Clinical trial Recruiting at 33 sites Phase 3 Interventional Ages 22 and up

Treatment of benign esophageal strictures using a paclitaxel coated balloon

Official title: Paclitaxel Coated Balloon for the Treatment of Chronic bEnigN sTricture- Esophagus

Run by GIE Medical · NCT05561114 · Data updated 2026-11-12

This study is testing a new drug-coated balloon treatment to see if it can help people with benign esophageal strictures feel better after they've already had two other treatments.

More Esophageal Stricture trials

Quick facts

PhasePhase 3
Study typeInterventional
Ages22 Years and up
SexAll
Enrollment198 (estimated)
SponsorGIE Medical
Industry-sponsored
Drugs / interventionsradiation
Locations34 sites (Birmingham, Alabama and 33 other locations)
StatusRecruiting
StartedDecember 1, 2023
Main results expectedOctober 2026
Study endsApril 2031
Registry record updatedJune 25, 2025
Trial IDNCT05561114 on ClinicalTrials.gov

Is this trial a fit for you?

Likely a good fit

Ideal candidates are adults aged 22 and older with a diagnosis of benign esophageal stricture who have had at least two prior dilations.

Probably not a fit

Patients with multiple significant strictures or those who are pregnant or breastfeeding may not benefit from this study.

A plain-English reading of the study's rules. Only the study team can confirm whether you qualify.

What this trial studies

This clinical trial evaluates the safety and efficacy of the ProTractX3™ drug-coated balloon (DCB) for treating benign esophageal strictures. Participants will receive the DCB intervention after having undergone at least two previous dilations for their condition. The study aims to determine if this innovative approach can improve esophageal lumen diameter and alleviate symptoms associated with strictures. The trial will involve follow-up visits to monitor patient outcomes and safety.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this treatment could significantly improve the quality of life for patients suffering from benign esophageal strictures.

How similar studies have gone: Other studies have shown promise with drug-coated balloons in treating strictures, suggesting potential for success in this approach.

Who can join: the full rules

Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria:

1. Age ≥ 22 years
2. Diagnosis of a benign esophageal stricture with at least 2 previous dilations
3. Ogilvie Dysphagia Score of ≥2
4. Minimum esophageal lumen diameter \<13 mm
5. Willing and able to complete protocol required follow-up visits
6. Willing and able to provide written informed consent
7. Strictures ≤5cm in total length
8. Target benign esophageal stricture etiologies include:

   1. Peptic stricture,
   2. Schatzki's ring,
   3. Stricture due to prior infection,
   4. Post-procedural (e.g. ESD/EMR/RFA/Cryo) stricture
   5. Post surgical (e.g. anastomotic), including post curative esophagectomy with or without prior neoadjuvant chemoradiation therapy

Exclusion Criteria:

1. Two or more clinically significant (e.g. non-traversable) strictures with total length \>5cm or unable to be treated with a single balloon.
2. Female subjects who are pregnant or breastfeeding or plan to become pregnant in next 12 months
3. Contraindication to endoscopy, anesthesia or deep sedation
4. Benign esophageal stricture due to extrinsic esophageal compression, caustic ingestion, lichen planus, and purely radiation induced strictures post head/neck cancer treatment.
5. History of diagnosis of eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE)
6. Signs or suspicion of a malignant esophageal stricture NOTE: If stricture is suspicious for malignancy based on clinical or endoscopic presentation, malignancy must be excluded by biopsy prior to enrollment. Subjects with a history of invasive esophageal cancer should have recurrence excluded by advanced imaging (e.g. CT/PET scan) and biopsy within 6 months of enrollment.
7. Diagnosis of metastatic cancer of any type that is not considered in remission or non-metastatic cancer that may require radiation treatment in the neck or thoracic region NOTE: A prior diagnosis of esophageal cancer is acceptable if considered in remission and recurrence has been excluded by advanced imaging and biopsy within 6 months of enrollment.
8. Suspected perforation of gastrointestinal tract
9. Inability to pass guidewire across stricture
10. Active systemic infection
11. Allergy to paclitaxel or structurally related compounds
12. Severe coagulation disorders or current use of anticoagulant or antiplatelet medication that cannot be safely managed per recommended guidelines prior to the index procedure
13. Chronic systemic steroid use for any medical conditions unless subject is willing to undergo a 4-week washout and discontinue steroid use
14. Received steroid injections into target stricture in the last 8 weeks.
15. Stricture not amenable to endoscopic dilation to ≥ 18 mm in the opinion of the investigator
16. Current use of nasal or oral feeding tube unless tube is removed prior to baseline assessments and subject maintains normal swallowing function.
17. Acute stricture condition that requires emergent procedure (e.g. immediate dilation)
18. Stricture complicated with abscess, fistula, deep ulceration, perforation, leakage or varices, or thrombosis, etc
19. Life expectancy of less than 24 months
20. Concurrent medical condition that would affect the investigator's ability to evaluate the patient's condition or could compromise patient safety, such as recent myocardial infarction, severe pulmonary disease, bleeding diathesis, large thoracic aneurysm, pharyngeal or cervical deformity, ongoing infection, etc
21. Current participation in another pre-market drug or medical device clinical study that has not reached it's primary endpoint.
22. Dysphagia related to primary motility disorders, such as achalasia, diffused esophageal spasm, ineffective esophageal motility (IEM), hypertensive lower esophageal sphincter, esophageal outlet obstruction, etc.
23. Active erosive esophagitis with a Los Angeles classification of Grade B-D at the time of endoscopy.
24. Significant esophageal dilation proximal to the stricture that, in the Investigator's opinion, may impact long-term esophageal motility.
25. Intolerant to effective acid suppression medication (e.g. proton pump inhibitors, H2 receptor antagonists)
26. Concurrent gastric and/or duodenal obstruction

