Safety and efficacy of HK-660S in patients with primary sclerosing cholangitis: A randomized double-blind phase 2a trial

Background/Aims A clinical unmet need persists for medications capable of modulating the progression of primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC). This study aimed to assess the clinical feasibility of HK-660S (beta-lapachone) in PSC. Methods In this multicenter, randomized, double-blind, placebo-control...

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Main Authors: Woo Hyun Paik, Joo Kyung Park, Moon Jae Chung, Gunn Huh, Ce Hwan Park, Sang Hyub Lee, Heon Se Jeong, Hee Jin Kim, Do Hyun Park
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Korean Association for the Study of the Liver 2025-01-01
Series:Clinical and Molecular Hepatology
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Online Access:http://e-cmh.org/upload/pdf/cmh-2024-0629.pdf
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author Woo Hyun Paik
Joo Kyung Park
Moon Jae Chung
Gunn Huh
Ce Hwan Park
Sang Hyub Lee
Heon Se Jeong
Hee Jin Kim
Do Hyun Park
author_facet Woo Hyun Paik
Joo Kyung Park
Moon Jae Chung
Gunn Huh
Ce Hwan Park
Sang Hyub Lee
Heon Se Jeong
Hee Jin Kim
Do Hyun Park
author_sort Woo Hyun Paik
collection DOAJ
description Background/Aims A clinical unmet need persists for medications capable of modulating the progression of primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC). This study aimed to assess the clinical feasibility of HK-660S (beta-lapachone) in PSC. Methods In this multicenter, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel-group phase 2 trial, participants were assigned in a 2:1 ratio to receive either 100 mg of HK-660S or a placebo twice daily for 12 weeks. The primary outcomes were the reduction in serum alkaline phosphatase (ALP) levels and the percentage of participants showing improvements in PSC severity, as determined by magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography with the Anali score. Secondary endpoints included changes in liver stiffness and adverse events. Results The analysis included 21 patients, 15 receiving HK-660S, and six receiving a placebo. Improvements in the Anali score were observed in 13.3% of the HK-660S group, with no improvements in the placebo group. HK-660S treatment resulted in a 15.2% reduction in mean ALP levels, compared to a 6.6% reduction in the placebo group. A stratified ad-hoc analysis based on baseline ALP levels showed a statistically significant response in the HK-660S group among those with ALP levels greater than twice the upper limit of normal, with a 50% responder rate (P=0.05). Additionally, 26.7% of the HK-660S group showed improvements in the enhanced liver fibrosis score, with no improvements in the placebo group. HK-660S was generally well tolerated. Conclusions HK-660S is well tolerated among patients with PSC and may improve bile duct strictures, decrease serum ALP levels, and reduce liver fibrosis (cris.nih.go.kr, Number KCT0006590).
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spelling doaj-art-cf874a9971a8494fb7dfd9e9fc3546432025-08-20T01:51:21ZengKorean Association for the Study of the LiverClinical and Molecular Hepatology2287-27282287-285X2025-01-0131111913010.3350/cmh.2024.06292045Safety and efficacy of HK-660S in patients with primary sclerosing cholangitis: A randomized double-blind phase 2a trialWoo Hyun Paik0Joo Kyung Park1Moon Jae Chung2Gunn Huh3Ce Hwan Park4Sang Hyub Lee5Heon Se Jeong6Hee Jin Kim7Do Hyun Park8 Department of Internal Medicine and Liver Research Institute, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Medicine, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul, Korea Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Internal Medicine, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea Department of Internal Medicine, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea Department of Internal Medicine, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea Department of Internal Medicine and Liver Research Institute, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea Curome Biosciences Co., Ltd, Seoul, Korea Curome Biosciences Co., Ltd, Seoul, Korea Department of Internal Medicine, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul, KoreaBackground/Aims A clinical unmet need persists for medications capable of modulating the progression of primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC). This study aimed to assess the clinical feasibility of HK-660S (beta-lapachone) in PSC. Methods In this multicenter, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel-group phase 2 trial, participants were assigned in a 2:1 ratio to receive either 100 mg of HK-660S or a placebo twice daily for 12 weeks. The primary outcomes were the reduction in serum alkaline phosphatase (ALP) levels and the percentage of participants showing improvements in PSC severity, as determined by magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography with the Anali score. Secondary endpoints included changes in liver stiffness and adverse events. Results The analysis included 21 patients, 15 receiving HK-660S, and six receiving a placebo. Improvements in the Anali score were observed in 13.3% of the HK-660S group, with no improvements in the placebo group. HK-660S treatment resulted in a 15.2% reduction in mean ALP levels, compared to a 6.6% reduction in the placebo group. A stratified ad-hoc analysis based on baseline ALP levels showed a statistically significant response in the HK-660S group among those with ALP levels greater than twice the upper limit of normal, with a 50% responder rate (P=0.05). Additionally, 26.7% of the HK-660S group showed improvements in the enhanced liver fibrosis score, with no improvements in the placebo group. HK-660S was generally well tolerated. Conclusions HK-660S is well tolerated among patients with PSC and may improve bile duct strictures, decrease serum ALP levels, and reduce liver fibrosis (cris.nih.go.kr, Number KCT0006590).http://e-cmh.org/upload/pdf/cmh-2024-0629.pdfprimary sclerosing cholangitislapachonecholangiopancreatography, magnetic resonancealkaline phosphatasenicotinamide adenine dinucleotide
spellingShingle Woo Hyun Paik
Joo Kyung Park
Moon Jae Chung
Gunn Huh
Ce Hwan Park
Sang Hyub Lee
Heon Se Jeong
Hee Jin Kim
Do Hyun Park
Safety and efficacy of HK-660S in patients with primary sclerosing cholangitis: A randomized double-blind phase 2a trial
Clinical and Molecular Hepatology
primary sclerosing cholangitis
lapachone
cholangiopancreatography, magnetic resonance
alkaline phosphatase
nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide
title Safety and efficacy of HK-660S in patients with primary sclerosing cholangitis: A randomized double-blind phase 2a trial
title_full Safety and efficacy of HK-660S in patients with primary sclerosing cholangitis: A randomized double-blind phase 2a trial
title_fullStr Safety and efficacy of HK-660S in patients with primary sclerosing cholangitis: A randomized double-blind phase 2a trial
title_full_unstemmed Safety and efficacy of HK-660S in patients with primary sclerosing cholangitis: A randomized double-blind phase 2a trial
title_short Safety and efficacy of HK-660S in patients with primary sclerosing cholangitis: A randomized double-blind phase 2a trial
title_sort safety and efficacy of hk 660s in patients with primary sclerosing cholangitis a randomized double blind phase 2a trial
topic primary sclerosing cholangitis
lapachone
cholangiopancreatography, magnetic resonance
alkaline phosphatase
nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide
url http://e-cmh.org/upload/pdf/cmh-2024-0629.pdf
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