Evaluating the Safety and Efficacy of Oral Encapsulated Fecal Microbiota Transplant in Peanut Allergic Patients

A Phase I Open Label Trial to Evaluate the Safety and Efficacy of Oral Encapsulated Fecal Microbiota Transplantation in Peanut Allergic Patients

This is a Phase I trial to evaluate the safety and efficacy of oral encapsulated fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) in the treatment of peanut allergy. In this research the investigators would like to learn more about ways to treat peanut allergies. There is currently no known cure for peanut allergy. The primary aim is to assess safety and tolerability of oral FMT in patients with peanut allergy aged 18-40 years.

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Peanut Allergy
• Intervention / Treatment: Biological: Fecal Microbiota Capsule

Detailed Description

This is a study of fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) in the treatment of peanut allergy. The primary aim is to assess safety and tolerability of oral encapsulated FMT in patients with peanut allergy aged 18-40 years. A total of 15 patients with peanut allergy will be enrolled after they fail a screening food challenge to peanut. 10 patients will be given oral encapsulated frozen FMT over 1-2 days. 5 additional patients will receive antibiotics prior to being given oral encapsulated frozen FMT over 1-2 days. Patients will undergo a second and third food challenge after receiving FMT. The expected duration of the study for each subject will be one year. Stool collection, skin testing and blood samples will be done serially.

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Actual): 15
• Phase: Phase 1

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• United States
  • Massachusetts
    • Boston, Massachusetts, United States, 02115
      • Boston Children's Hospital

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 18 years to 40 years (Adult)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

1. Develop dose limiting symptoms to peanut during a DPBCFC conducted in accordance with PRACTALL (Practical Issues in Allergology, Joint United States/European Union Initiative) guidelines at 3 mg, 10 mg, 30 mg, or 100 mg peanut protein.
2. Has a positive SPT to peanut (≥5mm) and/or a positive peanut-specific IgE >0.35kU/L.
3. Has a Spirometry or Peak Flow with Measurement of FEV1>=80% of predicted
4. Have negative test results for Hepatitis B surface antigen and antibodies (HBV), Hepatitis C (HCV), and Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV).
5. Have a negative urine hCG test if a female participant.
6. Agrees to use an acceptable single-barrier form of birth control from enrollment through the 4 month DBPCFC study visit if female of childbearing potential if sexually active. An example of a single-barrier method of contraception includes condoms or oral contraceptives. Acceptable methods of birth control include implants, injectables, combined oral contraceptives, some intrauterine contraceptive devises (IUDs), sexual abstinence, a vasectomized partner, the contraceptive patch, the contraceptive ring, and condoms.
7. Able to swallow 2 empty capsules size 00.
8. Able to give informed consent.
9. Willing and able to participate in the study requirements, including study visits, DBPCFCs, serial stool collection
10. Willing to undergo telephone follow-up to assess for safety and adverse events.

Exclusion Criteria:

1. Patients with a history of severe anaphylaxis to peanut and/or treenuts (hypotension requiring vasopressor support, hypoxia requiring mechanical ventilation, or neurological compromise and/or ICU admission)
2. Patients with other food allergies (i.e. IgE mediated food restrictions not including oral allergy syndrome) excluding peanut and tree nuts.
3. Patients with Bovine gelatin allergy.
4. Patients with chronic illness other than controlled asthma that is mild intermittent, mild- persistent or moderate persistent, mild eczema and allergic rhinitis. Exceptions can be made per PI discretion if illness is not expected to affect allergies or treatment.
5. Recurrent or chronic infections necessitating frequent systemic (including oral) antibiotic administration.
6. History of chronic immunosuppressive therapies.
7. Patients who are diagnosed with active, chronic urticaria.
8. Patients who have received a dose of peanut oral immunotherapy within the last year, Patients on aeroallergen immunotherapy maintenance therapy for less than 6 months, or patients who have received Omalizumab therapy within the last year.
9. Women who are pregnant or breast feeding, or planning to get pregnant during the time of the study.
10. Sexually active female patients who refuse to use contraception from enrollment through the 4 month DBPCFC study visit
11. Patient with GI conditions including inflammatory bowel disease eosinophilic esophagitis, food protein induced enterocolitis, uncontrolled reflux despite medication, uncontrolled chronic constipation despite medication, esophageal dysmotility, swallowing dysfunction, delayed gastric emptying syndromes, pill esophagitis or history of aspiration pneumonia within 3 months prior to screening.
12. Patient with current or a history of rheumatologic conditions. Exceptions can be made per PI discretion if illness is not expected to affect allergies or treatment.
13. Patients who have a direct relative (biologic parent or sibling) with inflammatory bowel disease.
14. Patients with any form of immunodeficiency.
15. Patients participating or planning to participate in the next 6 months. Exceptions can be made per PI discretion.
16. Patients with positive antibody test results for HBV, HCV, or HIV.
17. Patients who have received systemic corticosteroids therapy for 1 week or more over the past 3 months.
18. Patients who develop dose limiting symptoms to peanut during a DPBCFC conducted in accordance with PRACTALL guidelines at 1 mg peanut protein.
19. Patient with an allergy to Vancomycin, Neomycin or metronidazole (for those who will receive antibiotic pre-treatment)

