Single or Repeated Intravenous Administration of umbiliCAl Cord Mesenchymal sTrOmal Cells in Ischemic Cardiomyopathy

Phase 2

Recruiting

• Conditions: Ischemic Heart Disease
• Interventions: Biological: umbilical cord-derived mesenchymal stromal cells (UC-MSCs)

• Registration Number: NCT06145035
• Lead Sponsor: Roberto Bolli

Brief Summary

This is a Phase IIA, randomized, double blind, placebo controlled, multicenter study designed to assess the safety, feasibility, and efficacy of umbilical cord derived mesenchymal stromal cells (UC MSCs), administered intravenously (IV) as a single dose or repeated doses, in patients with ischemic cardiomyopathy (ICM).

Detailed Description

This is a Phase IIA, randomized, double blind, placebo controlled, multicenter study designed to assess the safety, feasibility, and efficacy of umbilical cord derived mesenchymal stromal cells (UC MSCs), administered intravenously (IV) as a single dose or repeated doses, in patients with ischemic cardiomyopathy (ICM) (see summary in Figure 1).

A total of 60 participants will be assigned in a random fashion to three groups on a 1:1:1 basis: control, single dose, and repeated doses. All patients will receive four study product infusions (SPIs) 2 months apart. SPIs (performed in a double blind fashion) will consist of either UC MSCs or placebo (based on randomization), infused by the IV route. Patients in the control group will receive four doses of placebo. Patients in the single dose group will receive one dose of UC MSCs followed by three doses of placebo. Patients in the repeated dose group will receive four doses of UC MSCs. A dose of UC MSCs will consist of 100 million cells suspended in 60 mL, infused at a rate of 2 mL/min. A dose of placebo will consist of an equivalent volume of Plasma Lyte A supplemented with 1% human serum albumin (HSA). After each SPI, patients will be monitored for a minimum of 2 hours and then examined at 1 week and 2 months. After the fourth SPI, patients will be followed for 6 months to complete all safety and efficacy assessments.

The UC MSCs will be derived from UC tissue obtained from a healthy pregnant woman at the time of caesarean delivery. The cells will be manufactured at the Interdisciplinary Stem Cell Institute at the University of Miami, Miller School of Medicine and then shipped to the Site for administration.

Study Timeline

• Study First Submitted: 2023-11-01
• Study First Submitted QC: 2023-11-17
• Study First Posted: 2023-11-22
• Study Start: 2024-03-04
• Status Verified: 2024-10
• Last Update Submitted: 2024-10-23
• Last Update Posted: 2024-10-26
• Primary Completion: 2026-01-01
• Study Completion: 2026-01-01

Recruitment & Eligibility

• Status: RECRUITING
• Sex: All
• Target Recruitment: 60

Inclusion Criteria

1. Be ≥ 21 and ≤ 85 years of age.
2. Have documented CAD (> 70% lesion in at least 1 epicardial vessel) with evidence of myocardial injury, LV dysfunction, and clinical evidence of HF.
3. Have a "detectable" area of myocardial injury defined as ≥ 5% LV involvement (infarct volume) and any subendocardial involvement by MRI.
4. Have an EF ≤ 40% by MRI.
5. Be receiving guideline driven medical therapy for HF (beta blockers, diuretics, ACE inhibitors or ARBs, or ARNIs, aldosterone antagonists, hydralazine isosorbide, sodium-glucose transporter 2 inhibitors) ) at stable, maximally tolerated doses for ≥ 1 month prior to consent. "Stable" is defined as stable dose with no changes for 30 days after last dose adjustment. For beta blockade "stable" is defined as no greater than a 50% reduction in dose or no more than a 100% increase in dose.
6. Have NYHA class I, II or III symptoms of HF (see Appendix A)
7. If a female of childbearing potential, be willing to use one form of birth control for the duration of the study and undergo a serum pregnancy test at baseline and within 36 hours prior to infusion

Exclusion Criteria

1. Indication for standard of care surgery (including valve surgery, placement of left ventricular assist device, or imminent heart transplantation), coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) procedure, and/or percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) for the treatment of ischemic and/or valvular heart disease. Subjects who require or undergo PCI should undergo these procedures a minimum of 3 months in advance of randomization. Subjects who require or undergo CABG should undergo these procedures a minimum of 3 months in advance of randomization. In addition, subjects who develop a need for revascularization following enrollment should undergo revascularization without delay. Indication for imminent heart transplantation is defined as a high likelihood of transplant prior to collection of the 12 month study endpoint. Candidates cannot be UNOS 1A or 1B, and they must have documented a low probability of being transplanted.

