Background: Recurrent Clostridioides difficile infection (rCDI) occurs in up to 35% of patients with CDI, and further recurrence is common. Fecal microbiota, live-jslm (RBL) is safe and effective for preventing rCDI in adults following antibiotic treatment for rCDI when administered rectally. There is clinical interest in alternative routes of administration.
Objectives: CDI-SCOPE assessed the safety and clinical effectiveness of RBL when administered via colonoscopy to adults with rCDI.
Design: Single-arm, exploratory phase IIIb trial conducted at 12 sites in the United States.
Methods: Eligible adults with rCDI received one administration of RBL consisting of one 150-mL dose of RBL, delivered via colonoscopy to the right side of the colon. The primary endpoint assessed RBL-related treatment-emergent adverse events (TEAEs) within 8 weeks of RBL administration or until confirmed treatment failure. Secondary endpoints included treatment success (absence of CDI recurrence for 8 weeks following RBL administration), physician experience administering RBL via colonoscopy, and physician perception of participant benefit.
Results: Of 54 participants screened, 41 were enrolled and received RBL via colonoscopy; 39 participants completed the 8-week visit. Five TEAEs in four participants (9.8%) were assessed as related to RBL, all of which were gastrointestinal and mild in severity. Overall, 18 participants (43.9%) experienced 33 TEAEs within 8 weeks, most of which were of mild (25/33; 75.8%) or moderate (5/33; 15.2%) severity. No TEAEs led to intensive care unit admission or death. Overall, 39 participants (95.1%) experienced treatment success; 2 participants (4.9%) withdrew consent and had an indeterminate outcome. Among physicians, 90.2% of investigators indicated a "positive" or "very positive" experience administering RBL by colonoscopy. All physicians assessed participant benefit as "much" or "very much" improved.
Conclusion: This single-arm study suggests RBL administered via colonoscopy is practical, safe, and effective for preventing CDI recurrence following antibiotic treatment in adults.
Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT05831189.
Keywords: CDI; Clostridioides difficile; RBL; RBX2660; colonoscopy; live biotherapeutic; rCDI.
Safety and prevention of Clostridioides difficile reinfection by fecal microbiota, live-jslm (RBL) when given during a colonoscopy Some patients who have had Clostridioides difficile infection (CDI) keep being reinfected. Fecal microbiota, live-jslm (REBYOTA®, abbreviated here as RBL) is a microbiome-based product that prevents another CDI reinfection after antibiotic treatment. RBL is given via the rectum but can also be given during a colonoscopy. The CDI-SCOPE trial looked at how safe RBL was and how well it prevented more CDI reinfections. Forty-one adults who had CDI more than once were given one dose of RBL during a colonoscopy. Investigators then monitored participants for side effects or CDI reinfections. After 8 weeks, four people (9.8%) had mild gastrointestinal side effects considered related to RBL, and none had confirmed CDI reinfections. The trial showed that RBL is safe and effective at preventing CDI reinfection in adults when given during colonoscopy.
© The Author(s), 2025.