Primary Sclerosing Cholangitis (PSC)

PSC is a complex, multifactorial disease that has no treatment options

PSC is a rare, chronic cholestatic liver disease with a high incidence of liver-related morbidity and mortality. It is characterized by intrahepatic or extrahepatic bile duct injury, or both. Progressive inflammation and fibrosis of the bile ducts may lead to cirrhosis, portal hypertension, cancer, and ultimately liver failure.

Greater than 50% of PSC patients need liver transplantation within 10 to 15 years of diagnosis.1 As such, PSC is one of the most common causes for liver transplantation in the US and the leading indication in several other countries worldwide. In the absence of liver transplantation, median survival from diagnosis is estimated to be about 20 years.

Although the origination of PSC is not clear, it involves gut bacteria imbalance, alterations in bile acid metabolism, and immune-mediated bile duct injury.

Tackling a vital medical need for patients with PSC

There are currently no FDA approved treatments for PSC. HighTide’s goals of treatment should be to slow, stop or reverse disease progression and improve clinical outcomes. To that end, we are committed to developing a truly disease-modifying therapy for patients suffering from this devastating disease.

Reference
1. Hirschfield GM, Karlsen TH, Lindor KD, Adams DH. Primary sclerosing cholangitis. Lancet. 2013;382(9904):1587-99.