Fortified Oral Rehydration Beverage

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Diarrheal Duration in children who received fORT or ORT.

A. Duration from start of treatment to first solid stool. Diarrhea duration was reduced by 30% (39 hours) in the fORT group compared to ORT, p < 0.05.

B. Duration from start of treatment to last diarrheal stool. Diarrheal duration was reduced by 30% (35 hours) in the fORT group compared to ORT, p = 0.07.

Invention Summary:

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), nearly 500,000 children under the age of 5 die every year from diarrhea. The most common causes of diarrhea in the U.S. are viral in origin, due to infection with enterovirus, norovirus, and rotavirus (for the unvaccinated). Additionally, severe diarrhea, typically in developing countries, can cause lasting damage to the central nervous system (CNS). Standard Oral Rehydration Therapy (ORT), while known for its role in reducing deaths in children due to diarrhea, does not reduce the duration nor the severity of secretory diarrhea in children, extending hospital stays and increasing healthcare costs.

Rutgers researchers have developed a fortified oral rehydration therapy (fORT) drink with a unique mixture of animo acids and reduced glucose levels to improve upon the standard of care. The active ingredients within this drink could be applied to patients with infectious diarrhea as a means of rehydration as well as combatting gastroenteritis. For pediatric patients, this mixture of amino acids could help with diarrhea by providing nutrients to the digestive system and reducing the severity and duration of diarrhea. Our clinical trial indicates this amino acid-based formulation significantly reduces the duration of diarrhea by 30%. .

Market Applications:

• Oral rehydration drink for reducing severity and duration of diarrhea
• Global applicability for treatment of cholera and dysentery
•  fORT could potentially benefit patients with head trauma
• General sports drinks supporting rehydration and gut health
• Everyday beverage for hydration

Advantages:

• Reduces severity and duration of diarrhea in patients, leading to faster recovery
• fORT could be used as a treatment for other common gastrointestinal disorders in children and adults (IBS with diarrhea, chemotherapy- or radiation-induced diarrhea)
• Combination of reduced glucose and added amino acids strengthens the gut and increases water absorption over standard of care
• Preventing dehydration in compliance with World Health Organization Treatment Plan A

Clinical Trial Information:

• Study Details | NCT06137014 | Fortified Oral Rehydration Therapy for Pediatric Diarrhea | ClinicalTrials.gov

Intellectual Property & Development Status: Provisional application filed. Patent pending. Available for licensing and/or research collaboration. For any business development and other collaborative partnerships, contact:  marketingbd@research.rutgers.edu