Clinical trial Recruiting at 1 site Phase 1 Interventional Ages 18 to 75

Orally ingested yeast designed to express a tetra-specific anti-toxin for Clostridioides difficile safety study

Official title: A Phase 1 Trial to Evaluate an Orally Ingested Probiotic Yeast Genetically Modified to Express a Tetra-specific Anti-toxin for Clostridioides Difficile

Run by National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) · NCT07649096 · Data updated 2026-11-12

This first-in-human trial tests a yeast-based medicine (FZ002) to see if it is safe and tolerable for adults with no active infection, using a placebo for comparison.

Quick facts

PhasePhase 1
Study typeInterventional
Ages18 Years to 75 Years
SexAll
Enrollment56 (estimated)
SponsorNational Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID)
NIH
Drugs / interventionschemotherapy, radiation, prednisone
Locations1 site (Knoxville, Tennessee)
StatusRecruiting
StartedOctober 29, 2026
Main results expectedAugust 22, 2028
Study endsSeptember 22, 2028
Registry record updatedNovember 10, 2026
Trial IDNCT07649096 on ClinicalTrials.gov

Is this trial a fit for you?

Likely a good fit

Healthy adults aged 18–75 without active C. difficile infection or significant abnormal labs, eligible to receive 28 days of blinded study product.

Probably not a fit

Participants with significant safety concerns or adverse events may not derive direct benefit from the product during this early-stage trial.

A plain-English reading of the study's rules. Only the study team can confirm whether you qualify.

What this trial studies

This is a Phase 1, first-in-human, double-blind, placebo-controlled study with an adaptive design conducted at a single site. Up to four dose-escalation cohorts (each up to 14 healthy adults aged 18–75) will be enrolled to evaluate safety and tolerability over 28 days, with sentinel participants and staged reviews by a Safety Review Team. Participants are randomized to receive either FZ002 or placebo in a 12:2 ratio within each cohort, with escalation only proceeding if predefined safety criteria are met. Safety assessments include solicited and unsolicited adverse events, clinical evaluations, and laboratory tests. The trial is sponsored by NIAID with collaborators and is located at Alliance for Multispecialty Research in Knoxville, Tennessee.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, the study could show that the yeast-based product is safe to use and may lead to future therapies targeting C. difficile toxins.

How similar studies have gone: Phase 1 studies of similar probiotic/therapeutic yeast approaches have shown acceptable safety signals in early testing, though this exact approach is novel.

Who can join: the full rules

Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria:

To be eligible to participate in this trial, an individual must meet all of the following criteria:

1. Provides written informed consent prior to the initiation of any trial procedures.
2. Is able to understand and agrees to comply with all planned trial procedures and be available for all study visits, including:

   1. Receiving 28 days of blinded oral study product
   2. Providing blood and self-collected stool samples
3. Is a non-pregnant individual, aged 18-75 years, inclusive, at the time of enrollment.
4. Has no more than 1 single Grade 1 screening laboratory abnormality that is not clinically significant. If the participant has more than 1 Grade 1 abnormality, it must be approved by the Division of Microbiology and Infectious Diseases \[DMID\] Medical Monitor (MM).
5. Participants of childbearing potential: use of adequate contraception for at least 4 weeks prior to enrollment and agreement to use such a method during trial participation and for an additional 4 weeks after the last dose of blinded study product. Note: Definitions of participants of childbearing potential and adequate contraception are provided in Section 13.1.
6. Agrees to refrain from ingestion of probiotics\* or fermented foods\*\* from 7 days prior to study product administration, while on blinded study product, and through Day 36 (Visit 7).

   \*E.g., probiotic nutritional Lactobacillus or Bifidobacterium supplements, yogurt, kefir, any "live and active culture" nutritional product, etc.

   \*\*E.g., kombucha, fermented pickled vegetables, etc.
7. Has good health by medical history, vital signs, physical examination, and concomitant medication review\*. Participants should be stable based on their condition over the last 3 months prior to enrollment.

   \*As defined by not requiring a change in therapy (including dose or frequency) or medical care for worsening disease for at least 3 months prior to enrollment. Vital signs must not meet Grade 1 or higher.
8. Not using medications daily that may affect gut motility, gastric acidity, or baseline gut function\* within 3 months of enrollment and through Day 36 (Visit 7).

   \*E.g., proton pump inhibitors, opioids, anti-diarrheal agents, anti-constipation agents, daily Over-the-counter \[OTC\] "heartburn" relief medications.
9. Not using glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonists within 6 weeks of enrollment.
10. Any elective surgery (including dental) that required preoperative or postoperative antibiotics must have been completed at least 3 months prior to enrollment.
11. No history of Clostridioides difficile infection \[CDI\] (suspected or proven), no recent hospital admissions (within 3 years), and no receipt of systemic antibiotics known to increase risk of CDI\* (within 6 months).

