SABR-PSC Clinical Trial Results
SABR-PSC: New trial results for brodalumab in primary sclerosing cholangitis
Chief Investigator: Dr Amera Elzubeir
What is the SABR-PSC study?
SABR-PSC was a small scale, early-phase pilot (first step) study, undertaken to find out if a medication called brodalumab, which blocks a specific chemical messenger called IL-17 in the immune system to reduce inflammation, was safe, acceptable and practical to give to people with PSC. Dr Elzubeir also looked for early signs that it might help liver health.
What was the goal of SABR-PSC?
The main goal was to test safety, not to prove the drug works as a cure yet. Dr Amera Elzubeir wanted to see if brodalumab, which is already used to treat the skin condition psoriasis, could safely reduce inflammation and scarring in the liver without causing problems in the bowel.
Who took part in the SABR-PSC trial?
The study included a small group of patients with large duct PSC. Most participants were men in their 30s or 40s, and half of them also had ulcerative colitis. It was important that their bowel disease was ‘quiet’ (not in a flare-up) before they started.
How was brodalumab taken?
Participants received brodalumab as an injection under the skin. They had eight injections over 13 weeks: one every week for the first three weeks, and then one every other week. They were then followed for a total of six months.
What were the results of the SABR-PSC trial?
- Safety: Brodalumab appeared to be safe and well tolerated by participants for the full 13 weeks of treatment. Reported side-effects were mostly mild, such as tiredness or sore throat. There were no new liver safety worries during the study.
- Liver Health: Most participants showed either stable results or improvements in liver blood tests and/or non-invasive tests (for example Fibroscan, which measures liver stiffness), used to assess inflammation and scarring in the liver.
- Bowel Health: A major concern with this type of drug is whether it could cause a flare-up of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). The study found no new cases of IBD and no flare-ups in patients who already had it.
What are the next steps for this research?
Because this small study showed the drug is safe, the researchers believe it is worth doing a larger trial. This next phase would likely include more patients (over 100) from different hospitals and might test a higher dose of the medicine to see if it can produce even better results for the liver.
Turning Ambition into Action in 2026:
Our Fortnight in Focus
At PSC Support, we want a world without PSC. We work tirelessly behind the scenes to drive research and improve lives. Here is a snapshot of what we've been up to:
Organisational excellence: We simplified our personal data consent process and streamlined how we record patient stories to ensure that the lived experiences of our community are captured accurately and securely to inform future work.
Progressing Research: We coordinated a series of upcoming meetings with international researchers and pharmaceutical companies, which supports better informed decisions for people with PSC, research, or care. This groundwork helps keep PSC research focused on the primary needs of the patient community.
Progressing Research: We reviewed and contributed to scientific abstracts and posters for the upcoming EASL international liver congress, which strengthens the quality of future research for people with PSC, research, or care.
Progressing Research: We engaged with the MHRA to prepare for the upcoming national consultation on rare disease therapies, representing PSC patients in the wider community. Maintaining this direct dialogue ensures our organisation is prepared to respond formally and protect the interests of those living with PSC
Improving Care: We presented about what it is really like to live with PSC to gastroenterologists This first-hand insight equips healthcare professionals to better understand the day-to-day challenges of PSC.
Income Generation: We secured a place in the prestigious Big Give Small Charity Week match-funding campaign, so that we can maximise future donations from our supporters as every donation between 22 and 29 June will be doubled!
Progressing Research: We recruiting for a research and advocacy officer to expand our core team. This additional capacity ensures we can better support scientific studies and represent the patient voice at every level.