Thursday, January 17, 2019

北榮 大數據中心: 開發肝癌APP/ 幽門螺旋桿菌4合1的療法


北榮大數據新發現:阿斯匹靈可降3成肝癌風險、幽門桿菌新療法根除率達9 信傳媒 陳稚華 2019114日根據衛福部統計,民國104年肝病死亡人數多達13,000人,約占所有死亡人數8%,甚至高過糖尿病(6%)或高血壓(3%),慢性肝病及肝硬化為全國主要死因的第9位,肝癌則為全國主要癌症死因的第2位。「台灣現在肝癌發生的幾個最主要原因,包括B型肝炎、C型肝炎,C肝目前健保已有大規模的口服藥給付,所以我們預期C肝人數在35年間會大幅減,這樣一來B肝就會是全台致肝癌最主要的原因。」台北榮總醫學研究部轉譯研究科主任、胃腸肝膽科主治醫師吳俊穎這麼說。過去調查發現,死於肝癌的病患中,約70%B型肝炎帶原者、20%為慢性C型肝炎感染者。B肝帶原者若持續有肝炎的發作,有15-20%會發生肝硬化,大大增加肝癌發生率。雖目前健保有給付藥物治療B肝,但目前並沒有單一藥物可以除去B肝病毒並讓患者痊癒。台北榮總醫學研究部主任吳肇卿表示,台灣健保資料庫雖具許多優點,卻也有研究上的限制,像是沒有病歷資料、診斷碼不一定正確、沒有檢驗結果、影像及病理報告等。為解決傳統健保資料庫的不足,北榮在短短9個月內建構完成大數據中心,並於19日正式揭牌啟用,肝癌預測APP也預計在今年內上路使用。吳俊穎指出,北榮大數據研究團隊與台中榮總李騰裕教授合作,研究台灣204,507位慢性B型肝炎患者,發現服用「阿斯匹靈」能有效減少3成肝癌的發生風險,論文發表於全球頂尖美國醫學會內科雜誌(JAMA Internal Med 2019)。「除了我們過去發現的抗病毒藥物(JAMA 2012)、二甲雙胍(Gut 2013)、史達丁藥物(Cell Death Diseases 2017)能減少肝癌發生風險之外,最新的研究更發現阿斯匹靈可以進一步有效減少肝癌之發生。」李俊穎表示。北榮也與美國史丹佛大學合作,分析全世界42,588B型肝炎帶原者,發現B型肝炎的每年陰轉率為1.02%,論文發表於全世界最頂尖的消化學雜誌(Gastroenterology 2018)。「研究發現慢性B型肝炎患者,並非一定終生帶原,平均追蹤10年,有1成多的患者B型肝炎會消失,進而成為終身免疫的狀態。」不過,也有民眾擔心,使用阿斯匹靈是否會產生其他副作用?吳俊穎解釋,「事實上阿斯匹靈在文章中有分析到它的副作用,最常見的包括會增加像腸胃道出血的機會,但其實是在可接受的範圍。」他進一步解釋,若患者本身就有一些消化性潰瘍的問題,目前根據台灣腸胃科的臨床指引,會建議患者加上一些保護胃病的相關藥物,就能減少他出血的機會。

最新幽門桿菌「41療法」:根除率達9 北榮大數據團隊還與英國牛津大學合作,整合全世界100多個臨床試驗,總計分析32,852位患者,以尋找根除幽門螺旋桿菌效果最佳的藥物,論文發表於世界頂尖胃腸道雜誌(Gut 2018)。「我們發現最佳的幽門螺旋桿菌根除療法,優於目前健保給付的幽門螺蜁桿菌治療效果6倍以上,可以顯著減少幽門螺旋桿菌根除失敗的機會。」吳俊穎表示,北榮大數據團隊也發現早期根除幽門螺蜁桿菌,可以有效減少胃癌發生率,「這項研究發表數個月後,改變了日本厚生省的幽門螺旋桿菌根除療法給付政策,並有效降低日本胃癌的發生率。」吳俊穎表示,原本臨床上根除幽門螺旋桿菌傳統健保給付的31的療法,根除率約達8成多,「透過大數據分析後找出41的療法,療程從原本7天拉長為10-14天,但根除率達9成多,失敗率也從18%降為3%!」他認為,這樣的比例差距不只影響個人,跟整個國家的公衛防疫都有關。吳俊穎也指出,台灣幽門桿菌的罹患率可以用自己的年齡減掉5來粗估,「25歲的罹患率大約就是20%50歲年齡層罹患率大約是45%,隨著年紀越高罹患率也增高。有些低密度的淋巴癌等,也跟幽門桿菌有相關。」他也建議有胃癌家族史、消化性潰瘍、胃癌前期病灶的民眾,一定去做幽門螺旋桿菌的篩檢。

