Holy Fecal Microbiota Implant!

Rebyota is the name of the FDA approved fecal microbiota implant for the prevention of recurrence of Clostridioides difficile infection in adults, following antibiotic treatment for recurrent Clostridioides difficile.  The cost to the patient for a single 150-mL dose for lower GI administration is between eight thousand to ten thousand dollars per therapeutic use. For those who do not find it difficult to swallow microbiota containing spores, 12 oral capsules of such material is found in FDA approved Vowst at a cost of $17,500. Properly prepared and screened fecal microbiota donations from friends and relatives are much less expensive and gives them something to share with those they love.

Potential non-FDA approved indications for fecal implant are numerous. In addition to Clostridioides difficile therapeutics fecal implantation may be applicable for post chemotherapy and post immunotherapy colitis, neurodegenerative diseases such as Parkinson’s and multiple sclerosis, autism, inflammatory bowel disease, constipation, insulin resistance, obesity and ANTI-AGING.

Transferring fecal microbiota from younger mice to older mice found a reversal of aspects of aging inclusive of learning, memory, behavior, and eye function in older mouse recipients. Have we as humans been flushing away opportunities for age reversal?