TABLE 2 Cell-based clinical trials using MSCs, MSC derivatives and other cells
Registration date and execution date range DD-MM-YYYY Study phase and recruitment status ID and URL Title Cell type Total participants n Intervention or treatment
Clinical trials based on MSCs
1 14-02-2020; 20-02-2020 to 20-02-2021 0Not recruiting ChiCTR2000029816;http://www.chictr.org.cn/showproj.aspx?proj=49389 Clinical study for cord blood mesenchymal stem cells in the treatment of acute novel coronavirus pneumonia (COVID-19) UCB-MSCs; UCB-NK cells 60 Experimental groups: conventional treatment followed by i.v. infusion of 1) UCB-MSCs and 2) UCB-MSCs combined with UCB-NK cellsControl group: conventional treatment
2 14-02-2020; 20-02-2020 to 20-02-2021 0Not recruiting ChiCTR2000029817;http://www.chictr.org.cn/showproj.aspx?proj=49384 Clinical study of cord blood NK cells combined with cord blood mesenchymal stem cells in the treatment of acute novel coronavirus pneumonia (COVID-19) NK cells and UCB-MSCs 60 Experimental (high-dose) group: high-dose NK cells (>5×109) and MSCs (>5×109), i.v. infusion once every 2 days for a total of 5 timesConventional dose group: conventional dose NK cells (>3×109) and MSCs (>3×109), i.v. infusion once every 2 days for a total of 3 timesPreventive dose group: preventive dose NK cells (>3×109) and MSCs (>3×109), i.v. infusion once every week for a total of 1 time
3 07-02-2020; 15-01-2020 to 31-12-2022 0Recruiting ChiCTR2000029606;http://www.chictr.org.cn/showproj.aspx?proj=49146 Clinical study for human menstrual blood-derived stem cells in the treatment of acute novel coronavirus pneumonia (COVID-19) MenSCs 63 Experimental group A:Conventional treatment followed by i.v.  infusion of MenSCsControl group A: conventional treatmentExperimental group B:1: Artificial liver therapy + conventional treatment2: Artificial liver therapy followed by i.v. infusion of MenSCs + conventional treatmentControl group B: conventional treatment
4 07-02-2020; 06-02-2020 to 30-09-2020 2Recruiting NCT04269525;https://clinicaltrials.gov/show/NCT04269525 Umbilical cord (UC)-derived mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) treatment for the 2019-novel coronavirus (nCOV) pneumonia UC-MSCs 10 Experimental group: UC-MSCs 3.3×107 cells per 50 mL per bag, 3 bags each time; UC-MSCs will be infused i.v. on the 1st, 3rd, 5th and 7th days after enrolment, once each dayControl group: none specified
5 05-02-2020; 31-01-2020 to 31-12-2020 0Recruiting ChiCTR2000029580;http://www.chictr.org.cn/showproj.aspx?proj=49088 A prospective, single-blind, randomized controlled trial for ruxolitinib combined with mesenchymal stem cell infusion in the treatment of patients with severe 2019-nCoV pneumonia (novel coronavirus pneumonia, NCP) MSCs 70 Experimental group: ruxolitinib combined with MSCsControl group: routine treatment
6 27-01-2020; 21-01-2020 to 31-12-2021 1Recruiting NCT04252118;https://clinicaltrials.gov/show/NCT04252118 Mesenchymal stem cell treatment for pneumonia patients infected with 2019 novel coronavirus MSCs 20 Experimental group: 3.0×107 MSCs i.v. at days 0, 3 and 6Control group: none specified
7 14-02-2020; 16-02-2020 to 15-02-2022 NANot recruiting NCT04273646;https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT04273646 Study of human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells in the treatment of novel coronavirus severe pneumonia UC-MSCs 48 Experimental group: 4 times of UC-MSCs, 0.5×106 UC-MSCs·kg−1 body weight i.v. at days 1, 3, 5 and 7Control group: none specified
8 28-02-2020; 19-02-2020 to 20-02-2021 1Recruiting ChiCTR2000030300;http://www.chictr.org.cn/showprojen.aspx?proj=50022 Umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells (hucMSCs) in the treatment of high risk novel coronavirus pneumonia (COVID-19) patients UC-MSCs 9 Experimental group: MSCsControl group: none specified
