A Spanish company demonstrates the effectiveness of oral microflora transplants to treat ‘C. difficile’; This is a stool pill
The stool pill, an innovative therapy developed by the Spanish company Mikrobiomik, shows promising results in the treatment of Clostridium difficile (C. difficile) infections, a bacterium that affects 124,000 hospitalized people in Europe each year. This therapy, called MBK-01, uses oral fecal transplants of microflora to fight infection, providing an effective alternative to traditional antibiotics.
A new paradigm in the treatment of infections
Antibiotics, which revolutionized medicine a century ago, have saved millions of lives, but their massive and sometimes careless use has led to the emergence of resistant bacteria.
In contrast, MBK-01 offers a different approach: instead of eliminating diarrheal bacteria and other beneficial microorganisms from the gut, it introduces a balanced microbiota from healthy donors. This method allows the beneficial organisms to counter the excess of C. difficile and restore gut health without recurrence.
Success in clinical trials
The drug successfully passed phase 3 clinical trials, the last before its approval. In a study of 92 patients at 21 centers in Spain, MBK-01 was 15% more effective than fidaxomicin, a commonly used antibiotic, and reduced the recurrence of infection. Juan Basterra, CEO of Mikrobiomik, described the drug as “the first non-antibiotic antibiotic”.
Innovation and safety
The use of lyophilized stool tablets could revolutionize the approach and convenience of treating C. difficile infections. Majdi Osman, a professor at Harvard University, noted that the capsule is easier to administer and store at room temperature, although colonoscopies are still more effective for more severe cases.
A promising future
Microbiomik is now seeking capital to expand its manufacturing capacity and workforce. In addition to treating C. difficile infections, the company is exploring the use of its technology in liver disease, bowel disease, and as an adjunct in the treatment of colon cancer.
A paradigm shift in medicine
Research on the intestinal microbiota is opening new frontiers in medicine. After the antibiotic revolution, a new transformation is now emerging with treatments that restore health by helping the good microbes. The success of MBK-01 marks a significant step in this direction and offers renewed hope for patients affected by difficult-to-treat bacterial infections.
