Ferring Pharmaceuticals – Microbiota-Based Biotherapeutics To Address Clostridioides difficile Infection

Dr. James Tursi, MD, Chief Scientific Officer of Ferring Pharmaceuticals discusses developments in microbiome-based therapeutics for the treatment of recurrent C. difficile (rCDI) infection. The current standard of care treatment for rCDI is currently antibiotics. While they are important, they do not restore the underlying health of the gut microbiome, nor can they stop C. diff​icile​ spores from growing back. He talks about what their late stage pivotal Phase 3 clinical trial results showed regarding mitigating recurrent C. difficile infection.​ ​The ​gut ​microbiome is an emerging area where biotherapeutics are being developed to address certain diseases and conditions.​ 

Dr. James Tursi is responsible for U.S. Clinical Development, Pharmaceutical Development, Medical Affairs, Pharmacovigilance (PV), Project Planning and Regulatory Affairs. James collectively has over 30 years of experience in medicine and nearly 20 years in the pharmaceutical industry. Prior to joining Ferring, as Executive Vice President, R&D, Chief Medical Officer for Antares Pharmaceuticals, he created patent extension and portfolio opportunities, was the medical-clinical-PV lead for commercial and business development activities and designed the medical/clinical commercial strategies. Before joining Antares, James held positions of increasing responsibility at Aralez Pharmaceuticals, Auxilium Pharmaceuticals, GlaxoSmithKline, and Procter & Gamble Pharmaceuticals. His therapeutic expertise includes reproductive health, urology, endocrinology (including pediatric), gastroenterology, cardiology, vascular surgery, oncology and neurology. He practiced medicine and surgery for over 10 years and created a medical education company, I Will Pass ®, which assisted physicians in the process of board certification. James holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Chemistry and Biology from Ursinus College; a Doctor of Medicine from Medical College of Pennsylvania and performed his residency in Gynecology and Obstetrics at the Johns Hopkins Hospital.