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CompletedNCT05104853Updated Mar 10, 2026

Study to Evaluate the Safety, Tolerability, PDs, and Efficacy of CNP-104 in Subjects With Primary Biliary Cholangitis

A Phase 1/2 interventional study of CNP-104 and Placebo in Primary Biliary Cholangitis, sponsored by COUR Pharmaceutical Development Company, Inc.. Completed at 19 sites in United States. Open to participants aged 18 Years to 75 Years. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2026-03-10.

Sponsored by COUR Pharmaceutical Development Company, Inc. · Phase 1/2, Interventional, and Treatment

Phase
Phase 1/2
Study type
Interventional
Enrollment
42
Allocation
Randomized
Ages
18 Years to 75 Years
Sex
All
01

Study summary

This study is a Phase 2a First-in-Human (FIH) clinical trial to assess the safety, tolerability, pharmacodynamics (PD), and efficacy of multiple ascending doses of CNP-104. The study consists of a 120 day primary study followed by a 20 month long-term safety and durability of response follow-up period.

Read the detailed description

Subjects ages 18-75 with primary biliary cholangitis will be screened up to 14 days prior to enrollment into the study. Screening will be completed to assess eligibility, obtain vital signs, collect laboratory samples and PD measurements, and to receive a FibroScan for liver fibrosis. Subjects will additionally complete an initial PBC-40 assessment and begin an Itch Diary, a questionnaire and scoring system to be completed by the patient every morning and evening through Day 120 and then monthly through end of study.

Subjects who meet all inclusion and no exclusion criteria after completing the screening visit will be enrolled in the study. Subjects will be randomized on Day 1 in a 1:1 ratio to receive either CNP-104 or Placebo (0.9% Sodium Chloride USP) by intravenous (IV) infusion. Subjects will be administered CNP-104 or Placebo on Day 1 and on Day 8. This study was originally designed with 2 cohorts, Cohort 1 comprised of 6 subjects randomized 1:1 to placebo or 4 mg/kg, and Cohort 2 comprised of up to 34 subjects randomized 1:1 to placebo or 8 mg/kg. Under Protocol Amendment 6 (v7.0), the remaining subjects for Cohort 2 (approximately 16) will be randomized 1:3:1 to placebo, 4 mg/kg, and 8 mg/kg respectively.

Subjects will remain in the clinic on Day 1 and Day 8 from the time of admission (prior to administration of CNP-104 or Placebo) through the final procedure conducted 4 hours post-dose that same day unless an infusion reaction, or other adverse event, requires an extended duration of monitoring. Subjects will be discharged if safety parameters are acceptable to the investigator.

Seven days after the second administration of CNP-104 or Placebo, subjects must return to the clinic for collection of safety labs, PD measurements, and assessment of AEs and medication changes.

Subjects will continue to be followed for 2 years to assess safety, pharmacodynamics, and immunogenicity during the Post-Dosing period.

02

Conditions studied

  • Primary Biliary Cholangitis
03

In context

Liver Cirrhosis, Biliary

208 studies on the registry are indexed under Liver Cirrhosis, Biliary; 44 are open to participants now.

This study's enrollment of 42 is below the median of 60 across 150 interventional studies indexed under Liver Cirrhosis, Biliary.

Browse Liver Cirrhosis, Biliary studies →

Lead sponsor

COUR Pharmaceutical Development Company, Inc. is the lead sponsor of 5 studies on the registry; 1 is open to participants now.

Counted across the registry records on this site, refreshed daily.