「肝癌APP」能預測3年、5年風險 北榮大數據中心與美國史丹佛大學、英國牛津大學、香港中文大學、澳洲新南威爾斯大學、輔大醫院研究部主任許耀峻等合作,希望以人工智慧讓疾病被精準預測。「我們過去發現有將近4成左右肝癌患者,過去完全沒做過任何檢查!」吳俊穎表示,但未來像是透過肝癌APP,可以先初步預測發生肝癌3年、5年的風險,「如果發現該患者肝癌風險特別高,也許可以考慮下次到醫院做電腦斷層、核磁共振等檢查,這樣的診斷敏感度會更高一些。」他也期望透過累積更多臨床經驗,未來大數據根據個人的抽血結果就能給出治療建議,走向「個人化」醫療。

(籌21億元 類固醇治療OA knee大競賽) 台微體TLC599 (Dexamethasone Sodium Phosphate )對上Zilretta


台微體規劃赴美籌資21億元 2019-01-06 23:02經濟日報 記者黃文奇/台北報導 台灣微脂體去年在美國那斯達克(NASDAQ)完成第二上市,今年將利用此次參加JP摩根生醫年會(J.P. Morgan Healthcare Conference)的契機,引進國際關鍵投資人,預期今年中若旗下的利基新藥TLC599TLC590臨床試驗順利,將在美進行上看7,000萬美元(約新台幣21億元)的籌資計畫。葉志鴻表示,該公司手上的現金部位仍足夠未來幾年的營運,但新藥開發時程長,而公司新藥產品正進入關鍵開發階段,籌資除了為了充實營運資金外,也希望能藉此引進好的合作夥伴,一起做大市場。台微體旗下現有兩項開發中的關鍵利基新藥產品,包括抗關節炎疼痛產品TLC599、術後長效止痛藥物TLC590。葉志鴻表示,599目前 完成臨床二期試驗,六個月的持續力,優於主要競爭對手FlexionZilrettadouble Zilretta 12周的效期,599今年將挺進三期,下半年開始收案,而590方面,今年首季將公布臨床一/二期試驗數據。葉志鴻表示,該公司現正針對599的臨床三期試驗,與美國食品藥物管理局(FDA)討論試驗規劃,目前看來進度順利,最快7月可以開始收案,另外,旗下產品生產規劃已經完成,製造上也沒什麼問題,未來取得上市許可後,產品可順利進行商業化的生產。針對599與美國FDA討論臨床三期試驗規劃,葉志鴻表示,第一、FDA官員願意就此藥物與開發公司進行討論,表示當局對該產品的重視,其次、新藥開發若未與FDA討論,就逕送臨床方案,即使FDA未否決該案而做三期,最後可能因未盡符合FDA要求,而須補做其他試驗,更費時間與成本。日前,TLC599在二期試驗上,達成主要評估目標及關健次要評估目標,該產品在121620、及24周的評估指標達成統計上顯著意義,且受試患者用藥後耐受性良好,沒有與治療相關的嚴重不良事件,更完成了多項關健次要評估目標。葉志鴻表示,目前市面上缺乏一個能長效抑制關節炎疼痛的治療方案,TLC599二期臨床試驗結果證實其具備著改變未來市場遊戲規則的潛力,而599試驗主持人David Hunter博士也表示,TLC599一直到為期六個月的評估期結束時還仍然有療效,是他見過的長效緩釋關節注射型藥物裡最長久的。
Zilretta is an extended-release injectable suspension of triamcinolone acetonide, a short-acting corticosteroid. ZIlretta is specifically indicated for the management of osteoarthritis pain of the knee.
About ZILRETTA On October 6, 2017, ZILRETTA was approved by the U.S. FDA as the first and only extended-release intra-articular therapy for patients confronting osteoarthritis-related knee pain. ZILRETTA employs proprietary microsphere technology combining triamcinolone acetonide — a commonly administered, short-acting corticosteroid — with a poly lactic-co-glycolic acid (PLGA) matrix to provide extended pain relief over 12 weeks. The FDA approval of Zilretta was based on a multi-center, international, randomized, double-blind, parallel-arm, placebo- and active-controlled study in subjects with osteoarthritis pain of the knee. A total of 484 patients were treated and followed for up to 24 weeks. A total of 470 patients (97%) completed follow-up to