Evaluating the safety of stem cells for knee osteoarthritis

A Single-Arm Clinical Study on the Safety and Tolerance of Human Umbilical Cord Mesenchymal Stem Cells Mediated by Arthroscopy in Patients With Stage II-III Knee Osteoarthritis

This study is testing if using stem cells from umbilical cords is safe for people with knee osteoarthritis.

Quick facts

• Phase: Early Phase 1
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 18 (estimated)
• Ages: 40 Years to 60 Years
• Sex: All
• Sponsor: First Affiliated Hospital of Wannan Medical College (Academic / other)
• Locations: 1 site (Wuhu, Anhui)
• Trial ID: NCT06082440 on ClinicalTrials.gov

What this trial studies

This clinical trial aims to assess the safety and tolerability of human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells administered via arthroscopy in patients suffering from knee osteoarthritis. The study will enroll 18-22 participants and is designed as a single-dose, randomized, placebo-controlled trial. It includes a screening period, baseline assessment, treatment phase, safety observation, and follow-up. The goal is to gather data that will inform future clinical studies on this treatment approach.

Who should consider this trial

Good fit: Ideal candidates are individuals aged 40 to 60 with diagnosed knee osteoarthritis and specific pain criteria.

Not a fit: Patients with osteoarthritis not meeting the inclusion criteria or those with advanced disease may not benefit from this study.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this treatment could provide a novel therapeutic option for patients with knee osteoarthritis, potentially improving their quality of life.

How similar studies have performed: While there have been studies on stem cell therapies for osteoarthritis, this specific approach using umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells is relatively novel.

Eligibility criteria

Inclusion Criteria:

1. Age range from 40 to 60 years old (including threshold), regardless of gender；
2. According to the 《Chinese Guidelines for the Diagnosis and Treatment of Osteoarthritis (2021 Edition)》, patients diagnosed with knee osteoarthritis；
3. According to the imaging examination results (knee joint X-ray anterolateral axial position), the target knee joint with Kellgren Lawrence grading is classified as Grade II-III；
4. WOMAC pain sub item with a score of at least 4 points and pain lasting for at least 4 weeks from the time of signing the informed consent form；
5. Pain persists for more than six months, or after routine clinical treatment, such as hormone, opioid drugs, viscoelastic supplement therapy, etc., osteoarthritis relapses or worsens again after discontinuation of medication；
6. Those who have continuously used non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs for at least 12 weeks and have stabilized their dosage for at least 4 weeks before the first administration, and have maintained a stable medication regimen within 4 weeks after cell therapy；
7. All subjects and their partners who have no family planning within 6 months from screening to the end of the trial and agree to take effective non drug contraceptive measures during the trial period；
8. Those who voluntarily participate in clinical research, understand and sign an informed consent form.

Exclusion Criteria:

1. Those who receive physical therapy of knee joint (bilateral or either side) or use traditional Chinese patent medicines and simple preparations to treat knee arthritis (bilateral or either side) within 6 weeks before treatment；
2. Within 3 months before the start of treatment, patients who have received topical glucocorticoid therapy on both sides or either side of the knee joint, or have received systemic glucocorticoid therapy, or who require systemic glucocorticoid therapy during the study period；
3. Individuals who have undergone knee arthroscopic surgery or other open surgeries related to knee joint operations within the first 6 months of the screening period；
4. Individuals who have received any medication injection treatment within the knee joint (bilateral or either side) cavity within 6 months before the start of treatment；
5. Patients who have received opioid therapy for knee osteoarthritis 4 weeks before the start of treatment；
6. Those who have undergone or need to undergo knee replacement surgery during the trial period；
7. Diagnosed as secondary knee osteoarthritis；
8. Patients with knee joint damage caused by other reasons, or inflammatory and painful diseases that affect the knee joint or affect the joint；
9. Other lower limb diseases that may interfere with the evaluation of knee joint efficacy, such as fibromyalgia, obvious back pain, lumbar disc herniation, etc；
10. Patients with skin disorders at the intended injection site of the target knee joint；
11. Individuals with severe systemic or local knee joint infections within the first 3 months of the screening period；
12. Individuals with solid tumors within 5 years prior to screening；
13. Individuals with severe and poorly controlled concomitant diseases；
14. Severe heart disease patients (NYHA heart function level III and above)；
15. Individuals with a clear history of mental disorders, or a history of abuse of psychotropic substances or drug use；
16. Individuals who may be allergic to any component or albumin in experimental biological products.

Where this trial is running

Wuhu, Anhui

• First Affiliated Hospital of Wannan Medical College — Wuhu, Anhui, China (Recruiting)

Study contacts

• Principal investigator: Qiang Wang — First Affiliated Hospital of Wannan Medical College
• Study coordinator: Weijie He

Conditions Osteoarthritis, Knee