04

Who can participate

Ages eligible
18 Years to 75 Years
Sexes eligible
All
Accepts healthy volunteers
No

Inclusion criteria

  1. Subjects who are willing and able to provide Institutional Review Board (IRB) approved written informed consent and privacy language as per national regulations.
  2. Men and non-pregnant women, ages 18-75 years inclusive.
  3. Subjects with a PBC diagnosis as demonstrated by the presence of 2 or more of the following 3 diagnostic factors:

    1. Alkaline phosphatase > 1.5× ULN for at least 6 months
    2. Positive AMA titer or, if AMA negative or in low titer (\<1:40), positive PBC-specific antibodies (anti-GP210 and/or anti-SP100 and/or antibodies against the major M2 components [PDC-E2, 2-oxo-glutaric acid dehydrogenase complex])
    3. Liver biopsy findings consistent with PBC
  4. Subjects who are unresponsive to UDCA and/or OCA after 6 months of treatment at a stable dose as measured by ALP > 1.5× ULN.
  5. For subjects on any medication used to treat the symptoms of PBC (ex. UDCA, OCA, seladelpar), subjects must be on a stable dose for a minimum of 3 months prior to enrollment and must agree not to change their dose through study Day 60 unless reviewed by the medical monitor and approved by the site investigator.
  6. Subjects with ALP > 1.5× ULN.
  7. Subjects with AST and ALT \< 5× ULN.
  8. Subjects with hemoglobin ≥ 10 g/dL.
  9. Subjects with total bilirubin \< 2× ULN.
  10. Men and women of child-bearing potential (WOCBP) must agree to practice a highly effective method of contraception that may include, but is not limited to, abstinence, sex only with persons of the same sex, monogamous relationship with vasectomized partner, vasectomy, hysterectomy, bilateral tubal ligation, licensed hormonal methods, intrauterine device (IUD) beginning at the time of screening through Day 90.
  11. Female subjects who agree not to donate ova starting at initial screening and through Day 90.
  12. Male subjects who agree to not donate sperm starting at screening and through Day 90.

Exclusion criteria

Exclusion Criteria:

  1. Subjects with a Class B or Class C Child-Pugh score.
  2. Subjects with concomitant liver diseases including chronic viral hepatitis B or C, autoimmune hepatitis, PSC, alcoholic liver disease, Wilson's disease, hemochromatosis, or Gilbert's syndrome.
  3. Subjects who have previously undergone liver transplantation.
  4. Subjects with decompensated liver disease as defined by the presence or history of any of the following:

    • MELD score > 15
    • Hepatic encephalopathy
    • Ascites
    • Hepatorenal syndrome or serum creatinine > 2 mg/dL
    • Total Bilirubin > 3.0 mg/dL
    • INR >1.8 unless on anticoagulation such as Coumadin
    • History of variceal hemorrhage
  5. Subjects with a history of cerebrovascular accident in the past 12 months.
  6. Subjects with history of myocardial infarction, as defined by any of the following criteria:

    • Development of pathological Q waves with or without symptoms
    • Imaging evidence of a region of loss of viable myocardium that is thinned and fails to contract, in the absence of a non-ischemic cause
    • Pathological findings of a healed or healing myocardial
  7. Subjects with chronic kidney disease, as defined by estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) \< 60 mL/min/1.73 m2 for at least 3 months (per CKD EPI Equation - 2021).
  8. Subjects with uncontrolled diabetes, as defined by HbA1c > 7%.
  9. Subjects who have used the following medications:

    • Methotrexate within 90 days of screening.
    • Immunotherapy drugs unless approved by the medical monitor.
  10. Subjects with a history of tuberculosis or positive PPD skin test.
  11. Subjects who have received administration of any live vaccine (other than intranasal Influenza) within 28 days or subunit vaccine within 14 days prior to screening or are planning to receive any vaccination before Day 90.
  12. Subjects who have used systemic steroids within 3 months prior to screening.
  13. Subjects with laboratory test results at screening or prior to study dosing that are outside the normal limits and considered by the Investigator to be clinically significant.

    Note: This criterion does not apply to liver function tests. Additionally, clinically significant laboratory test results at screening that are related to the condition (PBC) are acceptable as long as all inclusion and no other exclusion criteria are met.

