Albireo Pharma, Inc. announced that the Italian Medicines Agency, also known as Agenzia Italiana del Farmaco (AIFA), has enabled reimbursed access to Bylvay (odevixibat) for the treatment of all types of progressive familial intrahepatic cholestasis (PFIC) patients in Italy. A potent, oral, once-daily, non-systemic ileal bile acid transport inhibitor, Bylvay has minimal systemic exposure and acts locally in the small intestine as a treatment for PFIC, a rare and devastating disorder that causes progressive, liver disease. Patients with PFIC have impaired bile flow, or cholestasis, and the resulting bile build-up in liver cells causes life-threatening liver disease and symptoms, such as intense itching, poor sleep, delayed growth, and diminished quality of life.

The harmful impacts of the disease extend beyond the individuals with PFIC to those caring for them as shown by the 2022 multinational PICTURE study, which revealed PFIC negatively affects caregivers' quality of life, relationships, and career prospects.