The current multicentre phase III study is proposed to confirm in an add-on therapy design compared to a placebo-control group, the efficacy of adipose-derived stem cells (eASCs) from healthy donors for the treatment of complex anal fistulas in patients with Crohn's disease over a 24-week period and an extended follow-up period up to 104 weeks.
Who can participate
Age range
18 Years
Sex
ALL
See this in plain English?
AI-rewrites the medical criteria so a patient or caregiver can understand them. Always confirm with the trial site.
Inclusion criteria
. Signed informed consent.
. Patients with Crohn's Disease (CD) diagnosed at least 6 months earlier in accordance with accepted clinical, endoscopic, histological and/or radiologic criteria.
. Presence of complex perianal fistulas with a maximum of 2 fistulas (internal openings) and a maximum of 3 external openings, assessed by clinical assessment and MRI. Fistula must have been draining for at least 6 weeks prior to the inclusion. A complex perianal fistula is defined as a fistula that met one or more of the following criteria during its evolution:
. Non-active or mildly active luminal CD defined by a CDAI ≤ 220.
. Patients of either sex aged 18 years or older
. Good general state of health according to clinical history and a physical examination.
Questions worth asking your doctor
Bring these to your next appointment. They're a starting point for a shared conversation — not a sign you qualify or a recommendation to enrol.
1Based on my diagnosis and history, is this trial worth exploring for me — or is there a standard treatment we should try first?
2What does this trial's phase tell us about how much is already known about its safety and benefit?
3What would taking part actually involve for me — visits, tests, time, and travel?
4What are the known and possible risks or side effects I should weigh, and how would they be monitored?
5If this trial isn't the right fit, what other options or trials would you suggest I look into?
Generated to help you prepare — always confirm anything about your own eligibility and care with the study team and your doctor.
Questions for the trial coordinator
The trial coordinator is the person who runs the study day to day. These cover the practical side — logistics, costs, and what taking part would actually mean for your life. The study team confirms whether you meet the criteria; these are questions to ask, not a sign you qualify.
1What does taking part actually involve week to week — how many visits, where, and how long does each one take?
2What costs are covered by the study, and what might I have to pay for myself, including travel, parking, or time off work?
3What happens during screening, and what happens if the study team confirms I don't meet the criteria after those tests?
4Who pays for the scans, blood work, and other tests the trial requires — the study, my insurance, or me?
5How will being in the trial affect my regular care, and will my own doctor stay informed and involved?
6Can I leave the trial at any point if I change my mind, and what would happen to my care if I do?
A starting point for the conversation — always confirm anything about your own eligibility, costs, and care with the study team and your doctor.
. For women of a childbearing age, they must have negative serum or urine pregnancy test (sensitive to 25 IU human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG)). Both men and women should use appropriate birth control methods defined by the investigator.
Exclusion criteria
. Presence of dominant luminal active Crohn's disease requiring immediate therapy.
. CDAI \>220.
. Concomitant rectovaginal fistulas
. Patient naïve to specific treatment for perianal fistulising Crohn's disease including antibiotics
. Presence of an abscess or collections \> 2 cm, unless resolved in the preparation procedure (week -3 to day 0).
. Presence of \> 2 fistular lesions.
. Presence of \> 3 external openings.
. Rectal and/or anal stenosis and / or active proctitis, if this means a limitation for any surgical procedure.