Stem cell therapy for Crohn's fistulas: safety check ends early
NCT ID NCT04118088
First seen Jun 25, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026 · Updated 2 times
Summary
This study tested the long-term safety and effectiveness of a stem cell treatment called darvadstrocel (Alofisel) for people with Crohn's disease and complex anal fistulas. Researchers planned to give one injection of the stem cells and follow 53 participants over several visits, including MRI scans. The study was terminated early, so the full safety and benefit picture is incomplete.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only, not medical advice or a prediction.
- Active substance
- darvadstrocel (human stem cells)
- What this could lead to
- If successful, this could provide a safer, more effective way to treat complex anal fistulas in Crohn's disease, potentially reducing the need for surgery.
- What could go wrong
- The study was terminated early with only 53 participants, so results are limited. Stem cell treatments carry risks like allergic reactions, infection, or tumor formation, and long-term benefits are not proven.
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 4
Runs after approval, following long-term safety and how well the treatment works in everyday use.
- Participants
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53 people
The number who actually took part.
- Started
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Dec 2020
- Finished
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Feb 2025
- 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 years and older
- 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: 1. In the opinion of the investigator, the participant is capable of understanding and complying with protocol requirements. 2. The participant signs and dates a written, ICF and any required privacy authorization before the initiation of any study procedures. 3. The participant is male or female and aged 18 years or older. 4. The participant has complex perianal fistula(s) with a maximum of 2 internal openings and a maximum of 3 external openings based on clinical assessment and a reading of a locally-performed contrast enhanced (gadolinium) pelvic MRI. Fistula(s) must have been draining for at least 6 weeks prior to baseline visit. A complex perianal fistula is defined as a fistula that meets 1 or more of the following criteria: 1. High inter-sphincteric, high trans-sphincteric, extra-sphincteric or suprasphincteric. 2. Presence of ≥2 external openings. 3. Associated perianal abscess(es). Note: Abscesses that are larger than 2 cm in at least 2 dimensions on MRI must be confirmed to have been drained adequately by the surgeon during the preparation curettage in order to be eligible. 5. The participant has already received treatment with darvadstrocel for a complex perianal fistula at least 6 months prior to baseline visit for retreatment, and their physician has planned a repeat treatment administration for the original tract (full remission not obtained or relapse of fistula draining) or for a new complex perianal fistula tract. 6. The participant has controlled or mildly active Crohn's disease (CD) (defined as patient reported outcomes measure derived from CDAI patient reported outcome score-2 \[PRO-2\] score \<14). 7. A male participant who is nonsterilized and sexually active with a female partner of childbearing potential agrees to use barrier method of contraception (e.g. condom with or without spermicide) from signing of informed consent and until 1 year after repeat administration. 8. A female participant of childbearing potential who is sexually active with a nonsterilized male partner agrees to use a highly effective/effective method of contraception from signing of informed consent and until 1 year after repeat administration. Exclusion Criteria: 1. The participant has lack of clinical response to prior treatment with darvadstrocel, where clinical response is defined as closure of at least 50% of all treated external fistula openings that were draining at baseline despite gentle finger compression or in the case of a unique fistula, a partial closure of the fistula. 2. The participant has a history of hypersensitivity or allergies to darvadstrocel or related compounds. 3. The participant has a history of hypersensitivity or allergies to penicillin or to aminoglycosides; Dulbecco modified eagle medium; bovine serum; local anesthetics or gadolinium. 4. The participant is currently participating in a double-blind clinical study with darvadstrocel. Participants participating in the ongoing INSPIRE registry (Alofisel-5003) study would need to withdraw from that study in order to enroll in this study. 5. The participant is currently receiving or has received any other investigational medicinal product (IMP) within the last 3 months or at least 5 times the respective elimination half-life time, whichever is longer, before signing the ICF. 6. The participant has known or suspected COVID-19 by the investigator within the past 2 months (additional testing may be performed at the discretion of the investigator). Positive antibody testing for COVID without other evidence of current or recent active infection does not exclude participation. a) Participants who were in screening at the time that COVID 19-related factors resulted in discontinuation may also be rescreened with approval of the sponsor or designee. 7. The participant has major alterations in any of the following laboratory tests: 1. Serum creatinine levels \>1.5 times the upper limit of normal (ULN). 2. Total bilirubin \>1.5 × ULN. 3. Aspartate aminotransferase (AST) or alanine aminotransferase (ALT) \>3.0 × ULN. 4. Hemoglobin \<10.0 grams per deciliter (g/dL). 5. Platelets \<75.0 × 10\^9 per liter (/L). 6. Albumin \<3.0 g/dL. 8. The participant has an increased risk for a surgical procedure. 