---
title: >-
  Pruritus in Primary Biliary Cholangitis is Under-Treated in Clinical Practice:
  Results from TARGET-PBC (APASL)
description: >-
  Explore this publication on real-world evidence: Pruritus in Primary Biliary
  Cholangitis is Under-Treated in Clinical Practice: Results from TARGET-PBC..
date: '2022-01-01'
author: Andrea R. Mospan
category: Publications
tags:
  - APASL
  - 'Yes'
  - R&D
  - PBC
  - Hepatology
  - Care
  - Oral Presentation
canonical_url: >-
  https://www.pedestalhealth.com/resources/publications/apasl/pruritus-in-primary-biliary-cholangitis-is-under-treated-in/
source: Pedestal Health
license: © 2026 Pedestal Health. All rights reserved.
slug: pruritus-in-primary-biliary-cholangitis-is-under-treated-in
id: 4NR2ynfXDe0AkzhT4KqVQX
contentType: article
---

## Challenge

Despite the high prevalence and burden of pruritus in PBC, it was suspected that itch was systematically undertreated in clinical practice, but real-world data confirming the treatment gap—including what proportion of patients with clinically significant itch never received any treatment—were absent.

## Solution

The TARGET-PBC cohort was used to characterize itch treatment receipt rates by itch severity, identifying that a substantial proportion of patients with clinically significant pruritus had never received any anti-pruritic treatment and characterizing the medications used in those who were treated.

## Impact

Quantifying the treatment gap in PBC pruritus—with one-third of clinically significant itch patients never treated—directly supports the regulatory and commercial case for approved anti-pruritic therapies, providing real-world evidence that existing treatments are insufficient to meet patient need.

## Use Cases / Links

PBC pruritus treatment gap quantification for anti-pruritic drug development regulatory strategy, Real-world undertreatment evidence supporting label claims for novel PBC itch therapies, Pruritus management pattern characterization in rare liver disease for payer and guideline context