SAINT-PREX, Switzerland & PARSIPPANY, N.J.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Ferring Pharmaceuticals today announced three oral presentations and one poster presentation at Digestive Disease Week® (DDW 2023) for REBYOTA™ (fecal microbiota, live – jslm) a first-in-class single-dose microbiome-based treatment approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the prevention of recurrent C. difficile (C. diff) infection in individuals 18 years of age and older, following antibiotic treatment for recurrent C. diff infection.
The analyses reviewed the safety of REBYOTA (previously known as RBX2660) in patients with inflammatory bowel disease, as well as safety and efficacy in immunocompromised patients and when administered by colonoscopy. An additional analysis looked at microbiome compositional changes and clonal engraftment following treatment with REBYOTA.
The first ad hoc analysis (Safety outcomes and concomitant medication changes in patients with inflammatory bowel disease being treated with RBX2660 for recurrent Clostridioides difficile infection; Session number 699) evaluated safety outcomes and changes in IBD-related medications after REBYOTA treatment in adults with recurrent C. diff infection categorized by IBD comorbidity subgroups in the ongoing Phase 3 PUNCH CD3-OLS trial and a completed retrospective study of use under enforcement discretion.
In the pooled safety population (N=547), 18 patients were identified as having Crohn’s disease only and 38 had ulcerative colitis only. Of the 56 patients evaluated, 39 patients (69.6%) received IBD-related medication at the time of REBYOTA administration. The number of IBD-related medications taken when REBYOTA was administered and/or during the eight-week observational baseline period were compared to those at eight weeks after administration. Participants were monitored for treatment-emergent adverse events (TEAEs) for at least six months after treatment.
The analysis showed that 82.1% (n=32/39) did not experience an IBD-related medication change after eight weeks. Seven participants stopped or initiated concomitant medication within eight weeks of treatment. The incidence of TEAEs was comparable in patients with or without IBD (57.1% vs. 63.1%). TEAEs were mostly gastrointestinal in nature, predominantly diarrhea and abdominal pain.
“Underlying IBD is a known risk factor for recurrent C. diff infection, but prospective clinical trials often exclude these patients,” said Jessica Allegretti, M.D., M.P.H., Brigham & Women’s Hospital. “This analysis is important as it reflects results from a real-world patient population seen in clinical practice.”
In a separate ad hoc analysis of the PUNCH CD3-OLS trial evaluating the safety and efficacy of REBYOTA in immunocompromised patients (Safety and efficacy of RBX2660 in reducing recurrent Clostridioides difficile infection in immunocompromised patients; Session number 700), 91 out of 483 participants had an underlying immunocompromising condition, including cancer and end-stage renal disease. A similar percentage of participants with and without immunocompromising conditions (64.8% and 62.0%, respectively) reported TEAEs. Most participants with and without immunocompromising conditions experienced TEAEs that were mild or moderate in severity (42.9% and 47.7%, respectively) with GI disorders, including diarrhea, abdominal pain and nausea, the most frequently reported TEAEs. Serious TEAEs were reported in 19.8% and 8.4% of participants with and without immunocompromising conditions, respectively, and most were related to C. diff infection or preexisting conditions. Treatment success (defined as the absence of recurrent C. diff infection through eight weeks after treatment) was comparable in patients with and without immunocompromising conditions (79.5% and 73.5%, respectively). Sustained clinical response through six months was maintained in 80.0% and 85.0% of treatment responders with and without immunocompromising conditions.
The poster presented a retrospective subgroup analysis evaluating the safety and efficacy of REBYOTA administered via colonoscopy (Retrospective subgroup analysis of RBX2660 administered by colonoscopy under enforcement discretion for the reduction of recurrent Clostridioides difficile infection; Poster number Su1866). In the analysis, patients with recurrent C. diff infection and treated with REBYOTA under the Assured Active Treatment (AAT) program were retrospectively identified across five clinical trial sites. The AAT program offered REBYOTA to adults not eligible for clinical trial participation or who needed additional treatment following study participation. The primary endpoint was the number of participants with REBYOTA and/or procedure related TEAEs. The secondary endpoints were treatment success, defined as the absence of recurrent C. diff infection eight weeks after the final dose and sustained clinical response for six months after treatment. Of the 94 participants in the full analysis set, 39 received one dose of REBYOTA and 10 of those patients received treatment via colonoscopy. Two participants who received treatment via colonoscopy but did not have comprehensive medical records were considered treatment failures.
TEAEs were reported in 75% of participants (six of eight). Most TEAEs were mild to moderate in severity and were not due to REBYOTA or its administration, with the most common TEAEs being GI disorders and infections/infestations. Treatment success was reported in eight of the 10 participants who received REBYOTA via colonoscopy. Six of the eight participants who reported treatment success had a sustained clinical response at six months.
“Doctors often see recurrent C. diff infection patients with comorbidities and perform routine colonoscopies for them," said Paul Feuerstadt, M.D., F.A.C.G., A.G.A.F., Yale University School of Medicine. “This is some of the first data that looks at REBYOTA being administered via colonoscopy in this patient population.”
