Can engineered bacteria calm Crohn's disease?
NCT ID NCT07791888
First seen Aug 28, 2026 · Last updated Aug 28, 2026
Summary
This trial tests an experimental oral treatment called R-3750, a live engineered bacterium designed to deliver a protein that may reduce gut inflammation. About 40 adults with active Crohn's disease will receive either R-3750 or a placebo capsule daily for 12 weeks. Researchers will check safety, side effects, and signs of clinical activity, including disease symptoms, endoscopic response, and inflammatory markers. The goal is to see if this approach is safe and worth studying further.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only, not medical advice or a prediction.
- Active substance
- R-3750, a live engineered probiotic (Lactococcus lactis) designed to deliver a protein that may calm gut inflammation, taken as an oral capsule
- What this could lead to
- If it works, this could point toward a new oral treatment for Crohn's disease that uses engineered bacteria to reduce gut inflammation.
- What could go wrong
- This is an early, small phase 1 trial focused on safety, so it may not show clear benefit. The engineered bacteria could cause side effects or fail to work in humans.
This is an AI summary of the original study and may miss details. Read our disclaimer.
Study facts
What this study's own registry entry says, in plain language.
- Phase
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Phase 1
The first testing in people. Mainly checks safety and dose, usually in a small group.
- Participants
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About 40 people
The number the study aims to enrol. It can still change while the study runs.
- Expected to start
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Nov 2026
An estimate. Start dates often move.
- Expected to finish
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Mar 2029
An estimate. End dates often move.
- Lead sponsor
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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
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18 to 80 years
- Sex
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Anyone
- Healthy volunteers
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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 Hide 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: * Age 18 to 80 years, inclusive, at the time of informed consent. * Able and willing to provide written informed consent and comply with study procedures and study visits. * Documented diagnosis of Crohn's disease with symptoms/onset of disease at least 3 months prior to Screening. * Active Crohn's disease defined by Harvey-Bradshaw Index (HBI) score between 5 and 15 at Screening. * Evidence of active inflammatory disease, defined by at least one of the following: CRP ≥5 mg/L, fecal calprotectin ≥50 µg/g, biopsy-verified inflammation, or endoscopic evidence of active inflammation. * Women of childbearing potential must have a negative pregnancy test at Screening and before dosing and agree to use highly effective contraception during the study and for at least 3 months after the last dose. * Men with partners of childbearing potential must agree to use contraception according to institutional requirements during the study and for at least 3 months after the last dose. Exclusion Criteria: * Crohn's disease in clinical remission, including HBI \<5 or CDAI \<150 at Screening. * Severe Crohn's disease requiring urgent escalation of therapy, hospitalization, or surgery in the opinion of the Investigator. * Imminent risk of scheduled intestinal surgery, including clinically significant stenosis, strictures, internal fistula, abscess, or obstructive complications. * History of partial or incomplete bowel obstruction within 6 months prior to Screening; current stoma, ileostomy, colostomy, or anticipated need for ostomy during the study; diagnosis of short bowel syndrome or clinically significant malabsorptive condition; uncontrolled chronic diarrhea due to a condition other than Crohn's disease; or bowel resection within 3 months prior to Screening. Subjects with prior bowel resection may be eligible if, in the opinion of the Investigator and Sponsor, the remaining bowel anatomy is adequate for study participation and interpretation of study endpoints. * History (past 6 months) or current Clostridioides difficile infection, clinically significant enteric infection, other active infection or chronic infection requiring ongoing antimicrobial treatment. * Treatment with antibiotics within 2 weeks prior to Day 1 or expected during the study period. * Use of biologic, targeted synthetic, or systemic immunomodulatory/immunosuppressive therapy for Crohn's disease within the 4 weeks washout period prior to Day 1, unless specifically permitted. Stable doses of aminosalicylates, budesonide, or low-dose systemic corticosteroids are permitted if stable for at least 2 weeks prior to Day 1 and expected to remain stable during the treatment period. Low-dose systemic corticosteroids are defined as prednisone ≤20 mg/day or equivalent. * Use of probiotics or live biotherapeutic products within 2 weeks prior to Day 1. * Severe comorbidities, including uncontrolled diabetes, clinically significant cardiopulmonary failure, severe liver disease, severe renal disease, or other clinically significant condition that would place the subject at risk or confound study interpretation. * Abnormal hepatic function, including ALT or ALP \>2.5 × ULN, liver cirrhosis, portal hypertension, or clinically significant active liver disease. * Abnormal renal function, including cystatin C \>ULN or other clinically significant renal abnormality. * Known active blood-borne infection, including HIV, active hepatitis A, B, or C infection, or tuberculosis. * History of malignancy within 5 years prior to Day 1, except adequately treated non-metastatic basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma of the skin, or carcinoma in situ of the cervix. * Pregnant, breastfeeding, or planning to become pregnant during the study. Clinically significant mental disorder, substance use disorder, alcohol or drug addiction that may interfere with participation or compliance. * Participation in another interventional clinical trial within 30 days prior to Day 1 or simultaneous participation in another interventional clinical trial. * Any significant disease, disorder, laboratory abnormality, or circumstance that, in the opinion of the Investigator, may put the subject at risk, affect study results, or interfere with study participation.
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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.
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The official record
ClinicalTrials.gov lists the study team's own contact details, including names and phone numbers. We don't republish those.
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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.
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