A Phase 1 interventional study of Mesenchymal stem cells in Perianal Fistula Due to Crohn's Disease (Disorder), sponsored by Anthony Lembo. Terminated at 1 site in United States. Open to participants aged 13 Years to 17 Years. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2026-04-16.
Sponsored by Anthony Lembo · Phase 1, Interventional, and Treatment
This study plans to enroll 10 patients aged 13-17 years of age with refractory perianal fistulizing disease. Patients will be treated by direct injection to the fistula tract(s) with 75 million allogeneic bone marrow derived mesenchymal stem cells at baseline and again after 3 months if not completely healed.
Crohn's disease (CD), a chronic transmural inflammatory disease of the gastrointestinal tract, continues to increase in incidence for unknown reasons. According to population based studies, at least 26% of patients with CD will develop perianal fistulas in the first two decades following diagnosis, particularly those with colonic and rectal involvement. These patients experience significant morbidity due to pain, persistent drainage, recurrent perianal sepsis, and ongoing need to access medical care resulting in increased costs and impaired quality of life. Onset of Crohn's disease in childhood is associated with even more aggressive perianal fistula development, with fistulas occurring in as many as 20-31% of children within 5-7 years after Crohn's disease diagnosis. Based on national estimates of pediatric Crohn's disease prevalence, this suggests that there are more than 10,000 children with perianal fistulas due to Crohn's disease in the United States.
This study plans to enroll 10 patients (aged 13-17 years) with refractory perianal fistulizing disease. The next step in management for these patients would be a mucosal tissue flap, temporary stoma, or proctectomy with permanent ostomy.
Patients will be treated by direct injection of 75 million allogeneic bone marrow derived mesenchymal stem cells at baseline and again after 3 months if not completely healed. Patients will be followed for a total of 12 months post initial injection.
731 studies on the registry are indexed under Fistula; 103 are open to participants now.
This study's enrollment of 6 is below the median of 60 across 484 interventional studies indexed under Fistula.
Browse Fistula studies →Anthony Lembo is the lead sponsor of 7 studies on the registry; none are open to participants now.
Of its 6 completed or terminated interventional studies of FDA-regulated products, 1 (17%) have results posted.
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Exclusion Criteria
Specific exclusions:
allogeneic bone marrow derived mesenchymal stem cells
Drug: Mesenchymal stem cells
Direct injection of 75 million allogeneic bone marrow derived mesenchymal stem cells at baseline and again after 3 months if not completely healed
Treatment related adverse events
Number of participants with treatment related adverse events post-injection of 75 million allogeneic bone marrow derived MSC's for the treatment of perianal fistula(s) in the setting of Crohn's disease as assessed by protocol
Time frame: Month 3
Treatment related adverse events
Number of participants with treatment related adverse events post-injection of 75 million allogeneic bone marrow derived MSC's for the treatment of perianal fistula(s) in the setting of Crohn's disease as assessed by protocol
Time frame: Month 12
Complete clinical healing
Number of participants with complete clinical healing post-injection of 75 million allogeneic bone marrow derived MSC's for the treatment of perianal fistula(s) in the setting of Crohn's disease. Complete Healing is defined as: Radiographic Healing: MRI with an absence of a fluid collection \>2 cm in 3 of 3 dimensions, lack of edema, inflammation or sign of active inflammatory response. A remnant scar of a fistula tract may remain Clinical Healing: 100% cessation of drainage on both clinical exam with deep palpation and per patient report and epithelization of the external fistula opening
Time frame: Month 3
Complete clinical healing
Number of participants with complete clinical healing post-injection of 75 million allogeneic bone marrow derived MSC's for the treatment of perianal fistula(s) in the setting of Crohn's disease. Complete Healing is defined as: Radiographic Healing: MRI with an absence of a fluid collection \>2 cm in 3 of 3 dimensions, lack of edema, inflammation or sign of active inflammatory response. A remnant scar of a fistula tract may remain Clinical Healing: 100% cessation of drainage on both clinical exam with deep palpation and per patient report and epithelization of the external fistula opening
Time frame: Month 12
Partial clinical healing
Number of participants with partial clinical healing post-injection of 75 million allogeneic bone marrow derived MSC's for the treatment of perianal fistula(s) in the setting of Crohn's disease Partial clinical healing is defined as: Radiographic Healing: MRI with an absence of a fluid collection \>2 cm in 2 of 3 dimensions, lack of edema, inflammation or sign of active inflammatory response. A remnant scar of a fistula tract may remain Clinical healing: Greater than or equal to 50 % cessation of drainage on both clinical exam with deep palpation and per patient report and epithelization of the external fistula opening
Time frame: Month 3
Partial clinical healing
Number of participants with partial clinical healing post-injection of 75 million allogeneic bone marrow derived MSC's for the treatment of perianal fistula(s) in the setting of Crohn's disease Partial clinical healing is defined as: Radiographic Healing: MRI with an absence of a fluid collection \>2 cm in 2 of 3 dimensions, lack of edema, inflammation or sign of active inflammatory response. A remnant scar of a fistula tract may remain Clinical healing: Greater than or equal to 50 % cessation of drainage on both clinical exam with deep palpation and per patient report and epithelization of the external fistula opening
Time frame: Month 12
Lack of response
Number of participants with lack of response post-injection of 75 million allogeneic bone marrow derived MSC's for the treatment of perianal fistula(s) in the setting of Crohn's disease Lack of response is defined as: Radiographic and Clinical healing which does not meet the threshold for Partial Healing
Time frame: Month 3
Lack of response
Number of participants with lack of response post-injection of 75 million allogeneic bone marrow derived MSC's for the treatment of perianal fistula(s) in the setting of Crohn's disease Lack of response is defined as: Radiographic and Clinical healing which does not meet the threshold for Partial Healing
Time frame: Month 12
Worsening of disease
Number of participants with worsening of disease post-injection of 75 million allogeneic bone marrow derived MSC's for the treatment of perianal fistula(s) in the setting of Crohn's disease Worsening disease is defined as: Radiographic: MRI with a fluid collection \>2 cm in 2 of 3 dimensions, edema, inflammation or sign of active inflammatory response. An increased number of tracts may be seen, or increased branching from the primary tract, Clinical: Increased drainage per patient report and on clinical exam
Time frame: Month 3
Worsening of disease
Number of participants with worsening of disease post-injection of 75 million allogeneic bone marrow derived MSC's for the treatment of perianal fistula(s) in the setting of Crohn's disease Worsening disease is defined as: Radiographic: MRI with a fluid collection \>2 cm in 2 of 3 dimensions, edema, inflammation or sign of active inflammatory response. An increased number of tracts may be seen, or increased branching from the primary tract, Clinical: Increased drainage per patient report and on clinical exam
Time frame: Month 12
This study is terminated, as verified in Apr 2026. You cannot join it, but the record below documents what was studied.
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Anthony Lembo