Stem cell particles aim to heal painful Crohn's fistulas

NCT ID NCT06918808

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Recruiting now This study
This trial is taking on new participants right now.
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Registered, but not yet taking participants.
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Not open to general applications. Only people the study team invites can take part.
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Paused for now. It may or may not start again.
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The trial has finished. Results may not be published yet.
Stopped early
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Cancelled
Cancelled before anyone took part.

Expanded access (not trials)

Expanded access
Not a trial. This treatment can be requested outside a study, case by case, for people who qualify.
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Expanded access (ended)
Not a trial. The treatment could once be requested outside a study, but no longer can.
Approved
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First seen Jun 27, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026

Summary

This study tests an experimental treatment called DB-3Q, made from stem cell particles, for people with Crohn's disease who have painful tunnels (fistulas) near the anus. About 36 adults will receive either the treatment or a placebo to see if it safely closes the fistulas and improves MRI scans. The goal is to control the disease and heal the fistulas, not to cure Crohn's.

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Study facts

What this study's own registry entry says, in plain language.

Phase

Phase 2

Tests whether the treatment actually works, and watches for side effects, in a larger group.

Participants

About 36 people

The number the study aims to enrol. It can still change while the study runs.

Started

May 2025

Expected to finish

Dec 2027

An estimate. End dates often move.

Lead sponsor

A company

The lead sponsor is a pharmaceutical, biotech, or medical-device company.

Who can take part

This study's own entry requirements. Only the study team can say for certain whether you qualify.

Ages

18 to 75 years

Sex

Anyone

Healthy volunteers

Not accepted

This study is not open to healthy volunteers. The entry requirements below say who it is open to.

Show the full entry requirements

Copied word for word from the study's registry entry, so the wording is the study team's rather than ours.

Inclusion Criteria: 1. Written informed consent from participant 2. Men and women 18-75 years of age with a diagnosis of Crohn's Disease for at least six months duration prior to Day 1 3. One or two perianal fistula(s) with 1 or two external openings, that are actively draining 4. Failed at least one medical therapy within the last year including, but not limited to, antibiotics, immunomodulators (6-MP, methotrexate, azathioprine), monoclonal antibodies (adalimumab, certolizumab, golimumab, guselkumab, infliximab, risankizumab, ustekinumab, vedolizumab), or small molecule inhibitors (tofacitinib, upadacitinib) 5. Previous failed surgical intervention, including seton placement at least two weeks prior to screening, or are not candidates for surgical intervention or are not willing to undergo surgical intervention for the management of their fistula 6. Medical therapy for CD stable for at least 2 months prior to Day 1 (Changes in dosing or dosing intervals related to serum drug levels are not permitted) 7. Antibiotics for the treatment of CD (e.g., ciprofloxacin, metronidazole, or rifaximin) must have been stable for at least 2 weeks prior to Day 1 8. Oral corticosteroids ≤ 20 mg/day prednisone or its equivalent and must have been stable for at least 4 weeks prior to Day 1 9. Approval of a screening pelvic MRI by review of a central radiologist. The definition of an acceptable screening pelvic MRI is provided in the study imaging manual. 10. Fulfillment of radiologic inclusion by a central radiologist. Radiologic inclusion on MRI is presence of 1 or 2 qualifying perianal fistula(s). Radiologic inclusion assesses anatomic criteria of a perianal fistula and study-defined imaging endpoint criteria. a. Anatomically, a qualifying perianal fistula on MRI fulfills the following from central radiologist assessment: i. has a communication with the internal sphincter of the anal canal ii. is classified as a Parks intersphincteric, transsphincteric, or suprasphincteric perianal fistula. b. For study imaging endpoints, a central radiologist confirms that a fistula has a minimum score of 7 (range 0 to 25) on MAGNIFI-CD and a fistula fibrosis -to-fluid ratio of less than 80%.25, 37 Within components of MAGNIFI-CD, the fistula has a length of 2.5 cm or greater and has a composition of either 'predominantly fluid/pus' or 'predominantly granulation tissue'. c. Within components of fistula fibrosis-to-fluid ratio, the ratio of hypointense scarring or fibrosis on MRI T2 weighted sequences to hyperintense fluid on MRI T2 weighted sequences is below 80%.25 The fistula is categorized into one of following ranges of fibrosis-to- fluid ratio: i) 0%, ii) 1-19%, iii) 20-39%, iv) 40-59%, or v) 60-79% Exclusion Criteria 1. Lack of informed consent 2. Pregnant woman, woman of childbearing potential without a documented negative urine or serum pregnancy test, or woman who is breast feeding 3. A participant who is unwilling to use medically acceptable contraception methods during participation in study 4. Active perianal abscess or infection at screening or Day 1 5. Clinically significant medical conditions within six months before Day 1 that would, in the opinion of the Investigator, compromise the safety of the participant 6. Confirmed HIV, Hepatitis B, or Hepatitis C infections 7. History of cancer including melanoma (with the exception of localized non-melanoma skin cancers) within one year of screening 8. History of colorectal cancer within 2 years of screening 9. History of coagulation disorders and/or are currently on anti- coagulant therapy 10. Presence of a recto/ano-vaginal fistula 11. Presence of an ileal anal pouch and/or history of proctectomy 12. Presence of severe proctitis (SES CD \>6) 13. Any condition which, in the opinion of the Investigator, would make it unsafe or unsuitable for participant to undergo MRI evaluations (i.e., presence of implantable or external MRI unsafe device that cannot be removed, body weight exceeding limitations, claustrophobia, etc.) 14. The following out of range laboratory results at screening * WBC \> 13 x 109 /L * Hemoglobin \< 8 g/dL * Platelet count \< 100,000/mL * AST/ALT \> 3 times the upper limit of normal * Creatinine \> 2 μmol/L * PT/INR: 2 times the upper limit of normal * Hemoglobin A1c \> 6.5 mg/dL 15. Use of investigational therapy or treatment within 30 days prior to Day 1 16. Does not meet the radiologic anatomic inclusion criteria: i) has a primary communication with the rectum and not the anal canal; ii) is classified as a Parks extrasphincteric fistula 17. Does not meet the minimum thresholds for the radiologic imaging endpoint inclusion criteria: i) has a MAGNIFI-CD score of \<7 (range 0-6) on screening pelvic MRI; ii) has a fibrosis-to-fluid ratio of 80% or more (range 80-100%) on screening pelvic MRI

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Conditions

The condition(s) this trial relates to.

As listed by the trial registrant

The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.

How to take part

Only the study team decides who joins. These are the ways to reach them.

  1. The places running it

    5 sites. The list below names each one and where it is.

  2. The official record

    ClinicalTrials.gov lists the study team's own contact details, including names and phone numbers. We don't republish those.

    Open the record ↗

  3. A doctor treating you

    A doctor who knows your case can contact a study site on your behalf, and can tell you whether this study is worth pursuing at all.

Contacts and locations

Locations

  • Columbia University Irving Medical Center/NYPH

    RECRUITING

    New York, New York, 10032, United States

  • Direct Biologics Investigational Site

    RECRUITING

    Aurora, Colorado, 80045, United States

  • Direct Biologics Investigational Site

    RECRUITING

    St Louis, Missouri, 63130, United States

  • Direct Biologics Investigational Site

    RECRUITING

    Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 19104, United States

  • Direct Biologics Investigational Site

    RECRUITING

    Nashville, Tennessee, 37232, United States