Single NouvNeu001 (dopaminergic progenitor cells) injection for MSA-P

A Phase I/III Clinical Study to Evaluate the Safety, Tolerability, and Efficacy of Intracerebral Putamen Transplantation of NouvNeu001 Injection for Multiple System Atrophy

This Phase I trial will test whether a single injection of NouvNeu001 (human dopaminergic progenitor cells) is safe and may help people aged 30–70 with early Multiple System Atrophy, Parkinsonian subtype.

Quick facts

• Phase: PHASE1
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 9 (estimated)
• Ages: 30 Years to 70 Years
• Sex: All
• Sponsor: iRegene Therapeutics Co., Ltd. (industry)
• Locations: 1 site (Beijing, Beijing Municipality)
• Trial ID: NCT07289477 on ClinicalTrials.gov

What this trial studies

This Phase I interventional study administers a single injection of NouvNeu001, a preparation of human dopaminergic progenitor cells, to participants with Multiple System Atrophy, Parkinsonian subtype. The primary goal is to monitor safety and tolerability, with collection of preliminary efficacy measures. Eligible participants are 30–70 years old, ambulatory, have motor symptom duration of five years or less, and have inadequately controlled core MSA symptoms. The trial is conducted at Beijing Tiantan Hospital and requires participants to agree to avoid other clinical studies for 24 months after administration.

Who should consider this trial

Good fit: Ideal candidates are people aged 30–70 with clinically established or probable MSA-P of five years' duration or less who remain able to walk (with or without assistive devices), have inadequately controlled core symptoms, can provide informed consent, and can attend the Beijing study site.

Not a fit: Patients with other neurological disorders, advanced or long-standing MSA (>5 years), who cannot walk without human assistance, or who have significant comorbidities are unlikely to benefit from this trial.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, the treatment could reduce parkinsonian motor symptoms or slow disease progression by replacing lost dopaminergic cells.

How similar studies have performed: Cell-replacement approaches targeting dopaminergic neurons have produced mixed early results in Parkinson disease and remain largely untested in MSA, so substantial benefit is not yet proven.

Eligibility criteria

Inclusion Criteria:

* Aged between 30 and 70 years (inclusive), regardless of gender.
* The subject understands and agrees to comply with the study procedures and voluntarily provides written informed consent.
* Diagnosed with pathologically confirmed, clinically established, or clinically probable Multiple System Atrophy (MSA) according to the 2022 MDS diagnostic criteria.
* Current treatments for core MSA symptoms are inadequately controlled.
* The duration of MSA-related motor symptoms (parkinsonism and/or cerebellar ataxia) is no more than 5 years.
* Ability to walk without human assistance, defined as being able to take at least 10 steps; the use of assistive devices (e.g., a walker or cane) is permitted.
* Life expectancy of at least 3 years.
* The subject agrees not to participate in any other clinical studies for 24 months following the investigational product administration.

Exclusion Criteria:

* Neurological diseases/disorders other than Multiple System Atrophy, such as Parkinson's disease, Dementia with Lewy Bodies, Essential Tremor, Progressive Supranuclear Palsy, Spinocerebellar Ataxia, Hereditary Spastic Paraplegia, Corticobasal Degeneration, Vascular Parkinsonism, Normal Pressure Hydrocephalus, or Drug-induced/Postencephalitic Parkinsonism.
* Diagnosis of dementia.
* Previous or current receipt of other disease-modifying therapies, or participation in clinical trials of other new drugs or novel therapies.
* Use of medications within the past 3 months that may affect Parkinsonian symptoms, autonomic function, or the evaluation of safety.
* Presence of clinically significant or unstable medical or surgical conditions that may preclude the safe completion of the treatment or confound the treatment outcomes.
* History of or undergoing treatment for recurrent stroke.
* Screening brain MRI shows other significant pathological findings, including but not limited to: cerebral hemorrhage, acute cerebral infarction, aneurysm, vascular malformation, infectious lesions, brain tumors, or other space-occupying lesions (meningiomas or arachnoid cysts with a maximum diameter of less than 1 cm do not warrant exclusion).
* Subjects meeting any of the following criteria indicating advanced disease:

Speech impairment defined by a score of ≥3 on UMSARS Item 1. Swallowing impairment defined by a score of ≥3 on UMSARS Item 2. Walking impairment defined by a score of ≥3 on UMSARS Item 7. Occurrence of falls more than once per week, defined by a score of ≥3 on UMSARS Item 8.

* History of current substance abuse and/or alcohol abuse (within 12 months prior to screening).
* Known allergy to the investigational product(s); or history of allergy to antibiotics or other drugs.
* Positive screening results for active viral infection, including Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV), Hepatitis B Surface Antigen (HBsAg), Hepatitis B Core Antibodies, or Hepatitis C Virus (HCV).
* Severe hepatic insufficiency, renal insufficiency, or severe cardiac insufficiency:

Severe hepatic insufficiency: ALT ≥ 2.0 × upper limit of normal (ULN) or AST ≥ 2.0 × ULN.

Severe renal insufficiency: Serum creatinine ≥ 1.5 × ULN or estimated Glomerular Filtration Rate (eGFR) \< 40 mL/min/1.73 m².

Severe cardiac insufficiency: New York Heart Association (NYHA) Class 3 or 4.

* History of thrombocytopenia within the past three months, other bleeding disorders, or current receipt of anticoagulant therapy (excluding aspirin at a dose ≤ 100 mg per day).
* Pregnancy, lactation, or planning pregnancy.
* History of Bipolar Disorder, Major Depressive Disorder, Schizophrenia, or other psychotic disorders.
* Subjects judged by the investigator to have suicidal ideation at screening, or a suicide attempt within 6 months prior to screening.
* Contraindications for surgery (e.g., implantation of cochlear implants, pacemakers, defibrillators, history of stereotactic ablation, previous implantation of unilateral/bilateral similar products) or history of other surgeries within the past 6 months deemed by the investigator to potentially affect this trial, or other neurosurgical contraindications.
* Clinically significant cardiac disease defined as: myocardial infarction, NYHA Class III or IV heart failure, uncontrolled coronary spasm, severe uncontrolled ventricular arrhythmia, or evidence of acute ischemia or abnormal conduction system on ECG within 6 months prior to enrollment.
* Diagnosis of malignancy.
* Family history of congenital or inherited immunodeficiency disorders.
* Considered by the investigator to have poor compliance.
* Any other significant disease or condition that, in the investigator's judgment, may jeopardize the subject's safety or interfere with the study assessments.

Where this trial is running

Beijing, Beijing Municipality

• Beijing Tiantan Hospital, Capital Medical University — Beijing, Beijing Municipality, China (RECRUITING)

Study contacts

• Study coordinator: Meng Cai, Ph.D

Conditions: Multiple System Atrophy - Parkinsonian Subtype