Advances in Primary Biliary Cholangitis: Expert Insights on Emerging Data and Key Treatment Innovations - Episode 5

Experts Review the First- and Second-Line Treatment Options for PBC

Published on: February 9, 2026

Frances Lee, MD, Aparna Goel, MD, A. Sidney Barritt IV, MD, MSCR, Lance L. Stein, MD

Experts discuss first-line treatments for Primary Biliary Cholangitis, emphasizing the importance of monitoring and patient compliance for effective management.

EP. 1: An Overview of PBC Pathophysiology, Severity, and Burden

EP. 2: Key Symptoms of PBC- Fatigue, Pruritus, and Bone Health

EP. 3: Assessing Disease Severity and Progression Risk in PBC

EP. 4: Diagnostic Criteria in PBC: What Clinicians are Looking For

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EP. 5: Experts Review the First- and Second-Line Treatment Options for PBC

EP. 6: How Special Populations and Disease Risk Impact Treatment Assessment in PBC

EP. 7: The Efficacy of PPAR Agonists in PBC: Signals of Extrahepatic Improvements

EP. 8: The Safety of PPAR Agonists in PBC: Reviewing Recent Trial Data

In this episode, “Experts Review the First- and Second-Line Treatment Options for PBC” the expert hepatologists explore the current treatment landscape and when they typically reassess patients for disease improvements.

Led by the moderator, the panelists examine the following critical questions:

Please discuss the treatment options for first and subsequent lines of primary biliary cholangitis treatments.
What defines an inadequate response to first-line ursodeoxycholic acid, and when is this response typically assessed in your clinic?
What role does biomarker testing play in determining response to treatment? What results (ALP, GGT, Bilirubin, etc.) may inform the decision to modify/switch the treatment?

Throughout the conversation, the experts provide a comprehensive reflection on the field and the factors that may shape how clinicians approach care moving forward.

The next episode in this series, “How Special Populations and Disease Risk Impact Treatment Assessment in PBC,” features the panelists advancing their conversation on PBC and focusing on assessing risk in special populations and coverage challenges they have encountered.