9. The participant has a known chronically active hepatopathy of any origin, including cirrhosis and participants with persistent positive hepatitis B surface antigen and quantitative hepatitis B virus polymerase chain reaction (PCR) or positive serology for hepatitis C virus (HCV) and quantitative HCV PCR within 6 months before the baseline visit. 10. If female, the participant is pregnant or breastfeeding, or intending to become pregnant before participating in this study, during the study, or intending to donate ova during such time period. 11. If male, the participant intends to donate sperm during this study. 12. The participant has a contraindication to MRI scan (e.g., due to the presence of pacemaker, hip replacement, severe claustrophobia, or renal insufficiency as defined by local clinical guidelines). 13. The participant has a contraindication to the anesthetic procedure. 14. The participant has severe rectal and/or anal stenosis that would make it impossible to follow the surgery procedure. 15. The participant has severe proctitis (rectal ulcers \>0.5 cm) that would make it impossible to follow the surgery procedure. 16. The participant has any prior invasive malignancy diagnosed within the last 3 years before baseline visit. Participants with basal cell carcinoma of the skin completely resected outside the perineal region can be included. 17. The participant has a current or recent (within 6 months before the baseline visit) history of severe, progressive, and/or uncontrolled hepatic, hematologic, gastrointestinal (other than CD), renal, endocrine, pulmonary, cardiac, neurologic, or psychiatric disease that may result in participant's increased risk from study participation and/or lack of compliance with study procedures. 18. The participant has had major surgery of the gastrointestinal tract within 6 months before baseline or any minor surgery of the gastrointestinal tract 3 months before baseline. 19. The participant had local major perianal surgery, and/or treatment with darvadstrocel within 6 months before baseline. The abscess drainage, cleaning surgery, or seton placement are not considered as "local major surgery" in this protocol. 20. The participant does not wish to or cannot comply with study procedures.
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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.
Contacts and locations
Locations
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Akh Wien
Vienna, 1090, Austria
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C.H.U. de Pontevedra
Pontevedra, 36071, Spain
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CHRU Hopital de Pontchaillou - Maladies De L'Appareil Digesti
Rennes, Ille-et-Vilaine, 35033, France
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CHRU de Lille - Hopital Claude Huriez - Gastroenterologie
Lille, Nord, 59037, France
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CHU AMIENS PICARDIE Site SUD Hepato-Gastroenterology
Amiens, Picardie, 80054, France
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CHU de Nice - Hopital de l'Archet II - Gastro-Enterologie, Hepatologi
Nice, Alpes-Maritimes, 6202, France
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Centre Hospitalier Lyon Sud - Gastroenterology
Pierre-Bénite, Rhone, 69495, France
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Chaim sheba Medical Center
Tel Litwinsky, 5262000, Israel
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Charite - Campus Benjamin Franklin
Berlin, 12200, Germany
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Groupe Hospitalier Diaconesses Croix Saint Simon
Paris, 75020, France
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H. Donostia
Donostia / San Sebastian, San Sebastian, 20014, Spain
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H.C.U. de Valencia
Valencia, 46010, Spain
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Hadassah Medical Organization, Hadassah Medical Center, Ein-Karem
Jerusalem, 91120, Israel
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Hospital Clinic de Barcelona
Barcelona, 8036, Spain
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Hospital Universitari de Bellvitge
Barcelona, 8907, Spain
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Hospital Universitari i Politecnic La Fe
Valencia, 46026, Spain
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Hospital Universitario Fundacion Jimenez Diaz
Madrid, 28040, Spain
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Hospital Universitario La Paz
Madrid, 28046, Spain
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Hospital Universitario Nuestra Senora de la Candelaria
Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Canary Islands, 38010, Spain
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Hospital Universitario Son Espases
Palma de Mallorca, Balearic Islands, 07120, Spain
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Hospital Universitario Vall d'Hebron
Barcelona, 8035, Spain
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ISCARE a.s.
Prague, 190 00, Czechia
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Klinikum Dresden, University Hospital Dresden
Dresden, Saxony, 1307, Germany
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Krankenhaus Waldfriede
Berlin, 14163, Germany
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NH Hospital a.s.
Hořovice, 268 31, Czechia
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Paris St. Joseph Hospital
Paris, 75014, France
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Rabin Medical Center, Beilinson Hospital
Petah Tikva, 49100, Israel
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Shaare Zedek Medical Center
Jerusalem, 9103102, Israel
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Stadtisches Klinikum Luneburg
Luneburg, Schleswig-Holstein, 21339, Germany
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Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical Center
Tel Aviv, 64239, Israel
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