabolic Health
Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences > Research Groups > Norwich Clinical Trials Unit
Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences > Research Centres > Population Health (former - to 2025)
Faculty of Science > Research Groups > Norwich Epidemiology Centre
Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences > Research Groups > Norwich Epidemiology Centre
Faculty of Science > Research Groups > Statistics
Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences > Research Groups > Health Services and Primary Care
Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences > Research Groups > Epidemiology and Public Health
Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences > Research Groups > Gastroenterology and Gut Biology
Related URLs:
Depositing User: LivePure Connector
Date Deposited: 02 Jul 2026 09:03
Last Modified: 02 Jul 2026 09:03
URI: https://ueaeprints.uea.ac.uk/id/eprint/103596
DOI: 10.1136/bmjgast-2024-001596

Downloads

Downloads per month over past year

Actions (login required)

View Item View Item