New Pill Approved for Easier Fecal Transplants

Category Health

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The FDA recently approved a pill as a first-ever treatment for fecal transplants. This pill was created to prevent bacterial reinfections of Clostridium difficile (C. diff). This bacteria causes severe nausea, stomach ache, and diarrhea and has a significant risk of death. The pill is for adults 18 and over and is taken for three days in a row with four daily pills.


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The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has announced the approval of the first-ever pill for fecal transplants, marking a significant milestone. Developed using healthy bacteria found in human waste, the pill could be an effective tool to fight gut infections.

A fecal transplant is a procedure that relies on the stool of a healthy donor to restore gut health and prevent bacterial reinfections in the respective patient.

The bacteria 'C. diff' takes the lives of 15,000-30,000 people in the US per year

Seres Therapeutics, based in Massachusetts, developed the new pill after rigorously testing this version of the stool-based treatment.

The FDA approved the prescription of pills based on a study of nearly 180 patients. According to the findings, approximately 88 percent of patients who followed the pill regimen did not experience reinfection after eight weeks. On the other hand, reinfection occurred in approximately 60 percent of those who received dummy pills, the Associated Press reported.

The pill contains only healthy bacteria found in human waste that are rigorously tested

--- Pill for repeat infections --- .

The pill was created for people at risk of reinfections caused by the bacteria Clostridium difficile (C. diff). This bacteria frequently causes symptoms such as severe nausea, stomach ache, and diarrhea.

The FDA has approved the pill for adults over the age of 18, and older. Patients who have previously received antibiotic treatment can use the capsules. The drug treatment, known as Vowst, consists of four daily pills taken for three days in a row.According to a report, this bacteria's recurrence poses a significant risk of death, causing between 15,000 and 30,000 deaths per year.

The pill is administered over a three day period

Previously, antibiotic treatment demonstrated that bacteria can be killed, but it also destroys other healthy gut bacteria. As a result, people could become more vulnerable to gut infections in the future.

--- What is the procedure like? --- .

According to the company, the stool is thoroughly tested for viruses, infections, and parasites. Individual donors are also screened for any health risks or medical conditions.

It must be administered under the prescription of a doctor

After the results are obtained and the stool sample is approved, the experts remove the waste to isolate the healthy bacteria while killing the unessential ones.

A single stool sample can result in the creation of thousands of pills. Overall, this makes the fecal transplant process more efficient than it was.

The FDA warned in its approval announcement that the drug "may carry a risk of transmitting infectious agents. It is also possible for Vowst to contain food allergens," according to AP.

Only adults 18 and older can be prescribed the pill

Individuals who are ineligible for this pill will continue to receive fecal transplants. Since 2013, OpenBiome, one of the largest stool banks in the United States, has supplied up to 65,000 stool samples.

According to experts, this new pill method makes fecal transplants easier as well as less invasive. Ferring Pharmaceuticals' treatment was also approved by the FDA last year, but it must be administered via the rectum.

The pill may contain food allergens

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