Enter drug's generic or brand name below. Results will appear here. Note: all drug related information obtained on this page is provided by RX List.
Using the RX LIST database:
(1) Enter the drug name in the search box below and hit ENTER
(2) The rx list web site will open here with the drug search completed. Next, scroll down the page to locate the link to the drug you are searching for and then click on the link.
VOWST (fecal microbiota spores, live-brpk) is a bacterial spore suspension in capsules for oral administration. VOWST is manufactured from human fecal matter sourced from qualified donors. Human fecal matter donations are routinely tested for a panel of transmissible pathogens. Donors do not have dietary restrictions with respect to potential food allergens. The spore suspension is generated by treating fecal matter with ethanol to kill organisms that are not spores, followed by filtration steps to remove solids and residual ethanol. Each capsule of VOWST contains between 1x106 and 3x107 Firmicutes spore colony forming units in 92 ± 4% (w/w) glycerol in saline.
VOWST is indicated to prevent the recurrence of Clostridioides difficile infection (CDI) in individuals 18 years of age and older following antibacterial treatment for recurrent CDI (rCDI).
VOWST is not indicated for treatment of CDI.
Capsule. A single dose is 4 capsules.
VOWST is supplied as capsules in bottles with child-resistant caps. Each bottle contains 12 white capsules imprinted with “SER109”. Each bottle is supplied in a carton.
Bottles of 12 capsules: NDC 71881-400-12.
Store VOWST in the original packaging at 2° to 25°C (36° to 77°F). Do not store in the freezer.
Manufactured by: Seres Therapeutics, Inc. 200 Sidney Street, Cambridge, MA. Revised: Apr 2023
The most common adverse reactions (reported in ≥5% of participants) were abdominal distension (31.1%), fatigue (22.2%), constipation (14.4%), chills (11.1%), and diarrhea (10.0%).
Because clinical trials are conducted under widely varying conditions, adverse reaction rates observed in the clinical trials of a drug cannot be directly compared to rates in the clinical trials of another drug and may not reflect the rates observed in practice.
The safety of VOWST was evaluated in one Phase 3, randomized, double-blind clinical study (Study 1: NCT03183128) and one Phase 3, open-label clinical study (Study 2: NCT03183141) conducted in the United States and Canada. Adults with confirmed rCDI were required to have symptoms controlled 48 to 96 hours post-antibacterial treatment to be eligible for enrollment and randomization (1:1) to receive either VOWST or placebo (capsules containing 92 ± 4% glycerol in saline) for 3 consecutive days. Participants with neutropenia (absolute neutrophil count of <500 cells/mm3), toxic megacolon, or small bowel ileus were excluded from these studies. A total of 349 adults 18 years of age and older with rCDI were exposed to VOWST across both Study 1 (n=90) and Study 2 (n=259). Across both Study 1 and Study 2, 99.1% of adults (346/349) received all scheduled doses of VOWST. Overall, across the 2 studies, the median age of VOWST recipients was 66 years (range, 21-100 years). The racial and ethnic distribution was as follows: 92.3% were white and 5.2% were black. In Study 1, females comprised 68.9% of the VOWST arm compared to 51.1% in the placebo arm. Rates of the following comorbidities (at study entry) were similar across the VOWST and placebo arms: cardiac disease (33.3% and 31.5%, respectively), immunocompromise/immunosuppression (28.9% and 30.4%, respectively), diabetes (20.0% and 27.2%, respectively), and renal impairment (14.4% and 15.2%, respectively). In Study 2, 68.4% were females and representation of comorbidities was similar to Study 1.
In Study 1, participants recorded solicited adverse events in a diary for 7 days after completion of the 3-day regimen of VOWST or placebo. In both Study 1 and Study 2, participants were monitored for unsolicited adverse events by queries during weekly encounters for a period of 8 weeks. Monitoring for serious adverse events and adverse events of special interest (i.e., invasive infections) continued for a period of 6 months after the first dose of study drug. In Study 1, a multi-center, double-blind randomized (1:1), placebo-controlled trial conducted in the United States and Canada, adults 18 years of age and older (range: 18 to 100 years of age) received three daily doses of VOWST (n=90) or placebo (n=92). Overall through the 24 week follow up period, 12 VOWST recipients (13.3%) and 37 placebo recipients (40.2%) did not complete the study.