  14. Subjects with positive test results for hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg), hepatitis C virus (HCV) antibody, or human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) antigen/antibody as determined at screening.
  15. Subjects with a history of or currently active immune disorders other that PBC (including autoimmune disease) unless the condition, after discussion with the Medical Monitor, has been deemed to be acceptable for the subject's participation in this study.
  16. Subjects with a history of or current active diseases requiring immunosuppressive drugs (including azathioprine, prednisone, prednisolone, budesonide, cyclosporine, tacrolimus, methotrexate, or mycophenolate mofetil) unless the condition, after discussion with the Medical Monitor, has been deemed to be acceptable for the subject's participation in this study.
  17. Subjects with a clinical history of significant cardiovascular disease as determined by the Investigator.
  18. Subjects with a complication or medical history of malignancy within past 5 years which, in the Investigator's opinion, makes the subject unsuitable for study participation.
  19. Subjects who, in the Investigator's opinion, will be unable to adhere to study procedures.
  20. Subjects who have received an investigational therapy other than CNP-104 within 28 days or 5 half-lives, whichever is longer, prior to screening.
  21. Subjects with any condition which, in the Investigator's opinion, makes the subject unsuitable for study participation.
  22. Known sensitivity to any components of CNP-104.
05

Study design

Phase
Phase 1 / Phase 2
Primary purpose
Treatment
Allocation
Randomized
Intervention model
Sequential assignment
Masking
Double (Participant, Investigator)
Enrollment
42 participants (actual)

Study arms

  • Experimental
    4 mg/Kg CNP-104

    200 mL intravenous infusion on Day 1 and Day 8: 4 mg/Kg CNP-104

    Drug: CNP-104

  • Experimental
    8 mg/Kg CNP-104

    200 mL intravenous infusion on Day 1 and Day 8: 8 mg/Kg CNP-104

    Drug: CNP-104

  • Placebo comparator
    Placebo

    200 mL intravenous infusion on Day 1 and Day 8: Placebo

    Drug: Placebo

Interventions

  • DrugCNP-104

    CNP-104 is comprised of PDC-E2 peptide dispersed within a negatively charged polymer matrix of poly (lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) particles at a target concentration of \~1 μg of PDC-E2 peptide per mg of PLGA particles.

  • DrugPlacebo

    CNP-104 Placebo

06

What researchers measure

Primary outcomes

  1. Frequency of Adverse Events (AEs) and Serious Adverse Events (SAEs)

    Frequency tables will be presented by treatment group for all AEs and SAEs by System Organ Class (SOC) and Preferred Term (PT). Frequency tables will also be produced by treatment group for AEs leading to discontinuation from TP and study, by severity, and by causality. No formal statistical testing will be done

    Time frame: through Study Completion, an average of 720 Days

  2. Laboratory safety assessments (hematology, serum chemistry, coagulation panel, urinalysis).

    Frequency tables of each assessment abnormalities by grade and treatment will be presented. No formal statistical testing will be done.

    Time frame: through Study Completion, an average of 720 Days

  3. Serum Cytokines (TNF-α, IL-4, IL-6, IL-10, IL-1β, MCP-1, MIP-1α, IFN-γ)

    Frequency tables will be presented by treatment group. No formal statistical testing will be done

    Time frame: through CNP-Dosing Period, an average of 15 Days

Secondary outcomes

  1. To assess the change from baseline in Serum Alkaline Phosphatase (ALP) levels, for safety only

    Change from baseline in ALP levels at Day 60 and Day 720

    Time frame: through Visit 6, an average of 60 Days and Visit 16, an average of 720 Days

  2. To assess the change from baseline in AMA

    Change from baseline in AMA between placebo and CNP-104 at Day 90 and Day 720

    Time frame: through Visit 7, an average of 90 Days and Visit 16, an average of 720 Days

  3. To assess the change from baseline in liver fibrosis by FibroScan

    Change from baseline in liver fibrosis by FibroScan between placebo and CNP-104 at Day 90 and Day 720