Week 12, the time point for primary efficacy determination, and 443 (91.5%) completed to Week 24. The primary efficacy endpoint comparing Zilretta to placebo was change from baseline at Week 12 in the weekly mean of the Average Daily Pain intensity scores (ADP) as assessed by a 0-10 Numeric Rating Scale (NRS). Zilretta demonstrated a statistically significant reduction in pain intensity at the primary endpoint versus placebo. Zilretta also demonstrated a reduction in pain intensity scores each week from Weeks 1 through 12.
About Osteoarthritis (OA) of the Knee OA, also known as degenerative joint disease, affects more than 30 million Americans and accounts for more than $185 billion in annual expenditures. In 2016, more than 15 million Americans were diagnosed with OA of the knee and the average age of physician-diagnosed knee OA has fallen by 16 years, from 72 in the 1990s to 56 in the 2010s. The prevalence of OA is expected to continue to increase as a result of aging, obesity and sports injuries. Each year, more than 15 million Americans are treated for OA-related knee pain, and approximately five million OA patients receive either an immediate-release corticosteroid or hyaluronic acid intra-articular injection to manage their knee pain.
About Flexion Therapeutics Flexion Therapeutics (Nasdaq:FLXN) is a biopharmaceutical company focused on the development and commercialization of novel, local therapies for the treatment of patients with musculoskeletal conditions, beginning with osteoarthritis, a type of degenerative arthritis. The company's core values are focus, ingenuity, tenacity, transparency and fun. For the past two years, Flexion has been named one of the Best Places to Work by the Boston Business Journal, and Flexion was also recognized as a Top Place to Work in Massachusetts by The Boston Globe in 2017. Flexion Therapeutics, Inc., lead product candidate includes Zilretta, an intra-articular injection for the management of osteoarthritis (OA) pain of the knee. The company also develops FX101 and FX201, which is a pre-clinical stage programs for the treatment OA of large joints. The company was founded in 2007 and is headquartered in Burlington, Massachusetts.

長聖: 臍帶間質幹細胞 運用於 心肌梗塞臨床試驗 (2018/02/08 FDA核准; 2018/09/04 TFDA核准)


