PBC push for placebo changes

https://rarerevolutionmagazine.com/pbc-push-for-placebo-changes/ The International PBC Summit puts the discussion of placebo arms in clinical trials high on the agenda The International PBC Summit brings the community together to improve the lives of those with the condition. Discussions at this and previous years’ events have centred on the use of placebo arm trials, the ethics surrounding them and the need for the patient voice to be heard by regulators Written by Karen Roberts, RARE Revolution Interview with Robert Mitchell-Thain, CEO of the PBC Foundation Placebo arms in clinical trials have long been used as a way of measuring the effectiveness of a new medication, but for some primary biliary cholangitis (PBC) patients they can mean lengthy delays to essential treatment. Use of placebo arms in clinical trials has been a persistent concern, with calls for other methods such as the use of real-world evidence (RWE) to be used. It was among the topics discussed at the International PBC Summit 2026. The Summit, held in Edinburgh in April, saw different stakeholders in the PBC community come together to identify unmet needs and discuss solutions.