Clinical trial Recruiting at 1 site Phase 1 Interventional Ages 39 to 69

Using small mobile stem cells to treat chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

Official title: A Phase 1, First-in-Human, Clinical Trial to Evaluate the Safety of Small Mobile Stem Cells (SMS) Delivered Into the Lung as a Potential Organ Regeneration Therapy in Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (SORT-COPD Study

Run by SMSbiotech · NCT06986070 · Data updated 2026-11-12

This study is testing if inhaling small mobile stem cells is safe for people with mild to moderate COPD.

Quick facts

PhasePhase 1
Study typeInterventional
Ages39 Years to 69 Years
SexAll
Enrollment18 (estimated)
SponsorSMSbiotech
Industry-sponsored
Locations1 site (Melbourne, Victoria)
StatusRecruiting
StartedJune 13, 2025
Main results expectedDecember 2026
Study endsDecember 2026
Registry record updatedAugust 11, 2026
Trial IDNCT06986070 on ClinicalTrials.gov

Is this trial a fit for you?

Likely a good fit

Ideal candidates are adults aged 39 to 69 with mild to moderate COPD.

Probably not a fit

Patients with severe COPD or those who are pregnant or breastfeeding may not benefit from this study.

A plain-English reading of the study's rules. Only the study team can confirm whether you qualify.

What this trial studies

This phase 1, first-in-human, open-label study investigates the safety of small mobile stem cells (SMS cells) in participants with mild to moderate chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Eighteen participants aged 39 to 69 will inhale SMS cells delivered via a nebulizer in three escalating dose groups. The study aims to monitor any short-term adverse effects following treatment on specific days. This is the first time this treatment is being tested in humans, focusing on its safety profile.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this treatment could provide a novel therapeutic option for patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

How similar studies have gone: While this approach is novel and has not been extensively tested in similar studies, the use of stem cells in respiratory conditions has shown promise in preliminary research.

Who can join: the full rules

Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria:

1. Aged 39 to 69 years (inclusive).
2. Female participants:

   A female participant is eligible to participate if she is not pregnant or breastfeeding, and one of the following conditions applies:

   Is a woman of nonchildbearing potential (WONCBP) OR Is a woman of childbearing potential (WOCBP) and using an acceptable contraceptive method from screening until 30 days after the last dose of study intervention.

   A WOCBP must have a negative highly sensitive pregnancy test (urine or serum as required by local regulations) at Screening and on Day 1, prior to administration of study intervention.

   If a urine test cannot be confirmed as negative (e.g., an ambiguous result), a serum pregnancy test is required. In such cases, the participant must be excluded from participation if the serum pregnancy result is positive.

   The investigator is responsible for review of medical history, menstrual history, and recent sexual activity to decrease the risk for inclusion of a woman with an early undetected pregnancy.
3. Male participants:

   Male participants are eligible to participate if they agree to the following during the study intervention period and for at least 30 days after the last dose of study intervention:

   Refrain from donating fresh unwashed semen. Be abstinent from heterosexual intercourse as their preferred and usual lifestyle (abstinent on a long-term and persistent basis) and agree to remain abstinent OR must agree to use contraception/barrier (male condom).
4. Has a diagnosis of mild or moderate COPD-C (cigarette smoking COPD) or COPD-P (biomass and pollution exposure COPD) according to the 2023 Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease (GOLD) Criteria.

   Lung impairment will be determined with post-bronchodilator FEV1 spirometry.
5. Has previously received treatment for COPD-C or COPD-P.
6. Has stable COPD disease state, defined as no exacerbations in the 12 weeks prior to screening, no hospitalizations in the 12 weeks prior to screening, and no changes in COPD medication in the 28 days prior to screening.
7. Agrees to comply with study specific procedures and visits, including non-smoking during the treatment and follow-up periods of the study.
8. Willing and able to provide written informed consent.

Exclusion Criteria:

1. Previous or current diagnosis of COPD-G, COPD-D, COPD-I, COPD-A or COPD-U; asthma, congestive heart failure, bronchiectasis, tuberculosis, obliterative bronchiolitis or diffuse panbronchiolitis.
2. Previous or current history of respiratory failure other than due to COPD (e.g. restrictive lung disease, sarcoidosis, tuberculosis, idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, bronchiectasis, CMV pneumonitis, cystic fibrosis, asbestosis, silicosis or farmer's lung disease), or detection of any of these conditions through screening CT scanning.
3. History of COVID associated pneumonia with hypoxemic respiratory failure in the 12 weeks prior to screening.
4. Current use, or use within 21 days of screening, of systemic corticosteroids. Participants on inhaled corticosteroids or combined inhaled therapies can be included, however must schedule inhaled therapies 12 hours prior to dosing IP and 12-hours post dosing IP.
5. Any history of chronic liver disease, or abnormal liver function at screening, defined as:

   Alanine transaminase (ALT) and/or aspartate aminotransferase (AST) more than 2.5 times the upper limit of normal (ULN) Total bilirubin more than two times the ULN Participants with documented Gilbert's syndrome are permitted to enter the study.
6. History of chronic renal insufficiency, defined as and eGFR \< 90 mL/min/1.73 m2. Participants without a history of chronic renal insufficiency, who at screening have an eGFR detected between 60-89 mL/min/1.73 m2, should have their eGFR repeated as per standard clinical procedure.
7. Uncontrolled hypertension, or current hypertension controlled on more than two medications.
8. History, within the last two years, of coronary artery disease, coronary artery bypass graft surgery, percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty, severe peripheral arterial disease, cerebrovascular disease (including history of transient ischemic attack or cerebrovascular accident), or any such history that, in the opinion of the investigator, will impact participation in the study.
9. Type 1 or Type 2 diabetes mellitus with glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c \> 7.5%) at screening.
10. No active malignancy in the last three years, including any potential neoplasm detected via high-resolution CT scan (nodule \> 5 mm) detected as part of the screening process.

    People with a history of basal cell or squamous cell carcinoma of the skin are eligible.
11. History of HIV or other immunosuppressed conditions, Hepatitis B or Hepatitis C, or use of immunosuppressive medications within 14 days prior to screening, and for 3 weeks after the last dose of study intervention is administered.
12. Active infection requiring systemic antibiotic treatment within 12 weeks prior to screening.
13. Body mass index (BMI) \> 60 kg/m2.
14. Active smoking of tobacco, cannabis or vaping in the 28 days prior to screening as indicated by results of cotinine urine testing, performed at screening. Use of nicotine containing products such as nicotine patches, oral nicotine products or nicotine chewing gum is permitted, noting that cotinine results will be positive. Positive results will be documented by the investigator as "attributed to permitted nicotine products".
15. History of alcohol or other substance abuse, with sobriety less than one year, or that in the opinion of the investigator, will impact participation in the study.
16. Pregnant or breastfeeding.
17. Any severe medication allergy, including an allergy to bovine products.
18. Any other medical condition, psychiatric condition or illness, that according to the Principal Investigator might render the subject unlikely to tolerate the inhalation of SORT-COPD (SMS cells), or to complete the study.
19. Current participation in any other clinical trial or participation in the last six weeks or subject received an experimental therapy (drug or biologic) for any indication within 12 months prior to enrolment.
20. Unable or unwilling to comply with study specific schedules or procedures.

Where it's running

  • Doherty Clinical Trials Limited
    Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
    Recruiting

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How to take part

  1. Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
  2. Check the official listing on ClinicalTrials.gov for the latest contact details and recruitment status.
  3. Contact the study coordinator or principal investigator to ask for pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.
Last reviewed 2026-11-14 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.