Participants with a recurrence of CDI during the first 8 weeks after receipt of first dose of VOWST or placebo were eligible to enroll into Study 2 and were no longer followed for safety in Study 1. During the first 8 weeks following VOWST or placebo, 5 participants (5.6%) and 28 participants (30.4%) respectively, did not complete 8 weeks of study participation. Of these, 4 VOWST recipients and 25 placebo recipients discontinued Study 1 and enrolled in Study 2.
In Study 1, within 8 weeks following VOWST or placebo, the most common solicited adverse reactions reported by ≥5% of VOWST recipients, and at a rate greater than that reported by placebo recipients, were abdominal distension (31.1%), fatigue (22.2%), constipation (14.4%), and chills (11.1%). The most common unsolicited adverse reaction was diarrhea (10.0%) (Table 1). The median duration (days) of these events was 5 days or less; specifically, abdominal distension (3.0), constipation (2.0), fatigue (4.5), chills (1.5), and diarrhea (5.0).
Table 1: Adverse Reactions Reported in ≥5% of VOWST-treated Participants and at a Frequency Greater than Placebo within 8 weeks after receipt of VOWST or placebo (Study 1)*
| Adverse Reaction | VOWST N=90 % |
Placebo N=92 % |
| Solicited† | ||
| Abdominal distension | 31.1 | 29.3 |
| Fatigue | 22.2 | 21.7 |
| Constipation | 14.4 | 10.9 |
| Chills | 11.1 | 7.6 |
| Unsolicited | ||
| Diarrhea | 10.0 | 4.3 |
| System Organ Class and Preferred Terms reported by Medical Dictionary for Regulatory Activities (MedDRA) version 20.0 * Safety population, defined as all randomized participants who received a dose of study medication, by treatment received 85/90 participants in the VOWST group and 64/92 participants in the placebo group completed 8 week follow up. † Solicited adverse events were recorded by participants in a diary for 7 days after completion of the 3-day regimen of VOWST or placebo. Participants were monitored for unsolicited events by queries during visits for a period of 8 weeks after the first dose of study drug. |
||
In Study 1, most adverse reactions occurred within 10 days of starting treatment with VOWST. After this, the proportion of participants with adverse reactions declined through follow-up. The majority of adverse reactions were mild or moderate in severity.
In Study 2, the most commonly reported adverse reactions were preferred terms under the system organ class of Gastrointestinal disorders, namely flatulence (4.2%), diarrhea (3.4%) and nausea (3.0%). The majority of adverse reactions were mild to moderate in severity. All adverse events collected in Study 2 were unsolicited.
Among 349 VOWST recipients, there were no serious adverse events considered related to VOWST.
VOWST contains bacterial spores; therefore, antibacterials should not be administered concurrently with VOWST.
Included as part of the "PRECAUTIONS" Section
Because VOWST is manufactured from human fecal matter, it may carry a risk of transmitting infectious agents. Any infection suspected by a healthcare provider possibly to have been transmitted by this product should be reported by the healthcare provider to Aimmune Therapeutics, Inc. at 1-833-246-2566.
VOWST is manufactured from human fecal matter and may contain food allergens. The potential for VOWST to cause adverse reactions due to food allergens is unknown.
Advise the patient to read the FDA-approved patient labeling (PATIENT INFORMATION).
Inform patients not to take VOWST concurrently with antibacterials [see DRUG INTERACTIONS].
VOWST has not been evaluated for carcinogenicity, genotoxicity, mutagenic potential, or impairment of male or female fertility in animals.
All pregnancies have a background risk of major birth defect, loss, or other adverse outcomes. In the U.S. general population, the estimated background risk of major birth defects and miscarriages in clinically recognized pregnancies is 2% to 4% and 15% to 20%, respectively.
There are no data on use of VOWST in pregnant individuals. Developmental toxicity studies in animals have not been conducted with VOWST.
It is not known whether VOWST is excreted in human milk. Data are not available to assess the effects of VOWST on the breastfed infant or on milk production/excretion.The developmental and health benefits of breastfeeding should be considered, along with the mother’s clinical need for VOWST and any other potential adverse effects on the breastfed child from VOWST or from the underlying maternal condition.
The safety and effectiveness of VOWST in individuals younger than 18 years of age have not been established.
Of the 349 adults who received VOWST, 52.4% were 65 years of age and over (n=183), and 28.1% were 75 years of age and over (n=98). Data from clinical studies of VOWST are not sufficient to determine if adults 65 years of age and older respond differently than younger adults.