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Treatment
• Allocation: Non-Randomized
• Interventional Model: Single Group Assignment
• Masking: None (Open Label)

Number of Arms

2

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: Non-antibiotics Arm; The first 10 patients will not receive antibiotics prior to receiving the investigational agent, which consists of screened-donor inoculum of a biologically active human substance (FMT). We will give oral frozen FMT over 2 days.	Biological: Fecal Microbiota Capsule; We will treat patients with oral encapsulated frozen FMT over 2 days.; Other Names: Fecal Microbiota Transplant; FMT Therapy
Experimental: Antibiotics Arm; An additional 5 patients will receive antibiotics prior to receiving the investigational agent, which consists of screened-donor inoculum of a biologically active human substance (FMT). We will give oral frozen FMT over 2 days.	Biological: Fecal Microbiota Capsule; We will treat patients with oral encapsulated frozen FMT over 2 days.; Other Names: Fecal Microbiota Transplant; FMT Therapy

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Presence of FMT-related adverse events grade 2 or above	Presence of FMT-related adverse events grade 2 or above	12 months

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Changes in threshold of peanut reactivity during a double blind placebo controlled food challenge from 100 mg to 300 mg peanut protein, using PRACTALL guidelines	To evaluate whether FMT therapy alone or after antibiotic pretreatment can increase the threshold of peanut sensitivity during a double blind placebo controlled food challenge from 100 mg peanut protein to 300 mg.	1 day
Changes in threshold of peanut reactivity from 100 mg to 600 mg peanut protein during double blind placebo controlled food challenge using PRACTALL guidelines	To evaluate whether FMT therapy alone or after antibiotic pretreatment can increase the threshold of peanut sensitivity during a double blind placebo controlled food challenge from 100 mg peanut protein to 600 mg	1 day
Changes in skin test peanut specific wheal size in mm	To evaluate the changes following FMT (with and without antibiotics), to peanut specific skin prick test.	12 months
Changes in serum peanut-specific IgE level in kU/L	To evaluate the changes following FMT (with and without antibiotics), to serum peanut-specific IgE level in kU/L	12 months
Changes in gut microbial composition measured in serial stool samples, using 16S RNA sequencing and persistence of that change over time	To evaluate the changes following FMT (with and without antibiotics), to gut microbial composition measured in serial stool samples, using 16S RNA sequencing and persistence of that change over time	12 months

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Rima Rachid
• Investigators: Principal Investigator: Rima Rachid, MD, Boston Children's Hospital

Publications and helpful links

General Publications

• Berin MC. Dysbiosis in food allergy and implications for microbial therapeutics. J Clin Invest. 2021 Jan 19;131(2):e144994. doi: 10.1172/JCI144994.

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): March 3, 2017
• Primary Completion (Actual): July 28, 2021
• Study Completion (Actual): July 28, 2021

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: November 7, 2016
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: November 7, 2016
• First Posted (Estimated): November 9, 2016

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): April 30, 2026
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: April 27, 2026
• Last Verified: April 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: Fecal Microbiota Transplantation; Allergy, Peanut; Peanut Allergy; Food allergy; Fecal Transplant; Hypersensitivity Peanut; Donor Feces Infusion; Fecal Transplantation; Intestinal Microbiota Transfer
• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Nut and Peanut Hypersensitivity; Immune System Diseases; Hypersensitivity, Immediate; Hypersensitivity; Food Hypersensitivity; Peanut Hypersensitivity; Therapeutics; Biological Therapy; Fecal Microbiota Transplantation
• Other Study ID Numbers: P00020640

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

• Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?: NO

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: Yes
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No