In a recent press release, biopharmaceutical company Mirum Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (“Mirum”) shared that the company finished its rolling New Drug Application (NDA) submission. The NDA focuses around maralixibat, an investigational therapy for cholestatic pruritus (intense itching caused by liver disease or damage) in patients with Alagille syndrome. Currently, there are no approved treatments for Alagille syndrome. Thus, if the NDA is accepted, it would meet a huge unmet need for patients.

Maralixibat

Developed by Mirum, maralixibat is an investigational treatment designed for a variety of cholestatic liver disease. Medscape describes cholestasis as:

a decrease or arrest in the flow of bile.

So cholestatic liver diseases are those characterized by issues with the bile ducts or the flow of bile. The drug, taken orally, acts as an ASBT inhibitor. As a result, bile acids are increasingly removed from the body via stool, lowering bile acid levels throughout the body. Maralixibat is designed for patients ages 1+.

The NDA is supported by data from the Phase 2b ICONIC clinical trial, as well as data sourced from additional studies. Within the ICONIC trial, researchers found that maralixibat helped reduce bile acids, itching, and xanthomas, skin lesions containing fat and cholesterol. Additionally, maralixibat also spurred patient growth. While it was fairly well-tolerated, some side effects included abdominal pain and diarrhea.

Maralixibat received Breakthrough Therapy, Orphan Drug, and Rare Pediatric Disease designations. Although it is currently not available for use as a prescription drug, maralixibat is available through the Expanded Access Program. However, pending FDA approval, Mirum hopes to be able to provide maralixibat to patients on a wider scale by the end of 2021.