MedPath

Mesenchymal Stromal Cell Therapy to Prevent Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia in Extreme Preterm Infants

Not Applicable
Not yet recruiting
Conditions
Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia (BPD)
ELGAN (22-28SA)
Interventions
Biological: Human Allogenic Umbilical Cord Mesenchymal Stromal Cells
Other: Sham procedure control
Registration Number
NCT07058025
Lead Sponsor
Ottawa Hospital Research Institute
Brief Summary

This clinical trial aims to evaluate the safety and efficacy of mesenchymal stromal cell (MSC) therapy in extreme preterm infants to prevent bronchopulmonary dysplasia, the main respiratory complication of preterm birth.

Study participants will receive either multiple intravenous doses (total of 3 doses) of MSC derived from human donor umbilical cord tissue (intervention group) or no uc-MSC injection (control group) to confirm the safety of IV MSC in extreme preterm infants and evaluate the potential benefit of MSC therapy on their respiratory health as well as on other complications related to preterm birth.

Detailed Description

Include Background...

Recruitment & Eligibility

Status
NOT_YET_RECRUITING
Sex
All
Target Recruitment
168
Inclusion Criteria
  • Gestational age (GA) less than 28+0 weeks

  • Post-natal age between 4 and 14 days of life

  • Invasive ventilation with oxygen requirement:

    • On mechanical ventilation: intubated patient with any of the following ventilation modes: conventional, HFO or Jet ventilation:
    • With requirement of FiO2: FiO2 >= 30% and for at least 12 hours over 24 hours (i.e. flowsheets, FiO2 histogram)
Exclusion Criteria
  1. Congenital anomaly:

    • Genetic and chromosomal syndromes (e.g., Trisomy 13, Trisomy 18, Trisomy 21): either patient with high suspicion (antenatal findings, clinical features) or documented syndrome by genetic testing.
    • Major congenital anomalies including cardiac (i.e., congenital heart defects, NB. PDA is not considered an exclusion criterion), neurological (e.g., holoprosencephaly, anencephaly), gastrointestinal (e.g., gastroschisis, omphalocele), pulmonary (e.g., congenital diaphragmatic hernia) anomalies.
    • Inborn errors of metabolism.
  2. Hemodynamic instability (shock):

    • Hemodynamic instability with impaired end-organ perfusion (metabolic acidosis with increased lactate and/or decreased urine output).
    • Requirements for fluid bolus, inotrope or vasopressor medication
  3. Severe sepsis:

    • Signs of hemodynamic instability and requiring at least one fluid bolus.
    • And a positive blood or cerebrospinal fluid culture.
  4. Pneumothorax: Pneumothorax with a chest tube in place

  5. Severe pulmonary hemorrhage:

    • Active pulmonary hemorrhage (i.e., frank blood coming from the endotracheal tube.
    • And at least one of the following criteria: a)hemodynamic instability. b) blood product transfusion (packed red blood cells, platelets, fresh frozen plasma)
  6. Extubation: If Extubation planned within the next 24 hours (post first uc-MSC administration/sham procedure).

  7. Patient is not expected to survive:

    • Redirection of care.
    • Patient is moribund

Study & Design

Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Study Design
PARALLEL
Arm && Interventions
GroupInterventionDescription
Intervention group will receive multiple IV doses of UC-MSCsHuman Allogenic Umbilical Cord Mesenchymal Stromal Cells* Dose: each dose consists of 10 million cells/kilograms of bodyweight. * Administration protocol: weekly (7 days ± 1 day) IV dose of UC-MSCs for 3 weeks (Total of 3 doses) * Route of administration: IV infusion on peripheral intravenous catheter. The UC-MSC solution will be infused using a syringe pump over 15 minutes, and after the UCMSC infusion, an additional volume of normal saline will be infused over 15 minutes.
Control groupSham procedure controlParticipants allocated in the control group will receive a sham procedure weekly for 3 weeks. A syringe of normal saline brought to bedside, but it will not be administered. The physician and bedside nurse will perform the sham procedure behind a screen (they will mimic IV catheter insertion and cell product injection)
Primary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Number of mechanical ventilation-free days accounting for mortality120 days

The study primary outcome is the number of mechanical ventilation-free days accounting for mortality. Mechanical ventilation is defined by artificial ventilation using an endotracheal tube. For study purpose, this outcome will be measured at 120 days after randomization. To account for mortality, any death within 120 days post randomization will be counted as "0" mechanical ventilation-free day (worse outcome).

Secondary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Neurodevelopment and health outcomes at 24 months corrected age (Bayleys)Assessment will be scheduled at 24 months corrected age.

The neurodevelopmental assessment will be scheduled at 24 months CA with a window of +/- 6 months (i.e., between 18 to 30 months CA). Participants will be evaluated in the Neonatal Follow-Up clinic for high-risk infants. An assessment of general health and growth will be performed, and the most recent audiology and ophthalmology results will be recorded. The Bayley Scales of Infant Develpment-4th edition will be performed by a qualified professional to further evaluate the neurodevelopment of the participant.

