Seres Therapeutics, Inc. (Nasdaq: MCRB) and Nestlé Health Science today announced that VOWST™ (fecal microbiota spores, live-brpk) is now commercially available for patients. VOWST, formerly called SER-109, is the first and only U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved orally administered microbiota-based therapeutic to prevent recurrence of C. difficile infection (CDI) in adults following antibacterial treatment for recurrent CDI (rCDI). VOWST is not indicated for the treatment of CDI.
The commercial availability of VOWST provides a new oral dosing option that has demonstrated efficacy in the prevention of further recurrences of rCDI, including those who have experienced a first recurrence. We look forward to helping patients who have this potentially life-threatening disease,
said Eric Shaff, President and Chief Executive Officer at Seres.
At Nestlé Health Science, we are leveraging our strong existing infrastructure, including our gastrointestinal sales force and payer access team, to commercialize VOWST and provide this product to those who need it most. Since the approval of VOWST, our teams have engaged with healthcare professionals and are committed to facilitating patient access.
said Greg Behar, Chief Executive Officer, Nestlé Health Science.
As a treating physician, I am pleased to now have the ability to prescribe VOWST, a 3-day oral regimen, to eligible patients in my practice,
said Carl Crawford M.D., Assistant Professor of Clinical Medicine at Weill Cornell Medical College.
Recurrent C. difficile infection is a challenging and debilitating disease, and VOWST has potential to make a meaningful impact to this patient community.
VOWST Voyage™
Seres Therapeutics and Nestlé Health Science are committed to broad access for appropriate patients. The VOWST Voyage Support Program offers a range of resources and programs designed to help eligible patients prescribed VOWST access and initiate treatment. The program includes the VOWST Co-Pay Savings Program for eligible, commercially insured patients to help reduce their out-of-pocket costs.
Information on the VOWST Voyage Support Program is available at VowstHCP.com or by calling 888-356-5444.
About Recurrent C. difficile Infection (rCDI)
Recurrent C. difficile infection is a gastrointestinal infection caused by C. difficile bacteria. rCDI is linked to dysbiosis of the gastrointestinal microbiome and is associated with increased morbidity and mortality. CDI has been characterized as an Urgent Health Threat by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). rCDI results in a substantial burden on the healthcare system1 with the average rCDI-related annual costs per patient at approximately $43K.2
About Seres Therapeutics
Seres Therapeutics, Inc. (Nasdaq: MCRB) is a commercial-stage company developing novel microbiome therapeutics for serious diseases. Seres’ lead program, VOWST™, obtained U.S. FDA approval in April 2023 as the first orally administered microbiota-based therapeutic to prevent recurrence of C. difficile infection (CDI) in adults following antibacterial treatment for recurrent CDI and is being commercialized in collaboration with Nestlé Health Science. Seres is evaluating SER-155 in a Phase 1b study in patients receiving allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. The Company is also conducting research to inform further development of microbiome therapeutics for ulcerative colitis. For more information, please visit www.serestherapeutics.com.
About Nestlé Health Science
Nestlé Health Science, a leader in the science of nutrition, is a globally managed business unit of Nestlé. We are committed to redefining the management of health, offering an extensive portfolio of science-based consumer health, medical nutrition, pharmaceutical therapies, and vitamin and supplement brands. Our extensive research network provides the foundation for products that empower healthier lives through nutrition. Headquartered in Switzerland, we have more than 12,000 employees around the world, with products available in more than 140 countries. For more information, please visit www.nestlehealthscience.us.
References
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. CPI Inflation Calculator. U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Published 2022. https://www.bls.gov/data/inflation_calculator.htm. CPI inflation adjusted to March 2023.
- Rodrigues R, Barber GE, Ananthakrishnan AN. A Comprehensive Study of Costs Associated With Recurrent Clostridium difficileInfection. Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol. 2016;38:196-202. DOI: 10.1017/ice.2016.246
Original Source: https://ir.serestherapeutics.com/news-releases/news-release-details/seres-therapeutics-and-nestle-health-science-announce-us