GLI Recognizes and Supports Primary Biliary Cholangitis Day

Global Liver Institute (GLI) is proud to support liver patients worldwide in recognition of International Primary Biliary Cholangitis (PBC) Day 2022, held each year on the second Sunday in September in hopes of educating and promoting awareness of PBC. GLI is proud to ally with the PBC Foundation and PBC community to recognize the importance of International PBC Day. 

PBC is a rare chronic liver disease that slowly destroys the bile ducts in the liver that can lead to cirrhosis and liver failure. PBC is most prevalent in women, and in the United States, it is estimated that about 65 out of every 100,000 women have PBC. PBC primarily affects women between ages 30-60 and is thought to occur due to a mix of genetic and environmental factors. While the prevalence of cases is generally small, PBC patients account for a large percentage of liver transplant lists. A US-based study found that patients listed with PBC had a higher risk for wait-list mortality than other liver conditions. Though, these deaths are preventable: patients treated with the right medications have a similar life expectancy as the general population. 

GLI is invested in raising awareness about PBC by supporting International PBC Day and PBC focused organizations. To this end, we hosted an Externally-Led Patient-Focused Drug Development Meeting with the FDA on PBC during Rare Liver Diseases Month this year to facilitate better understanding of patients’ needs in the drug development and approval process. Living with a rare condition often comes with fear and isolation, therefore, finding other people with the condition is an important factor in strengthening the rare disease community. The profound impact of International PBC Day for patients and caregivers is integral to creating a supportive network where patients can flourish. 

We look forward to continued collaboration in supporting patients with PBC and other rare liver diseases.