Odevixibat is synthesized through chemical modification of Benzothiazepine's structure. It is a tiny chemical that inhibits the ileal
bile acid transporter and is used to treat a variety of cholestatic illnesses, including
progressive familial intrahepatic cholestasis (PFIC). For cholestatic
pruritus and
liver disease development,
bile acid transporter inhibition is a unique treatment strategy.
Odevixibat reduces enteric
bile acid reuptake. Oral
odevixibat was also studied in children with cholestatic
liver disease.
Odevixibat received its first approval in the European Union (EU) in July 2021 for the treatment of PFIC in patients aged 6 months, followed by approval in the USA in August 2021 for the treatment of
pruritus in PFIC patients aged 3 months.
Bile acids in the distal ileum can be reabsorbed by the ileal
sodium/bile acid cotransporter, a transport
glycoprotein.
Odevixibat is a
sodium/
bile acid co-transporter reversible inhibitor. An average 3 mg once-daily dose of
odevixibat for a week resulted in a 56% reduction in the area under the curve of
bile acid. A daily dose of 1.5 mg resulted in a 43% decrease in the area under the curve for
bile acid.
Odevixibat is also being evaluated in many countries for the treatment of other cholestatic illnesses, including
Alagille syndrome and
biliary atresia. This article reviews the updated information on
odevixibat with respect to its clinical pharmacology, mechanism of action, pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, metabolism,
drug-drug interactions, pre-clinical studies, and clinical trials.