Macrophage Cell Therapy Shows 70% Transplant-Free Survival Rate in Advanced Liver Disease Trial
Key Insights
A pioneering macrophage cell therapy demonstrated significantly improved outcomes for advanced liver disease (search) patients, with 70% achieving transplant-free survival after four years compared to 40% receiving standard care.
The treatment involves converting patients' immune cells into mature macrophages (search) that break down liver scar tissue, reduce inflammation, and promote healthy liver cell growth when re-injected.
Results from the MATCH clinical trial showed eight deaths and no liver transplants among 26 macrophage-treated patients versus nine deaths and five transplants among 24 standard care patients.
A groundbreaking cell therapy has demonstrated significant promise as the first treatment for advanced liver disease (search), with patients showing a dramatically reduced risk of death or need for liver transplantation compared to standard medical care. The results from a four-year clinical trial suggest this approach could transform treatment options for patients with end-stage liver disease.
Clinical Trial Results Show Dramatic Improvement
The MATCH clinical trial enrolled 50 patients with advanced liver disease (search), with 26 receiving the experimental macrophage therapy (search) and 24 receiving standard care. After four years of follow-up, 70% of patients who received the macrophage therapy were living without the need for a liver transplant, compared with just 40% of patients who did not receive the treatment.
The survival data revealed eight deaths and no liver transplants among the patients treated with macrophages (search), compared with nine deaths and five liver transplants among those who received standard care. Importantly, no serious side-effects were reported in patients treated with the cell therapy.
Revolutionary Treatment Mechanism
Scientists at the University of Edinburgh developed this pioneering cell therapy designed to tackle scarred tissue and restore liver function. The treatment involves taking immune cells from patients' blood and converting them into mature macrophages (search) – a type of white blood cell that "eats" infected or damaged cells – which are then re-injected back into the patient.
Once administered, the macrophages (search) travel to the liver, where they break down scar tissue, reduce harmful inflammation, and encourage the growth of healthy liver cells. This approach directly addresses the underlying pathology of advanced liver disease (search), where severe scarring known as cirrhosis (search) leaves the organ damaged beyond natural repair.
Addressing Critical Medical Need
More than three-quarters of people are diagnosed with cirrhosis (search) when it is too late for effective treatment, contributing to more than 11,000 deaths per year in the UK. Currently, liver transplantation represents the only curative treatment option for end-stage liver disease (search), but this approach is severely limited by donor availability, cost, and suitability for only a small subset of patients.
"Liver disease (search) is a major cause of death of people in their working age," said Professor Stuart Forbes from the University of Edinburgh's Institute for Regeneration and Repair. "Although we can use liver transplantation as a rescue treatment for a proportion of people who have advanced liver disease, this is restricted by a lack of suitable donor organs. Unfortunately, many patients may die whilst on the liver transplant waiting list."
Patient Impact and Hope
The British Liver Trust (search) welcomed the findings as offering unprecedented hope for patients facing this devastating diagnosis. "For people living with cirrhosis (search), these results offer something that has been in desperately short supply for far too long: real hope," said Pamela Healy, Chief Executive of the British Liver Trust. "Being told that a liver transplant may be your only option – and that one may never come – is devastating for patients and families. A treatment that could slow or reverse liver failure (search) and reduce the need for transplantation would be truly life changing."
Commercial Development and Future Trials
The macrophage therapy (search) was developed following more than a decade of research by Professor Forbes alongside the Scottish National Blood Transfusion Service. In 2020, Professor Forbes co-founded spinout company Resolution Therapeutics (search) with support from Edinburgh Innovations to bring this pioneering science to patients.
Resolution Therapeutics (search) is currently testing an advanced version of the macrophage therapy (search), known as RTX001, in patients through the EMERALD clinical trial. Dr. Lara Campana, Scientific Co-Founder and Senior Vice President of Research & Translational Science at Resolution Therapeutics, noted that analysis of patients' blood revealed a strong anti-inflammatory effect of the therapy, which correlates with transplant-free survival.
The four-year follow-up period provides crucial insights into both the long-term benefits and safety profile of the treatment, representing a significant step forward in regenerative medicine for liver disease (search) patients.