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Updated June 2026 · ClinicalTrials.gov

RECRUITINGPhase 4INTERVENTIONAL

PATHFINDER: Evaluating the Optimal First-Line Treatment Strategy for Moderate-to-Severely Active Ileal-dominant Crohn's Disease

PATHFINDER: A Pragmatic, Active-comparator, Parallel-group, Randomized Trial to Evaluate the Optimal First-line Treatment Strategy for Moderate-to-Severely Active Ileal-dominant Crohn's Disease

PATHFINDER: Evaluating the Optimal First-Line Treatment Strategy for Moderate-to-Severely Active Ileal-dominant Crohn's Disease (NCT05928039) is a Phase 4 interventional studying Crohn Disease, sponsored by University of Calgary. RECRUITING as of the most recent ClinicalTrials.gov update. Talk to your doctor before contacting the trial site.

Important: This information is not medical advice. Talk to your doctor about whether a clinical trial is right for you.

About This Trial

There are currently three classes of biologic treatments approved in Canada for the management of moderate-to-severe Crohn's disease: anti-tumor necrosis factor \[TNF\] alpha, anti-integrin, and anti-interleukin \[IL\]-23 targeted agents. The purpose of this trial is to determine which of these three classes of biologics results in the highest percentage of patients with small bowel (ileal) Crohn's disease entering into endoscopic remission without needing corticosteroids at 1 year. Endoscopic remission means that the ulcers in the small bowel from Crohn's disease have healed. All treatments in this trial are approved by Health Canada. No experimental drugs will be included.

What Stage of Research Is This?

Phase 4 studies happen after a treatment has been approved by the FDA. They monitor long-term safety, real-world effectiveness, and any rare side effects that only emerge in larger populations over longer periods. Phase 4 results sometimes lead to label changes, additional warnings, or — rarely — withdrawal of approval.

This trial is currently recruiting participants. The sponsor has registered the study with ClinicalTrials.gov as actively enrolling, which means new applicants who meet the eligibility criteria can be considered for screening. Trial status can change between updates — confirm current recruiting status with the study contact before traveling for a screening visit.

Target enrollment of 297 participants puts this in the typical range for a Phase 2-style efficacy study or a moderate Phase 3 trial in a focused Crohn Disease subpopulation. At this scale, the study has enough statistical power to detect a clear treatment effect but is not the largest cohort in the field.

Who May Be Eligible (Plain English)

Who May Qualify: 1. Male or nonpregnant, nonlactating females, 18 years of age or older. Females of childbearing potential must have a negative serum or urine pregnancy test prior to randomization 2. Established CD diagnosis by conventional criteria 3. Baseline colonoscopy within 3 months of the first day of the screening period, with photo or video documentation of at least one large ileal ulcer \>5 mm and ileal segment SES-CD ≥4 (eligibility will be determined by local endoscopist, with subsequent confirmation by a CR at a later time, post enrolment) 4. HBI ≥5 5. Biologic-treatment naïve for CD-related therapies 6. Would otherwise have been eligible to start a biologic for moderate-to-severely active CD as part of their routine clinical care and for whom there is equipoise around which biologic class to start 7. Willing and able to participate fully in all aspects of this clinical trial, including adherence to study protocol and treatment algorithm 8. Written willing to sign a consent form must be obtained and documented Who Should NOT Join This Trial: 1. Condition(s) for which the biologics included in this study is contraindicated 2. CD-related complications such as symptomatic, endoscopically impassable strictures or abscesses that require imminent surgery (at investigator's discretion) 3. Participants with current or history of colonic dysplasia or neoplasia, toxic megacolon, or fulminant colitis 4. Recent bowel resection \<3 months before screening 5. Active enteric infection (positive stool culture), including but not limited to bacterial (including C. difficile), viral, or parasitic enteric infections 6. Known active hepatitis B, hepatitis C, or human weakened immune system virus infection 7. Active COVID-19 infection during the screening period 8. Tested positive as part of SOC for tuberculosis (TB) at screening by QuantiFERON® TB Gold Test, tuberculin skin test, or history of untreated latent or active TB ...See full criteria on ClinicalTrials.gov Always talk to your doctor about whether this trial is right for you.

These are translations of the protocol\'s inclusion and exclusion criteria, simplified for patients and caregivers. The original clinical text appears below. Eligibility is ultimately confirmed by the trial site\'s screening process — this summary is a starting point for a conversation with your doctor, not a final determination.