長聖 發言日期 108/01/15 發言時間 11:33:34 發言人 李友錚 發言人職稱 副總經理 發言人電話 04-23252888 主旨 澄清媒體報導 符合條款 26 事實發生日 108/01/15 說明 1.傳播媒體名稱:經濟日報C06版及工商時報B05 2.報導日期:108/01/15 3.報導內容經濟日報:(1)...中科三廠占地逾300坪,預計今年下半年完成建置,隨即展開測試運行及查廠(2)...長聖也將正式與醫療機構合作提供細胞製劑,開始挹注營收;據長聖規劃,今年將力拚虧轉盈,並於年底送件申請轉上櫃。(3)...長聖的樹突細胞疫苗(ADCV)已通過美國食品藥物管理局(FDA)的孤兒藥資格的申請,今年也要申請台灣食藥署(TFDA)二期臨床試驗。工商時報:(1)...目前規劃於中科園區設置第3個廠...預計2019年下半年完成建置,即可測試運行及查廠。(2)...長聖的樹突細胞疫苗(ADCV)已通過美國FDA的孤兒藥資格申請,2019年要申請台灣食藥署2期臨床試驗。(3)...長聖幹細胞新藥(UMSC)運用於心肌梗塞方面,2018年通過美國FDA和台灣食藥署的新藥(IND)申請,2019年將進行第1期的臨床試驗。4.投資人提供訊息概要:無。5.公司對該等報導或提供訊息之說明: (1)本公司已於108/01/14與中科管理局完成承租標準廠房之點交,未來建置進度以本公司公告為準。(2)本公司樹突細胞疫苗(ADCV)已符合FDA孤兒藥資格;臍帶間質幹細胞(UMSC)運用於心肌梗塞臨床試驗已於107/02/08取得美國FDA核准可開始進行臨床試驗,並於107/09/04亦取得衛福部核准可開始進行臨床試驗,相關臨床試驗進度以本公司公告為準。(4)媒體報導本公司相關進程之報導,純屬媒體臆測,特此澄清說明。(5)有關公司財務及業務資訊,以「公開資訊觀測站」公告為準。6.因應措施:發佈重大訊息澄清媒體。7.其他應敘明事項:新藥開發時程長、投入經費高且並未保證能一定成功,此等可能使投資面臨風險,投資人應審慎判斷謹慎投資。

Wednesday, January 16, 2019

(美時 藥品開發費 資本化 認定) 韓國金融監督院 函示更正Alvogen Korea 財報


美時製藥 發言日期 108/01/16 發言時間 05:27:33 發言人 沈燁 發言人職稱 副總經理 發言人電話 02-27005908 主旨 重編本公司106年度個體財務報告 符合條款 30 事實發生日 108/01/15 說明 1.事實發生日:108/01/15 2.更正且重編之財務報告年季:民國106105年度個體財務報告 3.發生緣由:韓國金融監督院對南韓生技公司開發藥品所發生費用資本化之會計處理調查案業已終結,管理階層按新發布之資本化規定評估對本公司之韓國孫公司 Alvogen Korea Co., Ltd. 前期財務報告之影響金額非屬重大。惟韓國主管機關來函指示更正韓國孫公司106  105年度財務報告,以提升財務報告之攸關性以及與其他同業財務報告之可比性,韓國孫公司於 108/01/15完成更正。本公司依規定重編民國106105年度個體財務報告。4.主管機關限定更正之日期:不適用 5.與前次公告財務報告之主要差異:(單位:新台幣仟元) 106年資產負債表項目 重編前影響金額重編後採用權益法之投資3,917,435 (40,089) 3,877,346 資產總計9,165,641 (40,089) 9,125,552 待彌補虧損(986,319) (40,571) (1,026,890)其他權益(110,270) 482(109,788) 負債與權益總計9,165,641 (40,089) 9,125,552105年資產負債表項目 重編前 影響金額重編後採用權益法之投資3,970,461 (47,135) 3,923,326 資產總計9,188,400 (47,135) 9,141,265 待彌補虧損(797,548) (49,118) (846,666) 其他權益(283,324) 1,983 (281,341) 負債與權益總計9,188,400 (47,135) 9,141,265106年損益表項目 重編前 影響金額重編後採用權益法之子公司及 107,646  14,106  121,752 關聯企業損益份額 本年度淨利(損)7,685  14,106 21,791 國外營運機構財務報表 182,622 (1,501) 181,121 換算之兌換差額 本年度綜合損益總額 190,734  12,605  203,339105年損益表項目 重編前 影響金額 重編後採用權益法之子公司及92,466 (15,124) 77,342 關聯企業損益份額 本年度淨利(損) (134,041) (15,124) (149,165) 國外營運機構財務報表 (190,497)1,592 (188,905) 換算之兌換差額 本年度綜合損益總額 (368,097) (13,532) (381,629) 6.因應措施:上述重編之民國106105年度個體財務報告委由會計師查核並經董事會通過後重新公告申報 7.其他應敘明事項民國106105年度個體財務報告依原頁次更正內容如下:第1 封面、第2 目錄 3~7 會計師查核報告 8~13 個體財務報表 15 附註二、通過財務報告之日期及程序 15~20 附註三、新發布及修訂準則及解釋之適用 20 附註四、新增()個體財務報表重編之理由及影響 35 附註九、採用權益法之投資 48 附註十八、所得稅 63 附表一、資金貸與他人第64 附表二、為他人背書保證 67 附表五、被投資公司名稱、所在地區等相關資訊 68 附表六、大陸投資資訊 70 明細表一、採權益法之長期股權投資變動明細表 若有補充本公司將另行公告。