Evaluation of safety of IV administration of UC-MSCs: Dose Limiting toxicity24-hours post uc-MSC injection

Dose-limiting toxicity, defined as one of the following events, occurring within 24-hour post UC-MSC injection:

* Death

* Anaphylaxis

* Increase need for respiratory support define by increase FiO2 \>30% from baseline and/or increase in mean airway pressure \> 5 cmH2O from baseline

* Medications to support hemodynamic status (including management of cardiac arrest) including fluid boluses, inotropes, or vasopressors

* Any SAE not expected in this patient population for which there is no alternative explanation but the IV administration of UC-MSCs and occurring within 1 week after UC-MSCs injection.

Evaluation of safety of IV administration of UC-MSCs: potential adverse eventwithin 1 week post uc-MSC injection

Any Serious Adverse Event (SAE) not expected in this patient population for which there is no alternative explanation but the IV administration of UC-MSCs and occurring within 1 week after UC-MSCs injection.

Long-term participant safety follow-upFrom enrollment until participant is 10 years of age.

We plan to have annual parental interviews via telephone until the participant is 10 years old. This is to assess the respiratory status and any new diagnoses of study participants.

Effects of uc-MSCs on the date of extubation for participants.From date of randomization until the date of discharge home or date of death from any cause, whichever came first, assessed up to 12 months

This respiratory outcome will be measured to determine if uc-MSCs have an effect on the date of extubation for participants

Effects of uc-MSCs on the rate of survival without moderate or severe BPD at 36 weeks corrected age.BPD severity will be assessed for each participant at 36 weeks of corrected age

This will assess if uc-MSCs impact survival with moderate or severe Bronchopulmonary dysplasia.

Effects of uc-MSCs on the Number of Participants receiving open-label dexamethasone for severe chronic lung diseaseFrom date of randomization until the date of discharge home or date of death from any cause, whichever came first, assessed up to 12 months

This will help us determine if the intervention reduces use of dexamethasone for the treatment of severe chronic lung disease.

Effects of uc-MSCs on the duration of respiratory support.From date of randomization until the date of discharge home or date of death from any cause, whichever came first, assessed up to 12 months

Since ventilation damages underdeveloped lungs, determining the duration of ventilation is important to monitor as an outcome of uc-MSCs.

We will collect the total number of days on mechanical ventilation, non-invasive ventilation, and oxygen therapy during the NICU hospitalization for each participant

Complications of prematurity (assessed at time of hospital discharge)From date of randomization until the date of discharge home or date of death from any cause, whichever came first, assessed up to 12 months

The complications of prematurity assessed are the following:

* BPD.

* Patent Ductus Arteriosus requiring medical, surgical or device closure.

* Intra-ventricular hemorrhage ≥ grade 3 according to Papille's classification.

* Periventricular leukomalacia.

* Necrotizing enterocolitis ≥ stage 2 according to Bell's classification.

* Retinopathy of prematurity requiring treatment

* Late-onset sepsis

Effects of uc-MSCs on the levels of respiratory support at 36 weeks CA, 40 weeks CA and at hospital discharge.From date of randomization until the date of discharge home or date of death from any cause, whichever came first, assessed up to 12 months

The different levels of intensity of ventilation will help us determine if uc-MSCs reduce ventilation days.

The respiratory support being used are the following (Room air being the least intensive and best for participant health outcome.):

mechanical ventilation vs. Continuous Positive Airway pressure/High Flow Nasal Canula, vs. Low Flow Nasal Canula vs. room air

Effects of uc-MSCs on the occurrence of pulmonary hypertension related to severe BPDFrom date of randomization until the date of discharge home or date of death from any cause, whichever came first, assessed up to 12 months

This will help us determine the therapeutic properties of UC-MSCs in reducing the occurrence of pulmonary hypertension related to severe BPD.

Participants will be screened by echocardiography for pulmonary hypertension at 36 weeks of corrected age. Medication for chronic pulmonary hypertension will be collected.

Trial Locations

Locations (8)

Royal Alexandra Hospital/Stollery Children's Hospital

🇨🇦

Edmonton, Alberta, Canada

McMaster Children's Hospital

🇨🇦

Hamilton, Ontario, Canada

The Ottawa Hospital

🇨🇦

Ottawa, Ontario, Canada

Sunnybrook Health Sciences Ctr

🇨🇦

Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Mount Sinai Hospital

🇨🇦

Toronto, Ontario, Canada

CHU Sainte-Justine

🇨🇦

Montreal, Quebec, Canada

McGill Montreal Children's Hospital

🇨🇦

Montreal, Quebec, Canada

Université Laval

🇨🇦

Québec City, Quebec, Canada

Royal Alexandra Hospital/Stollery Children's Hospital
🇨🇦Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
Georg Schmölzer, MD, PhD
Principal Investigator

MedPath

Empowering clinical research with data-driven insights and AI-powered tools.

© 2025 MedPath, Inc. All rights reserved.