Injection of stem cell-derived exosomes for knee osteoarthritis

Administration of sEV Derived From UC-MSC in Patients With Osteoarthritis of the Knee: Safety Determination in a Pilot Dose-escalation Study

EARLY_PHASE1 · Universidad de los Andes, Chile · NCT06431152

This study is testing if injections of stem cell-derived tiny particles can safely help people with mild to moderate knee osteoarthritis feel better.

Quick facts

PhaseEARLY_PHASE1
Study typeInterventional
Enrollment12 (estimated)
Ages30 Years to 70 Years
SexAll
SponsorUniversidad de los Andes, Chile (other)
Locations1 site (Santiago, Las Condes)
Trial IDNCT06431152 on ClinicalTrials.gov

What this trial studies

This clinical investigation evaluates the safety of small extracellular vesicles (sEVs) derived from allogeneic mesenchymal stromal cells, administered via intra-articular injection in patients with mild to moderate symptomatic knee osteoarthritis. The study is an open-label, dose-escalation pilot trial involving 12 participants, divided into three cohorts receiving increasing doses of the treatment. The sEVs will be produced in a GMP facility, ensuring high-quality standards, and the follow-up period will last up to 12 months to monitor safety and feasibility.

Who should consider this trial

Good fit: Ideal candidates are adults aged 30 to 70 with Kellgren-Lawrence grade II-III knee osteoarthritis and moderate pain levels.

Not a fit: Patients with symptomatic bilateral knee osteoarthritis or those with significant comorbidities may not benefit from this study.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this treatment could provide a novel, minimally invasive option for alleviating symptoms of knee osteoarthritis.

How similar studies have performed: While the use of MSC-derived therapies is gaining traction, this specific approach using sEVs is relatively novel and has not been extensively tested in prior studies.

Eligibility criteria

Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria:

* Age 30 to 70 years.
* Kellgren-Lawrence grade II - III knee OA (Rosenberg view x-ray)
* VAS for pain ≥ 40 mm, without surgical indication in the affected knee.
* In case of bilateral involvement, the most affected knee will be treated. The contralateral knee should be asymptomatic or present a VAS ≤ 20 mm.
* Stable knee with normal physical examination.
* Signed Informed Consent

Exclusion Criteria:

* Symptomatic bilateral knee OA
* BMI \> 30 kg/m2
* Joint instability at physical examination.
* Mechanical meniscal tear on physical examination.
* Associated conditions: active local or systemic infection, neoplasia, immunosuppression, pregnancy, anticoagulant therapy, coagulation disorders, inflammatory joint disease (autoimmune, by crystal or other), joint prosthesis, symptomatic spine or hip disease.
* Recent use of intra-articular (last 6 months) or oral (last month) steroid therapy.
* Recent use of intra-articular hyaluronic acid therapy (last 6 months)
* Subchondral bone fracture.

Where this trial is running

Santiago, Las Condes

Study contacts

How to participate

  1. Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
  2. Visit the official trial page on ClinicalTrials.gov for the most current contact information and recruitment status.
  3. Contact the listed study coordinator or principal investigator to request pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.

View on ClinicalTrials.gov →

Conditions: Osteo Arthritis Knee

Last reviewed 2026-05-15 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.