Obeticholic Acid (OCA)

Obeticholic acid, is a semi-synthetic bile acid analogue which has the chemical structure 6α-ethyl-chenodeoxycholic acid. It has also been known as INT-747. It is undergoing development as a pharmaceutical agent for several liver diseases and related disorders. Intercept Pharmaceuticals Inc. (NASDAQ symbol ICPT) hold the worldwide rights to develop OCA outside of Japan and China, where it is licensed to Dainippon Sumitomo Pharma.

Animal studies suggest that OCA improves intrahepatic vascular resistance and so may be of therapeutic benefit in portal hypertension. An open label phase 2a clinical study is under way. Obeticholic acid is the first FXR agonist to be used in human drug studies. OCA was shown in two phase 2 studies to provide biochemical benefit.