Using stem cells from fat to treat knee osteoarthritis

A Multicenter, Randomized, Double-blind, Controlled Phase III Trial of Allogenic Adipose Tissue-Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells (AlloJoin®) Therapy for Knee Osteoarthritis.

This study is testing whether stem cells taken from fat can help people aged 40-75 with knee osteoarthritis feel less pain and move better compared to a standard treatment.

Quick facts

• Phase: Phase 3
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 520 (estimated)
• Ages: 40 Years to 75 Years
• Sex: All
• Sponsor: Wuxi Cellular Biopharmaceutical Group Ltd. (Industry-sponsored)
• Drugs / interventions: prednisone
• Locations: 2 sites (Shanghai, China and 1 other locations)
• Trial ID: NCT06570291 on ClinicalTrials.gov

What this trial studies

This clinical trial evaluates the efficacy and safety of allogenic adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells in treating knee osteoarthritis. Participants aged 40-75 with a confirmed diagnosis of knee osteoarthritis will receive either stem cell therapy or sodium hyaluronate injections. The study aims to assess improvements in pain and function through standardized scoring systems. The trial is designed to provide insights into the potential of stem cell therapy as a treatment option for this condition.

Who should consider this trial

Good fit: Ideal candidates are individuals aged 40-75 with a confirmed diagnosis of knee osteoarthritis for more than six months.

Not a fit: Patients who are obese or have previously received stem cell treatments may not benefit from this study.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this treatment could significantly improve pain relief and mobility for patients suffering from knee osteoarthritis.

How similar studies have performed: Other studies have shown promising results with stem cell therapies for osteoarthritis, indicating potential for success in this approach.

Eligibility criteria

Inclusion Criteria:

1. Subjects who understand and voluntarily sign the consent form before this study；
2. According to the diagnostic criteria (American Rheumatology Association, clinical + radiology criteria), patients with knee osteoarthritis are definitely diagnosed；Course of knee osteoarthritis was more than 6 months;
3. Age: 40-75, males and females；
4. The subjects' WOMAC score was 24-72
5. The Kellgren Lawrence grade (X-ray axial position of knee joint) of subjects was grade II / III;
6. Subjects are generally in good condition and can walk autonomously, except for those who use wheelchairs, walking aids or crutches.

Exclusion Criteria:

1. The subject may be allergic to the main cell preparation components (B vitamins, amino acids and so on).
2. The subject received systemic and / or local treatment with autologous and / or allogeneic mesenchymal progenitor cells.
3. The subject considered obese.
4. Laboratory test (any item meets): neutrophil absolute number \< 1.0 × 10\^9 / L, platelet count \< 50 × 10\^9 / L, serum albumin \< 30g / L, serum creatinine \> upper limit of 1.2 times normal value range, total bilirubin、alanine aminotransferase、aspartate aminotransferase \> upper limit of 2 times of normal value range.
5. The subject has diseases or symptoms may affect VAS, WOMAC and so on.
6. The subject has serious and poorly controlled concomitant diseases, such as (but not limited to) nervous system, cardiovascular, liver, kidney, gastrointestinal and endocrine diseases, which may prevent the subjects from participating in the study according to the judgment of the researchers.
7. The subject has an history malignant tumour.
8. The subject has connective tissue disease or rheumatoid arthritis、chondropathy、Chondrocalcinosis articularis、 Hemochromatosis、inflammatory arthropathy、avascular necrosis of femoral head、Paget's disease、hemophilic arthropathy、infectional arthritis、Charcot' s disease、villonodular synovitis or synovial chondromatosis.
9. The subject has severe generalized infectious diseases or local knee infection (including skin and intra-articular infection) in the 3 months prior to this trial.
10. According to the researchers, the subject has disease of lower limbs which may be interfered knee evaluation, for example fibromyalgia, osphyalgia, lumbar disc protrusion and so on.
11. The subject had any other coagulation dysfunction caused by acute or chronic diseases, according to the judgment of the researchers, this coagulation dysfunction may endanger the safety of patients and / or affect the judgment of knee joint evaluation indicators.
12. The subject has received arthroscopic surgery or other open surgery related to knee joint operation in the 6 months prior to this trial.
13. The subject has received other intra-articular injections, including but not limited to hyaluronic acid, hormone, PRP, BMP (bone morphogenetic protein) , hypertonic glucose and so on for KOA in the 3 months preceding the trial.
14. The subject has received aminoglucose or chondroitin sulfate within 1 month before the treatment.
15. The subject has used dexamethasone, prednisone, hydrocortisone and other hormones orally / intravenously within 1 month before the treatment.
16. The subject has attenuated or live attenuated vaccine injection with 1 month before the treatment.
17. The subject has undergone knee prosthesis or a plan of knee prosthesis within the trial.
18. The subject has contraindication of MRI, included but not only: the subject installed heart pacemaker, defibrillator, heart bracket, heart valve prosthesis, metal clip after aneurysm surgery, drug infusion device implanted in vivo, any electronic device implanted in the body (nerve stimulator, bone growth stimulator) endovascular coil, strainer, ECG monitor, metal suture, shrapnel or sand of body, plate fixation and steel nail after fracture surgery, artificial cochlea, middle ear shift plant, metallic intraocular foreign body etc; the subject is a claustrophobia, critical ill patient and so on.
19. The subject tests positive for: HIV, HBV, HCV and treponema pallidum.
20. The subject has history of alcoholism, drug abuse, or mental illness in the 3 years prior to this trial.
21. The subject has participated in any other clinical trial in the 3 months prior to this trial.
22. The subject (including male subjects) has fertility, sperm donation or egg donation plans during the trial period; the female subject is pregnant, lactating or having a positive pregnancy test.
23. The subject is legally disabled by reference to the law of the people's Republic of China on the protection of disabled persons (April 2008).
24. The subject has any other unsuitable condition (such as factors reducing the follow-up compliance) to be determined by the investigator.
25. The Kellgren Lawrence grade (X-ray axial position of knee joint) of any knee joint of the subjects was grade IV.

Where this trial is running

Shanghai, China and 1 other locations

• RenJi Hospital — Shanghai, China, China (Recruiting)
• Shanghai Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine — Shanghai, China (Not_yet_recruiting)

Conditions Knee Osteoarthritis