Stem cells tested for tough bowel disease – but trial stopped early
NCT ID NCT04543994
First seen Jun 24, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026 · Updated 2 times
Summary
This early-stage study tested whether injecting donor stem cells (remestemcel-L) into the colon could help people with severe ulcerative colitis that hadn't responded to other treatments. Only 7 adults took part before the trial was stopped early. The main goal was to check safety, but because it ended prematurely, we don't have clear answers on whether it works.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only, not medical advice or a prediction.
- Active substance
- Remestemcel-L (stem cells from donor bone marrow)
- What this could lead to
- If this approach had worked, it might have pointed toward a new way to control severe ulcerative colitis without surgery.
- What could go wrong
- This was a very small, early-phase trial that was terminated early, so we don't have enough data to know if it's safe or effective. Stem cell treatments can also have unknown long-term risks.
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
-
Phase 1/2
Runs two stages together: safety and dose first, then whether the treatment works.
- Participants
-
7 people
The number who actually took part.
- Started
-
Nov 2020
- Finished
-
Nov 2023
- Lead sponsor
-
Other sponsor
The registry's catch-all category, for sponsors it does not file as a company, a government agency, or a research network.
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 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. Males and Females 18-75 years of age. 2. Ulcerative colitis of at least 6 months duration with medically refractory symptoms 3. Exposure to corticosteroids, 5-ASA drugs, thiopurines, methotrexate, anti-TNF therapy, anti-integrin and anti-interleukin in the past are permitted but a washout period of 4 weeks for any monoclonal antibody is necessary. 1. If receiving conventional immunomodulators (ie, AZA, 6-MP, or MTX), must have been taking them for ≥12 weeks, and on a stable dose for at least 4 weeks. 2. If AZA, 6-MP, or MTX has been recently discontinued, it must have been stopped for at least 4 weeks. 3. If receiving oral 5-ASA compounds, the dose must have been stable for at least 4 weeks. 4. If receiving oral corticosteroids, the dose must be ≤20 mg/day prednisone or its equivalent and must have been stable for at least 4 weeks. 5. If receiving budesonide, the dose must have been stable for at least 2 weeks. 6. If oral 5-ASA compounds or oral corticosteroids (including budesonide) have been recently discontinued, they must have been stopped for at least 2 weeks. 4. The following medications/therapies must have been discontinued before first administration of study agent: 1. TNF-antagonist therapy (eg, infliximab, etanercept, certolizumab, adalimumab, golimumab), vedolizumab, ustekinumab for at least 4 weeks. 2. Cyclosporine, tacrolimus, or sirolimus, for at least 4 weeks. 3. 6-thioguanine (6-TG) must have been discontinued for at least 4 weeks. 4. Rectal corticosteroids (ie, corticosteroids \[including budesonide\] administered to the 5. rectum or sigmoid colon via foam or enema or suppository) for at least 2 weeks. 6. Rectal 5-ASA compounds (ie, 5-ASAs administered to the rectum or sigmoid colon viafoam or enema or suppository) for at least 2 weeks. 7. Parenteral corticosteroids for at least 2 weeks. 8. Total parenteral nutrition (TPN) for at least 2 weeks. 9. Antibiotics for the treatment of UC (eg, ciprofloxacin, metronidazole, or rifaximin) for at least 2 weeks. 5. No colonic dysplasia and malignancy as ruled out by colonoscopy within 30 days of MSC delivery 6. Ability to comply with protocol 7. Competent and able to provide written informed consent 8. Must have lost response to at least one monoclonal antibody (anti-TNF, anti-interleukin, or anti-integrin therapy), tofacitinib, or have a contra-indication to biologic therapy 9. If patient is of reproductive capacity, willing to use adequate birth control measures while they are in the study Exclusion Criteria for all patients to join the protocol 1. Inability to give informed consent. 2. Clinically significant medical conditions within the six months before administration of MSCs: e.g. myocardial infarction, active angina, congestive heart failure or other conditions that would, in the opinion of the investigators, compromise the safety of the patient. 3. Specific exclusions; 1. HIV 2. Hepatitis B or C 4. Abnormal AST or ALT at screening defined as AST \>100 or ALT \> 100 5. Abnormal basic laboratory values with the following cut-offs: 1. Alkaline phosphate \>200 2. WBC \>13 3. Hemoglobin \<7 4. Platelets \<50 or \> 1 million 5. Creatinine \>1.5 6. History of cancer including melanoma (with the exception of localized skin cancers) within 5 years of study enrollment 7. Investigational drug within one year of study enrollment 8. Pregnant or breast feeding. 9. Fulminant colitis requiring emergency surgery 10. Concurrent active clostridium difficile infection of the colon 11. Concurrent CMV infection of the colon 12. Evidence of colonic perforation 13. Massive hemorrhage from the colon requiring emergent surgery 14. Crohn's colitis or indeterminate colitis 15. Microscopic, ischemic or infectious colitis 16. Neoplasia of the colon and preoperative biopsy 17. Presence of an ostomy 18. Prior small bowel resection 19. Previous colonic resection 20. Colonic stricture that unable to pass an adult colonoscope 21. Active or latent tuberculosis 22. Unable to wean off corticosteroids 23. Patients with extra colonic ulcerative colitis including primary sclerosing cholangitis 24. Patients with history of or current evidence of alcohol or drug abuse or dependence, recreational use of illicit drug or prescription medications, or have use of medical marijuana within 90 days of study entry 25. Patients with known allergy to local anesthetics 26. Patients with a known allergy to DMSO, porcine and/or bovine proteins 27. Patients taking anticoagulant medications (e.g. warfarin, heparin) or clopidogrel (Plavix) to reduce the risk of bleeding/ hemarthrosis 28. If patient is of reproductive capacity, unwilling to use adequate birth control measures while they are in the study Control patients will have additional criteria that need to be met prior to the patients crossing over to receive treatment. Inclusion Criteria for control patients prior to entering the treatment phase: 1. Received placebo at the point of first injection 2. Completed all study visits to date 3. Clinical status has remained the same or improved, not worsened Exclusion Criteria for control patients who will be entering the treatment phase: 1. Required repeat hospitalization for a colitis flare 2. Given oral and intravenous steroids for a colitis flare 3. Had worsening abdominal pain frequency of bowel movements, blood in stool 4. Desires exclusion from the study to pursue escalation in medical management or surgery Allogeneic Bone 5. Has a colonic perforation that requires surgery 6. Has colonic bleeding that requires surgery
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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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Cleveland Clinic
Cleveland, Ohio, 44195, United States
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