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Mesenchymal Stem Cell Therapy for SARS-CoV-2-related Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome

Phase 2
Conditions
Covid-19
Interventions
Biological: Cell therapy protocol 2
Biological: Cell therapy protocol 1
Registration Number
NCT04366063
Lead Sponsor
Royan Institute
Brief Summary

Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS) is the major cause of death in the COVID-19 pandemic. In this trial, the safety and efficacy of Mesenchymal Stem Cells (MSC) for the treatment of ARDS in COVID-19 patients will be assessed.

Detailed Description

Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) is the major cause of death in the COVID 19 infection pandemic. It is a devastating clinical condition, caused by an acute and diffuse lung injury that requires management in the intensive care unit. It is caused by uncontrolled inflammation that leads to severe pulmonary alveolar damage and capillary membrane leakage, and progressive respiratory failure. There is no effective treatment for ARDS and the only supportive care strategies are the mainstay of therapy. Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) have high regenerative and immunomodulatory capacities. In preclinical research, ARDS, MSCs modulate the inflammatory response, augment tissue repair, enhance pathogen clearance, and reduce the severity of the injury, pulmonary dysfunction, and apoptosis. Moreover, many studies have shown that the anti-inflammatory effects of MSCs can significantly reduce virus (e.g., Influenza)-induced lung injury and mortality in animals. Since 2014 clinical trials are using MSC from variable sources \[bone marrow (BM), fat, and umbilical cord (UC)\] in the treatment of ARDS. Some of the clinical trials are ongoing and the final reports are not reported. In all final reports, the safety of the application of MSC has been documented and most of them implied improvement in mortality and decrease of morbidity. Moreover, experimental studies have demonstrated that MSCs or their extracellular vesicles (MSCs-EVs) significantly reduced lung inflammation and pathological impairment resulting from different types of lung injury. Also, macrophage phagocytosis, bacterial killing, and the outcome are improved. It is highly likely that MSCs-EVs have the same therapeutic effect on inoculation pneumonia as MSCs themselves.

Critically ill coronavirus documented cases suspicious to ARDS (mild or moderate) will be enrolled in the study. Our previous experiment (IRCT20200217046526N1) showed the safety of 3 injections of MSCs in patients with COVID-19. This multi-center trial will recruit 60 patients. All patients in all groups will receive conventional therapy for virus treatment and supportive care for ARDS.

The patients allocated randomly to three groups:

Control (n=20). Patients will conventional therapy for virus treatment and supportive care for ARDS will be used as control.

Intervention Group1 (n=20). Patients will receive two doses of MSCs 100×10e6 (±10%), at Day 0 and Day 2 intravenously.

Intervention Group 2 (n=20). Patients will receive two doses of MSCs 100×10e6 (±10%), at Day 0 and Day 2 plus two doses of extracellular vesicles (EVs) on Day 4 and Day 6 intravenously.

The clinical symptoms, pulmonary imaging, side effects, 28-days mortality inflammatory factors, etc. will be evaluated during the 28 days follow up.

Recruitment & Eligibility

Status
UNKNOWN
Sex
All
Target Recruitment
60
Inclusion Criteria
  • Confirmation of 2019-nCoV infection by RT-PCR
  • Diagnosis of ARDS according to the Berlin definition of ARDS
  • Requiring supplemental oxygen
  • Pneumonia that is judged by chest radiograph or CT
  • PaO2/oxygen absorption concentration (FiO2) ≤ 300MMHG
  • Pulmonary imaging shows that the focused progress > 50% in 24-48 hours
  • Mild to Moderate 2019-nCoV pneumonia/ stay in the ICU <48 hours
  • SOFA score between 2-3 point
Exclusion Criteria
  • Severe allergies or allergies after 1st injection to stem cell preparations and their components
  • Patients with a malignant tumor, other serious systemic diseases, and psychosis
  • Co-Infection of HIV, tuberculosis, influenza virus, adenovirus, and other respiratory infection viruses
  • Patients with a previous history of pulmonary embolism
  • Be thought by researchers to be inappropriate to participate in this clinical study (Expected deaths within 48 hours, uncontrolled infections)
  • Liver or kidney SOFA score of more than 3 points; combined with other organ failures (need organ support), Stage 4 severe chronic kidney disease or requiring dialysis (i.e. estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) < 30)
  • Pulmonary obstructive pneumonia, severe pulmonary interstitial fibrosis, alveolar proteinosis, allergic alveolitis, and other known viral pneumonia or bacterial pneumonia
  • Continuous use of immunosuppressive agents or organ transplants in the past 6 months
  • In vitro life support (ECMO, ECCO2R, RRT)
  • Pregnant or lactating women
  • Uncontrolled underlying disease

Study & Design

Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Study Design
PARALLEL
Arm && Interventions
GroupInterventionDescription
Two MSC infusion Plus two EVs infusionCell therapy protocol 2Intervention Group 2 (n=20). Patients will receive two doses of MSCs 100×10e6 (±10%), intravenously plus two doses of EVs plus Conventional treatment
Two MSC infusionCell therapy protocol 1Intervention Group1(n=20). Patients will receive two doses of MSCs 100×10e6 (±10%) intravenously plus Conventional treatment.
Primary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Blood oxygen saturationFrom baseline to day 14

Evaluation of Pneumonia Improvement

Adverse events assessmentFrom baseline to day 28

Number of participants with treatment-related adverse events as assessed by CTCAE v4.0

Secondary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Intensive care unit-free daysUp to day 8

Number of days

Clinical symptomsFrom baseline to day 14

Improvement of clinical symptoms including duration of fever, respiratory distress, pneumonia, cough, sneezing

Respiratory efficacyFrom baseline to day 7

increase in PaO2/FiO2 ratio from baseline to day 7

Biomarkers concentrations in plasmaAt baseline, 7, 14, 28 days after the first intervention

Biochemical examination

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

Royan Institute

🇮🇷

Tehran, Iran, Islamic Republic of

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