Comparing new treatments for Clostridioides difficile infection
Official title: Comparative Efficacy of Therapeutics for Clostridioides difficile Infection
Funded at Biotherapeutics, INC. · NIH-11007011 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is testing a new daily pill that aims to help people with Clostridioides difficile infection without using traditional antibiotics, so it can keep your gut healthy while reducing the chances of the infection coming back.
Quick facts
| Grant type | Sbir 1 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Biotherapeutics, INC. NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Blacksburg, United States) |
| Project start | July 1, 2024 |
| Project end | December 31, 2025 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $300,000 |
| NIH project number | 1R43AI184008-01A1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11007011 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are individuals diagnosed with Clostridioides difficile infection, particularly those who have experienced recurrent infections.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who are not diagnosed with CDI or those who have contraindications to the investigational therapy may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates the effectiveness of a novel oral therapeutic designed to treat Clostridioides difficile infection (CDI) without using traditional antibiotics. CDI often occurs after antibiotic use disrupts the gut microbiome, leading to severe gastrointestinal issues. The study aims to evaluate a first-in-class immunoregulatory treatment that preserves the microbiome and reduces infection recurrence. Patients will be monitored for safety and efficacy as they receive this new therapy, which is designed to be taken once daily.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could provide a safer and more effective treatment option for patients suffering from CDI, reducing reliance on antibiotics.
How similar studies have gone: Other research has shown promise in using novel, non-antibiotic therapies for CDI, indicating a growing interest and potential in this area.
Where this research is happening
-
Biotherapeutics, INC.
Blacksburg, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Hontecillas, Raquel — Biotherapeutics, INC.
- Study coordinator: Hontecillas, Raquel
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
Understanding how the immune system fights C. difficile to prevent recurrence
A new NIH grant is studying how the body’s own immune response to C. difficile infection might be boosted to prevent future outbreaks.
-
Impact of gut bile acids on C. difficile infection in inflammatory bowel disease
This grant tests whether changes in gut microbes and their bile acids influence how likely people with inflammatory bowel disease are to get and how severe a C. difficile infection could be.
-
Role of gut bacteria in shaping C. difficile infection
Aims to map how the gut microbiome and its metabolic environment influence Clostridioides difficile infection in people and how we might prevent or treat it.
-
Detailed genetic look at C. difficile and the gut microbiome in infection and relapse
Researchers will sequence C. difficile and gut bacteria from thousands of patient stool samples to find genetic and microbial patterns linked to severe or recurring infections.
-
Multivalent vaccine to prevent C. difficile infection and recurrence
This project is developing a vaccine that teaches the immune system to neutralize C. difficile toxins and block the bacteria from coming back for people at risk of infection.
-
Gut-targeted antibiotics for C. difficile infection
Developing gut-targeted antibiotics to kill C. difficile while keeping healthy gut bacteria for people with recurrent C. difficile infections.
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.