景凱JKB-122 (拮抗Toll-Like Receptor 4) Phase II治療Autoimmune hepatitis自體免疫性肝炎: ALT下降>50%達統計顯著效果


景凱 發言日期 108/01/15 發言時間 17:41:59 發言人 袁鴻昌 發言人職稱 總經理 發言人電話 03-6587721 主旨 本公司JKB-122小分子新藥治療自體免疫性肝炎(AIH) 之第二期臨床試驗統計結果 符合條款 43 事實發生日 108/01/15 說明 1.事實發生日:108/01/15 2.公司名稱:景凱生物科技股份有限公司 3.與公司關係(請輸入本公司或聯屬公司):本公司 4.相互持股比例(若前項為本公司,請填不適用):不適用 5.發生緣由:本公司JKB-122小分子新藥治療自體免疫性肝炎(AIH)之第二期臨床試驗評估指標之統計結果。6.因應措施:無。7.其他應敘明事項:一、研發新藥名稱或代號:JKB-122二、用途藉由拮抗Toll-Like Receptor 4 (TLR4)之作用,治療自體免疫性肝炎(AIH)。三、預計進行之所有研發階段:二期臨床試驗、三期臨床試驗及新藥查驗登記審核。四、目前進行中之研發階段:()提出申請/通過核准/不通過核准/各期人體臨床試驗(含期中分析)結果:說明第二期臨床試驗結果如下1.臨床試驗介紹(1)試驗計畫名稱利用JKB-122小分子新藥治療自體免疫性肝炎之第二期臨床試驗。(2)試驗計畫目的主要為評估JKB-122使用於自體免疫性肝炎患者的療效。(3)試驗階段分級第二期臨床試驗。(4)試驗藥物: JKB-122膠囊5毫克(第一週)40毫克(24)(5)宣稱適應症自體免疫性肝炎(6)試驗計畫受試者收納人數美國地區202.評估指標說明及其統計結果及統計上之意義(1)評估指標說明:由於本試驗屬於美國FDA孤兒藥試驗,採用藥量遞增(第一週5毫克至第2440毫克)開放式(open label)試驗,故不採用雙盲及安慰劑組方式。試驗期間進行藥物之有效性以及安全性評估。主要指標為達到麩丙酮酸轉胺脢(ALT)下降>50%或回到正常值;次要指標為麩草醋酸轉胺脢(AST),丙麥胺酸轉移脢(GGT)等生物標記在24周治療後之變化。(2)試驗結果:A.本試驗於主要指標(麩丙酮酸轉胺脢(ALT)下降>50%)達到統計上顯著效果(P=0.004),其中產生效應組(responder group)於第24週與第0週相比,麩丙酮酸轉胺脢(ALT)下降達 -70.0 IU,下降百分比達 -80.6%,產生效應組(responder group)達完成用藥受試者比率31.3%B.產生效應組(responder group)於下述次要指標皆達到統計上顯著效果:a.麩草醋酸轉胺脢(AST)下降達 -32.8 IU,下降百分比達-67.2% (P=0.022)b.丙麥胺酸轉移脢(GGT)下降達 -77.0 IU,下降百分比達-66.8% (P=0.033)C.產生效應組(responder group)於鹼性磷酸脢(ALP)下降達 -17.8 IU,下降百分比達 -29.4%,顯示正向趨勢效果:D.此外,JKB-122用藥安全性皆無疑慮。以上指標下降代表正向效果。(3)單一臨床試驗結果(包含主、次要評估指標之統計學P值及統計學上是否達顯著意義),並不足以充分反映未來新藥開發上市之成敗,投資人應審慎判斷謹慎投資。()未通過目的事業主管機關許可或各期人體臨床試驗(含期中分析)結果未達統計上顯著意義者,公司所面臨之風險及因應措施不適用。()已通過目的事業主管機關許可或各期人體臨床試驗(含期中分析)結果達統計上顯著意義者,未來經營方向:持續進行JKB-122開發計畫。()已投入之累積研發費用因涉及未來國際授權談判資訊,為避免影響授權金額,以及保障投資人權益,暫不揭露。