An oral presentation (Significant and durable microbiome compositional changes and clonal engraftment in a Phase 3 trial of RBX2660 for recurrent Clostridioides difficile infection; Session number 697) on a post-hoc exploratory analysis evaluated microbiome compositional changes and clonal engraftment in participants in the PUNCH CD3 Phase 3 clinical trial for REBYOTA. The analysis examined the necessity to differentiate among clonal populations to assess engraftment. Samples provided by REBYOTA-treated patients were assessed to determine if the species present after treatment were those present in the REBYOTA dose they received. The analysis showed that the clinical response in the Phase 3 trial was associated with clonal engraftment and Bacteroidia- and Clostridia-class bacteria were the most effective engrafters. The control analysis showed no significant clonal engraftment in placebo-treated participants.
DDW 2023 has abstracts available on its website.
About C. diff Infection
C. diff infection is a serious and potentially deadly infection that impacts people across the globe. The C. diff bacterium causes debilitating symptoms, such as severe diarrhea, fever, stomach tenderness or pain, loss of appetite, nausea and colitis (an inflammation of the colon).1 C. diff infection can be the start of a vicious cycle of recurrence, causing a significant burden for patients and the healthcare system.2,3 It has been estimated that up to 35% of C. diff infection cases recur after initial diagnosis and people who have had a recurrence are at significantly higher risk of further infections.4,5,6,7 After the first recurrence, it has been estimated that up to 65% of patients may develop a subsequent recurrence.6,7 Antibiotics – the current standard of care for treatment of C. diff infection – treat the disease but can also be a contributing factor to the cycle of recurrence.1
About REBYOTA
REBYOTA is a pre-packaged, single-dose 150 mL microbiota suspension for rectal administration consisting of a liquid mix of up to trillions of live microbes – including Bacteroides. REBYOTA is delivered directly to the gut microbiome and is administered by a healthcare professional in one visit. REBYOTA is approved and marketed in the U.S. only.
INDICATION
REBYOTA (fecal microbiota, live – jslm) is indicated for the prevention of recurrence of Clostridioides difficile (C. diff) infection in individuals 18 years of age and older, following antibiotic treatment for recurrent C. diff infection.
Limitation of Use
REBYOTA is not indicated for the treatment of C. diff infection.
IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION
- You should not receive REBYOTA if you have a history of a severe allergic reaction (e.g., anaphylaxis) to REBYOTA or any of its components.
- You should report to your doctor any infection you think you may have acquired after administration.
- REBYOTA may contain food allergens.
- Most common side effects may include stomach pain (8.9%), diarrhea (7.2%), bloating (3.9%), gas (3.3%), and nausea (3.3%).
- REBYOTA has not been studied in patients below 18 years of age.
- Clinical studies did not determine if adults 65 years of age and older responded differently than younger adults.
You are encouraged to report negative side effects of prescription drugs to FDA. Visit www.FDA.gov/medwatch or call 1-800-332-1088.
Please click to see the full Prescribing Information.
About Ferring Pharmaceuticals
Ferring Pharmaceuticals is a research-driven, specialty biopharmaceutical group committed to helping people around the world build families and live better lives. Headquartered in Saint-Prex, Switzerland, Ferring is a leader in reproductive medicine and women’s health, and in specialty areas within gastroenterology and urology. Ferring has been developing treatments for mothers and babies for over 50 years and has a portfolio covering treatments from conception to birth. Founded in 1950, privately owned Ferring now employs around 7,000 people worldwide, has its own operating subsidiaries in more than 50 countries, and markets its products in 100 countries.
Learn more at www.ferring.com, or connect with us on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and YouTube.
Ferring is committed to exploring the crucial link between the microbiome and human health, beginning with the threat of recurrent C. difficile infection. Ferring is working to develop novel microbiome-based therapeutics to address significant unmet needs and help people live better lives. Connect with us on our dedicated microbiome therapeutics development channels on Twitter and LinkedIn.
About DDW
Digestive Disease Week® (DDW) is the largest international gathering of physicians, researchers and academics in the fields of gastroenterology, hepatology, endoscopy and gastrointestinal surgery. Jointly sponsored by the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases (AASLD), the American Gastroenterological Association (AGA) Institute, the American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy (ASGE) and the Society for Surgery of the Alimentary Tract (SSAT), DDW is an in-person and online meeting from May 6-9, 2023. The meeting showcases more than 3,100 abstracts and hundreds of lectures on the latest advances in GI research, medicine and technology. More information can be found at www.ddw.org.
References:
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. What Is C. Diff? 17 Dec. 2018. Available at: https://www.cdc.gov/cdiff/what-is.html.
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. 24 June 2020. Available at: https://www.cdc.gov/drugresistance/pdf/threats-report/clostridioides-difficile-508.pdf.
- Feuerstadt P, et al. J Med Econ. 2020;23(6):603-609.
- Riddle DJ, Dubberke ER. Clostridium difficile infection in the intensive care unit. Infect Dis Clin North Am. 2009;23(3):727-743.
- Nelson WW, et al. Health care resource utilization and costs of recurrent Clostridioides difficile infection in the elderly: a real-world claims analysis. J Manag Care Spec Pharm. 2021;27(7):828-838. doi: 10.18553/jmcp.2021.20395. Epub 2021 Mar 11.
- Kelly CP. Can we identify patients at high risk of recurrent Clostridium difficile infection? Clin Microbiol Infect. 2012;18(suppl 6):21–27.
- Smits WK, et al. Clostridium difficile infection. Nat Rev Dis Primers. 2016;2:16020. doi: 10.1038/nrdp.2016.20.