    \*Systemic antibiotics that are known to increase the risk of CDI include lincosamides (e.g., clindamycin), monobactams (e.g., aztreonam), extended-spectrum penicillin combinations with beta-lactamase inhibitors (e.g., piperacillin-tazobactam), carbapenems (e.g., imipenem, meropenem, ertapenem), third generation or higher cephalosporins, and fluoroquinolones. Common oral antibiotics that would be allowable or are not known to significantly increase risk of CDI include amoxicillin, azithromycin, cephalexin, doxycycline, metronidazole, and trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole.
12. No history of other enteric infections or diarrheal illness within 3 months of enrollment.

Exclusion Criteria:

1. Dwells in a long-term care or skilled nursing facility (living independently with limited nursing care is allowable).
2. Known to be pregnant or has a positive pregnancy test at screening or enrollment.
3. Currently breastfeeding a child.
4. Known to have a yeast allergy or significant hypersensitivity to any components of the study product; including S. boulardii (or any S. boulardii-based nutritional supplement), hydroxypropyl methylcellulose, and Microcrystalline cellulose \[MCC\].

   Hydroxypropyl methylcellulose is the major component of the capsule shell and MCC is the placebo component.
5. Known to have significant hypersensitivity to a first-line antifungal therapy (i.e., fluconazole or amphotericin B) against Saccharomyces.
6. Known to be immunocompromised or have known or suspected congenital or acquired immunodeficiency, as determined by the investigator.
7. Receipt of immunosuppressive therapy such as anti-cancer chemotherapy or radiation therapy within 3 years of enrollment.
8. Receipt of chronic (\>/=14 days) immunosuppressive corticosteroids at a dose of \>/=20 mg prednisone daily or prednisone equivalent within 30 days of enrollment, including oral, parenteral, or high dose inhaled\* corticosteroids.

   \*High-dose inhaled corticosteroid is defined as \>800 mcg/day of beclomethasone dipropionate chlorofluorocarbon compounds \[CFC\] or equivalent. Intra-articular, intranasal, and topical steroids are allowable.
9. Active malignancy or history of malignancy in the past 3 years (non-melanoma, excised, cured skin cancers are allowed).
10. History of or testing positive for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), hepatitis B, or active hepatitis C at screening (positive hepatitis C antibody and detectable hepatitis C virus RNA).
11. Anticipated or current receipt of kidney dialysis treatment.
12. Concurrent, acutely life-threatening disease or condition, or any unstable medical history, as determined by the investigator.
13. Significant chronic gastrointestinal \[GI\] condition(s) or disease\*.

    \*Includes diagnosis of inflammatory bowel disease or active Rome IV irritable bowel syndrome, poorly controlled Celiac disease, active gastroparesis, toxic megacolon, colostomy, intestinal resection (except uncomplicated appendectomy), ileus, short gut syndrome, or recent (within 6 months of enrollment) diverticular bleeding requiring surgical intervention or transfusion.
14. Recent (within 6 months of enrollment) history of difficulty with swallowing food, liquids, or pills.
15. Prosthetic heart valve or indwelling foreign structure within vascular supply (e.g., no central line or indwelling catheter) or known to have moderate to severe valvular disease.
16. History of alcohol abuse or drug addiction within 5 years of enrollment or that might interfere with the ability to comply with trial procedures.
17. Diagnosis of schizophrenia, bipolar disease, or other significant psychiatric disease in the opinion of the investigator that may interfere with or pose a problem with compliance with the study or the welfare of the participant.
18. Presence of mild, acute, or self-limited condition, such as fever or cough or other symptoms of upper respiratory tract infection within 7 days prior to planned randomization.
19. Any chronic illness that, in the opinion of the investigator, is at a stage where it might interfere with trial conduct or completion or participant safety.
20. Identified as a study site or contract research organization employee or family member who is involved in the protocol and may have direct access to trial-related data.
21. Participating in another clinical trial investigating a vaccine, drug, medical device, or medical procedure within 4 weeks of enrollment through the last visit of the study.

Where it's running

  • Alliance for Multispecialty Research, LLC - Knoxville
    Knoxville, Tennessee, United States
    Recruiting

Study contacts

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How to take part

  1. Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
  2. Check the official listing on ClinicalTrials.gov for the latest contact details and recruitment status.
  3. Contact the study coordinator or principal investigator to ask for pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.
Last reviewed 2026-11-14 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.