五、將再進行之下一研發階段:()預計完成時間預計2019年第二季向FDA遞出臨床三期試驗申請,其臨床之規劃尚待與FDA討論定案。()預計應負擔之義務:無,本公司自有專利與技術。六、疾病普及率及市場狀況:()依據TechNavio及工研院預估,AIH的市場2015年約在251.7百萬美元,預估2022年將可達700百萬美元。年複合成長率為22.7%()目前AIH並無核准的治療藥物,現行療法主要使用類固醇及免疫抑制劑來控制病情,惟無法根治;患者必須長期服用藥物,並衍生出較多嚴重副作用。()本公司開發模式係以研發為本並對外授權,由未來國際授權對象主導銷售。七、新藥開發時程長、投入經費高且並未保證一定能成功,此等可能使投資面臨風險,投資人應審慎判斷謹慎投資。
A Phase 2, Pilot Study of JKB-122 to Assess Liver Tests (ALT) in Autoimmune Hepatitis (AIH) Patients Who Are Refractory or Intolerant to Current Therapies  This is a Phase 2, pilot study in which JKB-122 is given once daily for 24 weeks to subjects with AIH who have liver enzymes that are 1.25 to 10 times the upper limit of normal (ULN) and who have had a failed response to, incomplete response to, intolerant to, ineligible to or unwilling to take current immunosuppressant therapies. Current immunosuppressant therapy is defined as prednisone or other steroids with or without azathioprine. Failed response is defined as being non-responsive to or worsening in symptoms (elevated Alanine Aminotransferase (ALT)/aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and/or total bilirubin) despite compliance with the standard of care (SOC) over a 6 months period. Incomplete response is defined as lack of a sustained normalization of elevated ALT/AST to current standard of care (SOC) for at least 6 months. "Refractory" to the current therapy includes patients who had a failed response to, or incomplete response to the current therapy. Subjects will be at least 18 years of age, either male or female and will have been on therapy for AIH and have not had a normalization of ALT with the current therapy.