No Information Provided
None.
The mechanism of action of VOWST has not been established.
The efficacy of VOWST was evaluated in a randomized placebo-controlled multi-center study (Study 1). The primary objective was to demonstrate the reduction of CDI recurrence with VOWST. Enrolled participants were 18 years of age or older and had a confirmed diagnosis of recurrent CDI (with a total of ≥3 episodes of CDI within 12 months). CDI episode at the study entry was defined as diarrhea (≥3 unformed stools per day for at least 2 consecutive days) and a positive C. difficile stool sample using a toxin assay. Participants were required to have symptom resolution, defined as <3 unformed stools in 24 hours for 2 or more consecutive days prior to randomization, following 10 to 21 days of standard-of-care antibacterial treatment with vancomycin or fidaxomicin. Participants were stratified by antibacterial received (vancomycin or fidaxomicin) and age (<65 years or ≥65 years) and randomized 1:1 to receive a dose of VOWST or placebo once daily for 3 consecutive days. The day prior to starting the assigned treatment regimen, participants were required to drink 296 mL (10 oz) of magnesium citrate or based on medical judgment, 250 mL polyethylene glycol electrolyte solution (GoLYTELY, not approved for this use). Participants with impaired kidney function who were unable to take magnesium citrate took 250 mL polyethylene glycol electrolyte solution. All participants fasted for at least 8 hours before taking the first dose of VOWST. Participants were also required to continue fasting for 1 hour after the first day of treatment with VOWST. For Days 2 and 3, VOWST was taken in the morning before breakfast.
In the intent-to-treat population consisting of all 182 randomized participants, 89 were in the VOWST group and 93 were in the placebo group. The participants had a mean age of 65.5 years (range, 18– 100 years), 93.4% were white, 59.9% were female, and 73.1% received vancomycin.
The primary efficacy endpoint was CDI recurrence through 8 weeks after completion of treatment. Participants were assessed for recurrence, which was defined as ≥3 unformed stools per day for 2 consecutive days with continued diarrhea until antibacterial treatment was initiated, a positive C. difficile test on a stool sample determined by a toxin assay, and assessment by the Investigator that the clinical condition of the participant warranted antibacterial treatment.
Through 8 weeks after treatment, CDI recurrence in VOWST-treated participants was lower compared to that in placebo-treated participants (12.4% compared to 39.8%). VOWST met the prespecified success criterion of the upper bound of the two-sided 95% confidence interval of the CDI relative risk lower than 0.83 (see Table 2).
Table 2: Efficacy Results through 8 Weeks after VOWST Treatment (Study 1, Intent-to-Treat Population*)
| VOWST N=89 n (%) |
Placebo N=93 n (%) |
Relative Risk (95% CI) † |
|
| CDI Recurrence § | 11 (12.4) | 37 (39.8) | 0.32 (0.18; 0.58) |
| CDI=C. difficile infection; CI=confidence interval; n (%)=Number (percentage) of participants in the analysis population meeting the criteria for endpoint; N = Number of participants included in the analysis population * Intent-to-treat population, consisted of all participants who were randomized. Participants were analyzed according to randomized treatment assignment which differed from actual treatment received for 5 participants (3 participants randomized to placebo received VOWST and 2 participants randomized to VOWST received placebo), which resulted in differing number of participants in each treatment arm for efficacy and safety analyses. † VOWST divided by Placebo recurrence rate adjusted for stratification based on Cochran-Mantel-Haenszel method. 95% CI based on Greenland-Robins method. VOWST met the pre-specified success criterion of the upper bound of the two-sided 95% CI of the CDI relative risk <0.83. § Participants who were lost to follow-up, terminated the study prematurely, or died without a recorded recurrence before the end of the time interval (1 and 2 participants in VOWST and placebo group, respectively) were assumed to have had a recurrence. |
|||
Through 12 weeks after treatment, the recurrence rates for VOWST and placebo recipients were 18.0% (16/89) and 46.2% (43/93), respectively with a relative risk of 0.40 (95% CI 0.24,0.65). Through 24 weeks after treatment, recurrence rates for VOWST and placebo recipients were 21.3% (19/89) and 47.3% (44/93), respectively with a relative risk of 0.46 (95% CI 0.30, 0.73).
No information provided. Please refer to the WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS section.
