8 November 2018 - - US-based preclinical stage company Scioto Biosciences has presented data showing significant reduction of incidence and severity of experimental Clostridium difficile infection and improved survival in mice using its novel live bacterial therapeutics delivery system in which bacteria are given via a successful single dose, single strain intervention, the company said.

The presentation, A Novel Probiotic Platform Therapy for the Treatment of Clostridium difficile Infection, was presented by Rita Shelby, MD, Surgery Resident at The Ohio State University, at the American Academy of Pediatrics National Conference and Exhibition on Saturday, Nov. 3 in Orlando.

The study also included insight from three of Scioto's scientific founders, Michael Bailey, PhD; Steven D. Goodman, PhD; Gail E. Besner, MD FACS, as well as Natalie Tengberg, BS; Jacob Olson, MD; Miriam Conces, MD; Jason Navarro; Jacob Allen, PhD; and Yijie Wang, MS.

This study performed at the Research Institute of Nationwide Children's Hospital sought to evaluate the effect of Scioto's lead formulation SB-121 on the incidence and severity of CDI, the most common cause of antimicrobial-associated diarrhea affecting all patient populations across healthcare centres worldwide. The Scioto platform takes advantage of the bacteria's activated or 'biofilm' state.

In doing so, the platform is able to increase both the potency and efficacy of the therapeutic bacteria.

Based in Indianapolis, Scioto Biosciences is a preclinical stage company developing innovative therapies devoted to having a transformative impact on the delivery of live bacterial therapeutics (LBTs).

Scioto was founded in 2017 as a partnership between Indiana business accelerator, Monon Bioventures (MBV) and The Research Institute at Nationwide Children's Hospital (RINCH), with whom the company has a worldwide exclusive licensing agreement.

The Scioto Activated Bacterial Therapeutic Platform has the potential to enhance efficacy wherever LBTs are used such as diabetes, neurological disorders, gastrointestinal health, alternatives to in-feed antibiotics (in livestock) and others.