Autoimmune hepatitis: Treatment
Author: Michael A Heneghan, MD, M Med Sc, FRCPI Section Editors: Sanjiv Chopra, MD, MACP Elizabeth B Rand, MD Deputy Editor :Kristen M Robson, MD, MBA, FACG
INDICATIONS FOR TREATMENT — The decision to treat a patient with autoimmune hepatitis is based on the severity of symptoms, the magnitude of the serum aminotransferase and gamma globulin elevations, histologic findings, and the potential for side effects. We treat patients who fulfill any of the following criteria: 
Serum aminotransferase levels greater than 10-fold the upper limit of normal
Serum gamma globulin level greater than twice the upper limit of normal
Serum aminotransferase levels greater than twice the upper limit of normal along with:SymptomsAn elevated gamma globulin level, even if less than twice the upper limit of normalAn elevated conjugated bilirubin levelInterface hepatitis on biopsy
Histologic features of bridging necrosis or multiacinar necrosis
Cirrhosis with any degree of inflammation on biopsy (see 'Cirrhosis' below)
Children (see 'Children' below)Our approach is generally consistent with guidelines from American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases (AASLD) and the British Society of Gastroenterology (BSG). However, it does differ in a few ways. The AASLD guideline only recommends treatment for patients with gamma globulin levels greater than twice the upper limit of normal if the aminotransferases are at least fivefold the upper limit of normal, and does not recommend treatment for patients with gamma globulin levels less than twice the upper limit of normal unless the aminotransferases are greater than 10-fold the upper limit of normal. Our concern with the AASLD approach is that the level of serum aminotransferase or gamma globulin elevation does not correlate perfectly with the degree of histologic injury. In many cases, we have found that therapy may be required when serum aminotransferases or gamma globulin levels are elevated to a lesser degree than suggested by the AASLD guideline. Our approach also differs from the BSG guideline, which recommends treating if the serum aminotransferase levels are greater than fivefold the upper limit of normal, regardless of other criteria for treatment.Treatment may not be required in asymptomatic patients with normal or near-normal serum aminotransferase and gamma globulin levels who have minimal necroinflammatory activity on liver biopsy. Such patients are at a relatively low risk of disease progression. However, it is reasonable to offer treatment to a patient with histologic evidence of interface hepatitis without bridging necrosis or multiacinar necrosis, particularly if the patient is young (age less than 50 years) and is unlikely to have severe side effects related to therapy. Patients who are not treated should be monitored for signs of disease progression. If symptoms develop, if the aminotransferase or gamma globulin levels increase, or if histologic evidence of active disease is seen on follow-up biopsies, treatment should be reconsidered using the above criteria. (See 'Glucocorticoid monotherapy' below and 'Monitoring and follow-up' below.)Treatment is not recommended for patients with cirrhosis and inactive disease (characterized by the absence of inflammatory cells on liver biopsy and normal or near-normal serum aminotransferases) [3,4]. Such patients may be at increased risk for the development of glucocorticoid-related side effects, and the benefit of treatment is uncertain. On the other hand, treatment generally is recommended for patients with cirrhosis and active inflammation. (See 'Cirrhosis' below.)
GENERAL APPROACH TO TREATMENT — Our approach is to begin treatment with glucocorticoid monotherapy (prednisone or prednisolone 60 mg per day followed by a taper to a maintenance dose) in most patients (table 2 and algorithm 1 and algorithm 2). For patients with mild disease (eg, asymptomatic patients with aminotransferase levels <10 times the upper limit of normal), lower-dose prednisone monotherapy (20 mg per day) is an alternative.In patients with moderate to severe disease who are at increased risk for side effects from glucocorticoids (eg, those with brittle diabetes, osteoporosis, emotional lability, a history of psychosis, or poorly controlled hypertension), we will use a combination of lower-dose prednisone (30 mg per day) and azathioprine (50 mg per day) for initial treatment. (See 'Induction therapy' below.)The American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases recommends initial therapy with either glucocorticoid monotherapy or a combination of a glucocorticoid and azathioprine [3], whereas the British Society of Gastroenterology and European Association for the Study of the Liver recommend initial treatment with a glucocorticoid and azathioprine rather than glucocorticoid monotherapy [4,5]. For patients at high risk for glucocorticoid side effects, combination therapy permits administration of lower doses of prednisone. Budesonide may be an alternative to prednisone in these patients, though long-term data on safety and efficacy are lacking. (See 'Glucocorticoid plus azathioprine' below.)Azathioprine is a prodrug of 6-mercaptopurine, and both have been associated with aplastic anemia in patients with no thiopurine methyltransferase (TPMT) enzyme activity (which leads to the preferential production of 6-thioguanine, which results in aplastic anemia) (figure 1). If azathioprine is used, TPMT phenotyping should be obtained prior to initiating treatment. (See "6-mercaptopurine (6-MP) metabolite monitoring and TPMT testing in patients with inflammatory bowel disease", section on 'TPMT phenotyping'.)Subsequent management will depend on how the patient responds to the initial treatment (remission, incomplete response, failed treatment, drug intolerance) and whether the patient relapses if treatment is withdrawn. In some cases, treatment can be withdrawn completely whereas other patients require maintenance therapy. (See 'Subsequent management' below and 'Probability of responding to treatment' below.)
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