Original Eligibility Criteria

View original clinical language
Inclusion Criteria: 1. Male or nonpregnant, nonlactating females, 18 years of age or older. Females of childbearing potential must have a negative serum or urine pregnancy test prior to randomization 2. Established CD diagnosis by conventional criteria 3. Baseline colonoscopy within 3 months of the first day of the screening period, with photo or video documentation of at least one large ileal ulcer \>5 mm and ileal segment SES-CD ≥4 (eligibility will be determined by local endoscopist, with subsequent confirmation by a CR at a later time, post enrolment) 4. HBI ≥5 5. Biologic-treatment naïve for CD-related therapies 6. Would otherwise have been eligible to start a biologic for moderate-to-severely active CD as part of their routine clinical care and for whom there is equipoise around which biologic class to start 7. Willing and able to participate fully in all aspects of this clinical trial, including adherence to study protocol and treatment algorithm 8. Written informed consent must be obtained and documented Exclusion Criteria: 1. Condition(s) for which the biologics included in this study is contraindicated 2. CD-related complications such as symptomatic, endoscopically impassable strictures or abscesses that require imminent surgery (at investigator's discretion) 3. Participants with current or history of colonic dysplasia or neoplasia, toxic megacolon, or fulminant colitis 4. Recent bowel resection \<3 months before screening 5. Active enteric infection (positive stool culture), including but not limited to bacterial (including C. difficile), viral, or parasitic enteric infections 6. Known active hepatitis B, hepatitis C, or human immunodeficiency virus infection 7. Active COVID-19 infection during the screening period 8. Tested positive as part of SOC for tuberculosis (TB) at screening by QuantiFERON® TB Gold Test, tuberculin skin test, or history of untreated latent or active TB 9. History of malignancy within 5 years of screening, except fully treated carcinoma in-situ of the cervix, fully treated and resolved nonmetastatic squamous or basal cell carcinoma of the skin 10. Active chronic or acute infections requiring treatment with systemic antibiotics, antivirals, antifungals, antiparasitics, or antiprotozoals during the screening period 11. Serious underlying disease other than CD that, in the opinion of the investigator, may interfere with the participant's ability to participate fully in the study 12. Not willing to withhold protocol-prohibited medications during the trial, or planned or anticipated use of any prohibited medications during screening 13. Received previously or currently receiving a TNF antagonist, anti-integrin, monoclonal antibody targeting IL-12/23 or IL-23, Janus kinase (JAK) inhibitors, or sphingosine 1 phosphate (S1P) receptor modulators (irrespective of indication) 14. History of alcohol or drug abuse that, in the opinion of the investigator, may interfere with the participant's ability to comply with the study procedures

Treatments Being Tested

BIOLOGICAL

TNFa Antagonist - Infliximab

• Infliximab 5 mg/kg intravenously \[IV\] at weeks 0, 2, 6, then 5 mg/kg every 8 weeks

BIOLOGICAL

TNFa Antagonist - Adalimumab

• Adalimumab subcutaneously \[SC\] 160 mg at week 0, 80 mg at week 2, then 40 mg every 2 weeks

BIOLOGICAL

Anti-IL12/23 or anti-IL23 - Ustekinumab

• Ustekinumab \~6 mg/kg IV x1, then 90 mg SC every 8 weeks

BIOLOGICAL

Anti-IL12/23 or anti-IL23 - Risankizumab

• Risankizumab 600 mg IV at weeks 0, 4, and 8, then 360 mg SC every 8 weeks

BIOLOGICAL

Anti-integrin - Vedolizumab IV

• Vedolizumab 300 mg IV at weeks 0, 2, and 6, then every 8 weeks

BIOLOGICAL

Anti-integrin - Vedolizumab IV and SC

• Vedolizumab 300 mg IV at weeks 0 and 2, then 108 mg SC every 2 weeks

Locations (20)

Trial sites listed on ClinicalTrials.gov for this study. Site activation status can vary — confirm with the specific site before traveling for a screening visit.