Where it's running

  • Honor Health
    Scottsdale, Arizona, United States
    Recruiting
  • University of California, Irvine
    Irvine, California, United States
    Recruiting
  • Gastro Care Institute
    Lancaster, California, United States
    Recruiting
  • Cedars Sinai
    Los Angeles, California, United States
    Recruiting
  • San Diego Gastroenterology
    San Diego, California, United States
    Recruiting
  • University of Colorado Anschutz
    Aurora, Colorado, United States
    Recruiting
Show 28 more locations
  • University of Florida
    Gainesville, Florida, United States
    Recruiting
  • Borland-Groover
    Jacksonville, Florida, United States
    Recruiting
  • Research Associates of South Florida
    Miami, Florida, United States
    Recruiting
  • Hillcrest Medical Research
    Orange City, Florida, United States
    Recruiting
  • Orlando Health
    Orlando, Florida, United States
    Recruiting
  • Gastroenterology Associates of Central Georgia, LLC
    Macon, Georgia, United States
    Recruiting
  • Rush University
    Chicago, Illinois, United States
    Recruiting
  • Kansas Gastroenterology, LLC
    Wichita, Kansas, United States
    Recruiting
  • University of Louisville
    Louisville, Kentucky, United States
    Recruiting
  • Tandem Clinical Research
    Marrero, Louisiana, United States
    Recruiting
  • Brigham and Women's Hospital
    Boston, Massachusetts, United States
    Recruiting
  • Washington University
    St Louis, Missouri, United States
    Recruiting
  • Sierra Clinical Research
    Las Vegas, Nevada, United States
    Recruiting
  • Rutgers University
    Piscataway, New Jersey, United States
    Recruiting
  • New York Presbyterian Hospital- Columbia University Medical Center
    New York, New York, United States
    Recruiting
  • University of North Carolina Chapel Hill
    Chapel Hill, North Carolina, United States
    Recruiting
  • Oregon Health and Science University
    Portland, Oregon, United States
    Recruiting
  • University of Pennsylvania
    Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States
    Recruiting
  • Einstein Medical Center
    Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States
    Recruiting
  • Thomas Jefferson University
    Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States
    Recruiting
  • Allegheny Health Network
    Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States
    Recruiting
  • Vanderbilt University Medical Center
    Nashville, Tennessee, United States
    Recruiting
  • Baylor St. Luke's Medical Center
    Houston, Texas, United States
    Recruiting
  • TEN20 Clinical Research
    Plano, Texas, United States
    Recruiting
  • The University of Utah
    Salt Lake City, Utah, United States
    Recruiting
  • Swedish Medical Center
    Seattle, Washington, United States
    Recruiting
  • West Virginia University
    Morgantown, West Virginia, United States
    Recruiting
  • Birmingham Gastroenterology Associates
    Birmingham, Alabama, United States
    Not yet recruiting

Study contacts

Similar studies

Other studies for the same condition or treatment. Recruiting studies are listed first.

How to take part

  1. Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
  2. Check the official listing on ClinicalTrials.gov for the latest contact details and recruitment status.
  3. Contact the study coordinator or principal investigator to ask for pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.
Last reviewed 2026-11-14 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.