Merck's bezlotoxumab meets Phase III primary endpoint for C. difficile

US pharma giant Merck & Co (NYSE: MRK) says that the two pivotal Phase III clinical studies for bezlotoxumab, its investigational antitoxin for prevention of Clostridium difficile infection recurrence, met their primary efficacy endpoint.

This was the reduction in C. difficile recurrence through week 12 compared to placebo, when used in conjunction with standard of care antibiotics for the treatment of C. difficile.

Results from the studies were presented for the first time at the Interscience Conference of Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy (ICAAC) and International Congress of Chemotherapy and Infection (ICC) joint meeting in San Diego, USA, September 17-21.