Long-term efficacy and safety of stem cell therapy (Cx601) for complex perianal fistulas in patients with Crohn's disease

J Panés, D García-Olmo, G Van Assche, JF Colombel… - Gastroenterology, 2018 - Elsevier
J Panés, D García-Olmo, G Van Assche, JF Colombel, W Reinisch, DC Baumgart, A Dignass…
Gastroenterology, 2018Elsevier
Background & Aims Therapies for perianal fistulas in patients with Crohn's disease are often
ineffective in producing long-term healing. We performed a randomized placebo-controlled
trial to determine the long-term efficacy and safety of a single local administration of
allogeneic expanded adipose-derived stem cells (Cx601) in patients with Crohn's disease
and perianal fistulas. Methods We performed a double-blind study at 49 hospitals in Europe
and Israel, comprising 212 patients with Crohn's disease and treatment-refractory, draining …
Background & Aims
Therapies for perianal fistulas in patients with Crohn’s disease are often ineffective in producing long-term healing. We performed a randomized placebo-controlled trial to determine the long-term efficacy and safety of a single local administration of allogeneic expanded adipose-derived stem cells (Cx601) in patients with Crohn’s disease and perianal fistulas.
Methods
We performed a double-blind study at 49 hospitals in Europe and Israel, comprising 212 patients with Crohn’s disease and treatment-refractory, draining, complex perianal fistulas. Patients were randomly assigned (1:1) to groups given a single local injection of 120 million Cx601 cells or placebo (control), in addition to the standard of care. Efficacy endpoints evaluated in the modified intention-to-treat population (randomly assigned, treated, and with 1 or more post-baseline efficacy assessment) at week 52 included combined remission (closure of all treated external openings draining at baseline with absence of collections >2 cm, confirmed by magnetic resonance imaging) and clinical remission (absence of draining fistulas).
Results
The study’s primary endpoint, at week 24, was previously reported (combined remission in 51.5% of patients given Cx601 vs 35.6% of controls, for a difference of 15.8 percentage points; 97.5% confidence interval [CI] 0.5–31.2; P = .021). At week 52, a significantly greater proportion of patients given Cx601 achieved combined remission (56.3%) vs controls (38.6%) (a difference of 17.7 percentage points; 95% CI 4.2–31.2; P = .010), and clinical remission (59.2% vs 41.6% of controls, for a difference of 17.6 percentage points; 95% CI 4.1–31.1; P = .013). Safety was maintained throughout week 52; adverse events occurred in 76.7% of patients in the Cx601 group and 72.5% of patients in the control group.
Conclusion
In a phase 3 trial of patients with Crohn’s disease and treatment-refractory complex perianal fistulas, we found Cx601 to be safe and effective in closing external openings, compared with placebo, after 1 year. ClinicalTrials.gov no: NCT01541579.
Elsevier