    Time frame: through Visit 7, an average of 90 Days and Visit 16, an average of 720 Days

  4. To assess the change from baseline in modified PBC-40 score

    Change from baseline in modified PBC-40 score between placebo and CNP-104 at Day 60 and Day 720

    Time frame: through Visit 6, an average of 60 Days and Visit 16, an average of 720 Days

  5. To assess the change from baseline in Weekly Mean Itch Score

    Change from baseline in Weekly Mean Itch Score between placebo and CNP-104 at Day 60 and Day 720

    Time frame: through Visit 6, an average of 60 Days and Visit 16, an average of 720 D

  6. To assess the change from baseline in liver enzymes (Albumin, Bilirubin (total and direct), ALT, AST, GGT)

    Change from baseline in liver enzymes at Days 60 and 720

    Time frame: through Visit 6, an average of 60 Days and Visit 16, an average of 720 Days

  7. To assess the change in antigen specific CD4+ and CD8+ T cells

    Change from baseline in antigen specific CD4+ and CD8+ T at Days 60 and 720

    Time frame: through Visit 6, an average of 60 Days and Visit 16, an average of 720 Days

07

Study locations

19 sites
  • Southern California Research Center
    Coronado, California 92118, United States
  • OM Research
    Lancaster, California 93534, United States
  • University of California Davis Health
    Sacramento, California 95817, United States
  • Peak Gastroenterology Associates
    Colorado Springs, Colorado 80907, United States
  • Yale School of Medicine
    New Haven, Connecticut 06520, United States
  • University of Florida - Hepatology Research
    Gainesville, Florida 32610, United States
  • Mayo Clinic Florida
    Jacksonville, Florida 32224, United States
  • Florida Research Institute
    Lakewood Rch, Florida 34211-4930, United States
  • GI PROS Research
    Naples, Florida 34102, United States
  • Cleveland Clinic - Florida
    Weston, Florida 33331, United States
  • Digestive Healthcare of Georgia
    Atlanta, Georgia 30309, United States
  • University of Chicago Medical Center
    Chicago, Illinois 60637, United States
  • Massachusetts General Hospital
    Boston, Massachusetts 02114, United States
  • Henry Ford Health System
    Novi, Michigan 48377, United States
  • Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis
    St Louis, Missouri 63110, United States
  • Montefiore Medical Center
    The Bronx, New York 10467, United States
  • Duke University Medical Center
    Durham, North Carolina 27710, United States
  • Texas Liver Institute
    San Antonio, Texas 78215, United States
  • University of Virginia
    Charlottesville, Virginia 22903, United States
08

References and documents

Publications

  • Klatzkow H, Bhavsar-Burke I, Pearson M, Wentworth BJ. Primary Biliary Cholangitis in 2025: A New Frontier. Am J Gastroenterol. 2025 Dec 1;120(12):2746-2749. doi: 10.14309/ajg.0000000000003559. Epub 2025 May 29. No abstract available. PubMed 40439725 ↗

Individual participant data

Plan to share: No

09

Updates

Tracking since Sep 25, 2026
No changes since tracking began. The registry record was last updated on Mar 10, 2026, before this site started recording changes on Sep 25, 2026. Its history is on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗
10

Registry details

Key details

Study ID
NCT05104853
Lead sponsor
COUR Pharmaceutical Development Company, Inc.
Responsible party
Sponsor
First posted
Nov 3, 2021
Start date
Jan 25, 2022
Primary completion
Jan 30, 2026
Completion
Jan 30, 2026
Last update
Mar 10, 2026

Study contacts

Christopher Bowlus, MD
principal investigator · UC Davis

Oversight

Data monitoring committee
Yes
FDA-regulated drug
Yes
FDA-regulated device
No
View the source record on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗

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This study is completed, as verified in Mar 2026. You cannot join it, but the record below documents what was studied.

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