Elevator Pitch

• Updated ASU research suggests boosting gut microbial diversity via fecal microbiota transplants can produce sustained, long-term reductions in autism symptoms, with Phase 3 trials planned.

Key Takeaways

• A two-year follow-up of fecal microbiota transplant treatment found autism symptoms continued improving after the initial eight-week outcomes, reaching a reported 45% decrease from baseline.
• The treatment protocol involved a bowel cleanse and daily fecal microbiota transplants over seven to eight weeks, targeting low gut-microbe diversity seen in participants.
• The therapy (MTT) advanced through a Phase 2 placebo-controlled trial in adults with promising results, and the team is seeking funding for Phase 3 trials for potential FDA approval.

Most Memorable Quotes

• “Two years later those symptoms had almost been cut in half, with a professional evaluator finding a decrease of 45% in autism symptoms compared to baseline.”
• “Kids with autism are lacking important beneficial bacteria, and have fewer options in the bacterial menu of important functions that bacteria provide to the gut than typically developing kids.”
• “Our phase 2 study for adults with autism found that the treatment group improved more than placebo on the primary outcome (autism symptoms) and on a secondary outcome (daily stool record).”