2. Severe valvular (any valve) insufficiency and/or regurgitation within 12 months of consent

3. History of ischemic or hemorrhagic stroke within 90 days of consent

4. Presence of a pacemaker and/or implantable cardiac device (ICD) generator with any of the following limitations/conditions:

   • manufactured before the year 2000
   • leads implanted < 6 weeks prior to consent
   • non transvenous epicardial or abandoned leads
   • subcutaneous ICDs (if not MRI compatible)
   • leadless pacemakers
   • any other condition that, in the judgment of device trained staff, would deem an MRI contraindicated

5. Pacemaker dependence with an ICD (Note: pacemaker dependent candidates without an ICD are not excluded)

6. A cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) device implanted less than 3 months prior to consent.

7. Other MRI contraindications (e.g. patient body habitus incompatible with MRI)

8. An appropriate ICD firing or anti tachycardia pacing (ATP) for ventricular fibrillation or ventricular tachycardia within 30 days of consent

9. Ventricular tachycardia ≥ 20 consecutive beats without an ICD within 3 months of consent, or symptomatic Mobitz II or higher degree atrioventricular block without a functioning pacemaker within 3 months of consent

10. Evidence of active myocarditis

11. Baseline glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) < 35 ml/min/1.73m2

12. Blood glucose levels (HbA1c) >10%

13. Hematologic abnormality evidenced by hematocrit < 25%, white blood cell < 2,500/ul or platelet count < 100,000/ul

14. Liver dysfunction evidenced by enzymes (AST and ALT) ˃ 3 times the ULN.

15. HIV and/or active HBV or HCV

16. Known history of anaphylactic reaction to penicillin or streptomycin

17. Received gene or cell based therapy from any source within the previous 12 months.

18. History of malignancy within 2 years (i.e., subjects with prior malignancy must be disease free for 2 years), excluding basal cell carcinoma and cervical carcinoma in situ which have been definitively treated.

19. Condition that limits lifespan to < 1 year

20. History of drug abuse (illegal "street" drugs except marijuana, or prescription medications not being used appropriately for a pre-existing medical condition) or alcohol abuse (≥ 5 drinks/day for ˃ 3 months), or documented medical, occupational, or legal problems arising from the use of alcohol or drugs within the past 12 months.

21. Participation in an investigational therapeutic or device trial within 30 days of consent

22. Cognitive or language barriers that prohibit obtaining informed consent or any study elements

23. Pregnancy or lactation or plans to become pregnant in the next 12 months.

24. Any other condition that, in the judgment of the Investigator or Sponsor, would impair enrollment, study product administration, or follow up.

Study & Design

• Study Type: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Design: PARALLEL

Arm && Interventions

Group	Intervention	Description
control group	umbilical cord-derived mesenchymal stromal cells (UC-MSCs)	Four doses of vehicle (Plasma-Lyte A supplemented with 1% HSA) will be given 2 months apart. Each dose will be infused IV at a rate of 2 ml/min for a total of 60 ml over 30 minutes.
single-dose group	umbilical cord-derived mesenchymal stromal cells (UC-MSCs)	One dose of UC-MSCs (100 x 106 cells) will be infused IV at a rate of 2 ml/min for a total of 60 ml over 30 minutes (3.3 million cells/ml/min). This will be followed by three IV infusions of placebo (same volume and rate) 2, 4, and 6 months later.
repeated-dose group	umbilical cord-derived mesenchymal stromal cells (UC-MSCs)	Four doses of UC-MSCs (100 x 106 cells each) will be given 2 months apart. Each dose will be infused IV at a rate of 2 ml/min for a total of 60 ml over 30 minutes (3.3 million cells/ml/min).

