Darvadstrocel for Complex Perianal Fistulas in Japanese Adults with Crohn’s Disease: A Phase 3 Study

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Previous studies conducted in Europe suggested that darvadstrocel, a suspension of expanded, allogeneic, adipose-derived, mesenchymal stem cells, is safe and effective for treatment-refractory complex perianal fistulas in patients with Crohn’s disease. The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of darvadstrocel for the treatment of complex perianal fistulas in Japanese adults with Crohn’s disease. METHODS: This is a phase 3, open-label, single-arm study conducted at nine sites in Japan. Adult patients with non-active or mildly active Crohn’s disease and complex perianal fistulas received a single 24-mL intralesional injection of darvadstrocel [120 × 10(6) cells]. The primary endpoint was combined remission (clinically confirmed closure of all treated external openings that were draining at screening, and absence of collections >2 cm, [confirmed by magnetic resonance imaging] among treated fistulas) at Week 24. RESULTS: Between March 6, 2019 and February 1, 2021, 22 patients received darvadstrocel and completed the 52-week follow-up. The proportion of patients achieving combined remission at Week 24 was 59.1% (95% confidence interval [CI], 38.5–79.6). The effect was maintained at Week 52, with 68.2% [95% CI, 48.7–87.6] of patients achieving combined remission. Treatment-related adverse events included: one [4.5%] patient with worsening of Crohn’s disease and diarrhoea, and one [4.5%] patient with blood bilirubin increase. No new safety findings were identified in this study. CONCLUSIONS: The efficacy and tolerability of darvadstrocel in Japanese adult patients with treatment-refractory complex perianal fistulas in Crohn’s disease were similar to those observed in the previous European study. ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT03706456.