GSK PLC (LSE:GSK, NYSE:GSK) has reported positive results from its phase III trial of linerixibat, a drug being tested to treat relentless itching caused by primary biliary cholangitis (PBC).
PBC is a rare autoimmune disease that damages the bile ducts and can lead to liver failure.
One of its most debilitating symptoms is constant itching, which disrupts sleep and quality of life.
The trial, named GLISTEN, showed that linerixibat significantly reduced itching over 24 weeks compared to a placebo.
Participants included patients with moderate to severe symptoms who had tried other treatments or were newly diagnosed.
Kaivan Khavandi, a senior GSK executive, highlighted that linerixibat could become the first global therapy specifically for PBC-related itching, addressing a major unmet need.
Current treatments often have limited effects or poor tolerability.
With PBC cases expected to rise globally, the drug offers hope to thousands of sufferers facing a lack of effective options.