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
change in LVEF (D LVEF) between baseline (M0) and 12 months after the first study product infusion (SPI) (M12)	Baseline, 12 months	Change in left ventricular ejection fraction as assessed via cardiac MRI. Units: %

Secondary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Change in scar mass (as %LV)	Baseline, 12 months	Change in scar mass (as %LV) as assessed via delayed gadolinium enhancement MRI.; Units: %
Change in LV end-diastolic volume index (EDVI)	Baseline, 12 months	Change in left ventricular end diastolic index (LVEDVI) as assessed via cardiac MRI.; Units: ml/m2
Change in global and regional strain (tagged MRI): global and 16-segment values for peak circumferential strain, global and segmental longitudinal strain	Baseline, 12 months	Change in global and regional strain as assessed via cardiac MRI. Units: %
Change in branchial artery flow-mediated dilation [FMD] [diameter percent change]).	Baseline, month 2, 8, & 12	Change in branchial artery flow-mediated dilation will be reported as the percent change in flow mediated diameter assessed via flow mediated dilation (FMD).; Units: %
Biomarkers: Change in NT-proBNP	Day 0, Month 2, 4, 6, 8, & 12	Change in NT-proBNP as assessed via blood draw. Units: pg/ml
Change in LV end-systolic volume index (ESVI)	Baseline, 12 months	Change in left ventricular end systolic index (LVESVI) as assessed via cardiac MRI.; Units: ml/m2
Change in scar mass (in grams)	Baseline, 12 months	Change in scar mass (in grams) as assessed via delayed gadolinium enhancement MRI.; Units: grams
Change in LV end-diastolic wall thickness	Baseline, 12 months	Change in LV end-diastolic wall thickness as assessed via cardiac MRI. Units: mm
Change in LV wall thickening	Baseline, 12 months	Change in LV wall thickening as assessed via cardiac MRI. Units: mm
Change in VO2 max (treadmill test)	Baseline, month 8, month 12	Change in maximal oxygen consumption (peak VO2) as assessed via treadmill. Units: mL/kg/min
Change in LV sphericity index	Baseline, 12 months	Change in LV sphericity index as assessed via cardiac MRI. Units: Index score Sphericity index is the ratio of the long and short axis measurements of the left ventricle.
Change in exercise tolerance (six-minute walk test)	Baseline, month 8, month 12	Change in exercise tolerance as assessed as the distance covered via the six-minute walk test.; Units: meters
Change in New York Heart Association class	Baseline, month 2,4,6,8, & 12	NYHA Classifications of heart failure are as follows: Class I (no limitations); Class II (mild symptoms); Class III (marked limitations); Class IV (Severe limitations).; Units: score on a scale
Major adverse cardiac events (MACE)	Month 12	Number of participants with adjudicated events including death, hospitalization for worsening HF, and exacerbation of HF requiring visit to the Emergency Department and/or IV therapy but not requiring hospitalization.; Units: number of participants who have an incidence of MACE in each group
Cumulative days alive and out of hospital for HF	Month 12	Days alive and out of hospital during the study evaluation period. Units: days
Change in Kansas City Cardiomyopathy Questionnaire (KCCQ) score	Baseline, month 6, month 12	KCCQ is a 12-item questionnaire in which scores are scaled from 0 to 100 and summarized in ranges to represent health status as follows: 0 to 24: very poor to poor; 25 to 49: poor to fair; 50 to 74: fair to good; and 75 to 100: good to excellent.; Units: score on a scale
Change in Endothelial Progenitor Cell [EPC]-colony forming unit [EPC-CFU] assay	Baseline, month 2, 8, & 12	Change in endothelial function will be reported as the change in Endothelial Progenitor Cell Colony Forming Unit (EPC-CFU) assessed via blood sample assay.; Units: CFUs/well
Biomarkers: hs-CRP	Day 0, Week 1, Month 2, 4, 6, 8, & 12	Blood level of hs-CRP as assessed via blood draw. Units: mg/ml

Trial Locations

Locations (3)

University of Miami Miller School of Medicine; 🇺🇸 Miami, Florida, United States

University of Louisville School of Medicine, Institute of Molecular Cardiology; 🇺🇸 Louisville, Kentucky, United States

The Texas Heart Institute Houston Texas; 🇺🇸 Houston, Texas, United States