University of Calgary
Calgary, Alberta, Canada
University of Alberta IBD Clinic
Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
GI Research Institute (G.I.R.I)
Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
West Coast Gastroenterology
Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
Nova Scotia Health Victoria
Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada
GNRR Digestive Clinics and Research Center Inc.
Brampton, Ontario, Canada
Rajbir Rai Medical Corporation
Brantford, Ontario, Canada
McMaster University
Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
London Health Sciences Centre
London, Ontario, Canada
West GTA Research Inc.
Mississauga, Ontario, Canada
ABP Research Services Corp.
Oakville, Ontario, Canada
Taunton Surgical Center
Oshawa, Ontario, Canada
The Ottawa Hospital Research Institute
Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
Thunder Bay Regional Health Research Institute
Thunder Bay, Ontario, Canada
Mount Sinai Hospital
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
TIDHI Clinic
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Centre Hospitalier de l'Université de Montréal (CHUM)
Montreal, Quebec, Canada
Hôpital du Sacré-Cœur-de-Montréal
Montreal, Quebec, Canada
Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre (MUHC)
Montreal, Quebec, Canada
Université de Sherbrooke
Sherbrooke, Quebec, Canada

How to Talk to Your Doctor About This Trial

Bring the printable summary of this trial — including the NCT ID (NCT05928039), the sponsor (University of Calgary), and the key eligibility criteria — to your next appointment. Your doctor can review the inclusion and exclusion criteria against your medical history, lab values, and current treatments to assess whether you are likely to qualify. They can also help you weigh whether trial participation makes sense alongside your existing care plan.

Useful questions to walk through together: What does the trial protocol require beyond standard care? How long is the active treatment phase, and how long is follow-up? Are there study visits at sites I can reach? Who pays for the trial-specific procedures, and who pays for standard-of-care portions? See our 25 questions to ask about clinical trials guide for a more complete checklist.

Authoritative Sources

The official record for this trial lives on ClinicalTrials.gov — the federal registry maintained by the National Library of Medicine at NIH. For background on how this trial fits into the FDA approval pathway, see the FDA drug approval process. For oncology-specific guidance for patients considering trials, the National Cancer Institute publishes patient-oriented overviews. International trial registries are aggregated by the WHO ICTRP.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the NCT05928039 clinical trial studying?

There are currently three classes of biologic treatments approved in Canada for the management of moderate-to-severe Crohn's disease: anti-tumor necrosis factor \[TNF\] alpha, anti-integrin, and anti-interleukin \[IL\]-23 targeted agents. The purpose of this trial is to determine which of these three classes of biologics results in the highest percentage of patients with small bowel (ileal) Crohn's disease entering into endoscopic remission without needing corticosteroids at 1 year. Endoscopic remission means that the ulcers in the small bowel from Crohn's disease have healed. All treatments i… The full protocol is registered on ClinicalTrials.gov and includes the primary outcome measures, eligibility criteria, and study endpoints.

Who can participate in NCT05928039?

Eligibility for this trial depends on the specific inclusion and exclusion criteria set by the sponsor. The plain-English summary above translates the most important criteria into accessible language; the official clinical text is preserved in the collapsible section underneath. Whether you fit any specific trial is a medical decision your doctor needs to confirm — bring the trial information to your treating physician for a full review against your medical history.

How do I contact the trial site for NCT05928039?

Contact information registered with ClinicalTrials.gov is shown in the sidebar of this page. Before reaching out, confirm with your treating physician that this trial is appropriate for your situation. The trial site will then walk you through the screening process to determine final eligibility.

Is participating in a clinical trial safe?

Clinical trials in the United States are regulated by the FDA and overseen by Institutional Review Boards (IRBs) that review the protocol for safety. Risk varies by trial — Phase 1 studies test new treatments in humans for the first time, while Phase 3 trials use treatments that have already passed earlier safety screening. The informed consent document for any specific trial details the known risks and what to expect. Discuss those risks with your physician before deciding whether to participate.

Where can I verify the data on this page?

Every detail on this page comes directly from the ClinicalTrials.gov API. Click "View on ClinicalTrials.gov" in the sidebar to see the official, unmodified record. The federal record is always authoritative; this page is a structured presentation with a plain-English eligibility translation. For background on how clinical trials are regulated, see the FDA drug approval process documentation.

How This Page Is Built

Every field on this page is pulled directly from the ClinicalTrials.gov API v2 — no estimates, no proxies. The plain-English eligibility translation is generated from the original protocol text and reviewed for fidelity to the underlying clinical criteria. The original clinical text remains visible in the collapsible section above so users and clinicians can verify the translation. Read the full methodology for the data pipeline and known limitations.

Source: ClinicalTrials.gov API v2 record for NCT05928039. Maintained by the National Library of Medicine at NIH. Public domain. Cite as: "TrialFinderData. NCT05928039. Data: ClinicalTrials.gov."

Medical disclaimer: This page is informational, not medical advice. Talk to your doctor about whether a clinical trial is right for you.

Last updated 2026-06-07 · Data from ClinicalTrials.gov.