9 26-02-2020; 14-02-2020 to 31-05-2020 NANot recruiting ChiCTR2000030224;http://www.chictr.org.cn/showprojen.aspx?proj=49968 Clinical study of mesenchymal stem cells in treating severe novel coronavirus pneumonia (COVID-19) MSCs 32 Experimental group 1: critical group, intervention, injecting MSCsExperimental group 2: severe group, intervention, injecting MSCsControl group 3: control of the critical group, intervention, injecting normal salineControl group 4: control of the severe group, intervention, injecting normal saline
10 24-02-2020; 17-02-2020 to 17-04-2020 0Not recruiting ChiCTR2000030173;http://www.chictr.org.cn/showprojen.aspx?proj=49229 Key techniques of umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells for the treatment of novel coronavirus pneumonia (COVID-19) and clinical application demonstration UC- MSCs 60 Experimental group: UC-MSCsControl group: Conventional treatment
11 24-02-2020; 24-02-2020 to 31-05-2020 2Not recruiting ChiCTR2000030138;http://www.chictr.org.cn/showproj.aspx?proj=50004 Clinical trial for human mesenchymal stem cells in the treatment of severe novel coronavirus pneumonia (COVID-19) UC-MSCs 60 Experimental group: i.v. injection of UC-MSCsControl group: routine treatment + placebo
12 23-02-2020; 01-02-2020 to 31-08-2020 NARecruiting ChiCTR2000030116;http://www.chictr.org.cn/showproj.aspx?proj=49901 Safety and effectiveness of human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells in the treatment of acute respiratory distress syndrome of severe novel coronavirus pneumonia (COVID-19) UC-MSCs 16 Experimental group: different stem cell dosesControl group: none specified
13 22-02-2020; 01-03-2020 to 31-12-2021 0Not recruiting ChiCTR2000030088;http://www.chictr.org.cn/showproj.aspx?proj=49902 Umbilical cord Wharton's jelly derived mesenchymal stem cells in the treatment of severe novel coronavirus pneumonia (COVID-19) UC-Wharton's jelly MSCs 40 Experimental group: i.v. injection of Wharton's jelly MSCs (1×106 MSCs·kg−1), cell suspension volume 40 mLControl group: i.v. 40 mL saline
14 20-02-2020; 06-02-2020 to 05-02-2022 NARecruiting ChiCTR2000030020;http://www.chictr.org.cn/showproj.aspx?proj=49812 The clinical application and basic research related to mesenchymal stem cells to treat novel coronavirus pneumonia (COVID-19) MSCs 20 Experimental group: case series, MSC therapyControl group: none specified
15 18-02-2020; 30-01-2020 to 31-03-2020 1–2Recruiting ChiCTR2000029990;http://www.chictr.org.cn/showproj.aspx?proj=49674 Clinical trials of mesenchymal stem cells for the treatment of pneumonitis caused by novel coronavirus pneumonia (COVID-19) MSCs 120 Experimental group: MSCsControl group: saline
16 28-02-2020; 28-02-2020 to 31-12-2021 1–2Not recruiting NCT04288102;https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT04288102 Treatment with mesenchymal stem cells for severe corona virus disease 2019 (COVID-19) MSCs 45 Experimental group: 3 times of MSCs; if body weight ≥70 kg, 4.0×107 cells each time; if body weight <70 kg, 3.0×107 cells each time; i.v. at days 0, 3 and 6Control group: saline containing 1% human serum albumin (solution used for MSCs), 3 times of placebo, i.v. at days 0, 3 and 6
17 24-02-2020; 24-02-2020 to 01-02-2021 NARecruiting NCT04293692;https://clinicaltrials.gov/show/NCT04293692 Therapy for pneumonia patients infected by 2019 novel coronavirus UC-MSCs 48 Experimental group: conventional treatment plus 4 times of 0.5×106 UC-MSCs·kg−1 body weight suspended in 100 mL saline containing 1% human albumin, i.v. at days 1, 3, 5 and 7Control group: conventional treatment plus 4 times of placebo (100 mL saline containing 1% human albumin), i.v. at days 1, 3, 5 and 7
Clinical trials based on MSC derivatives
1 04-02-2020; 05-02-2020 to 30-04-2021 0Not recruiting ChiCTR2000029569;http://www.chictr.org.cn/showproj.aspx?proj=49062 Safety and efficacy of umbilical cord blood mononuclear cells conditioned medium in the treatment of severe and critically novel coronavirus pneumonia (COVID-19): a randomized controlled trial UC-MSCs CM 30 Experimental group: conventional treatment combined with UC-MSCs CMControl group: conventional treatment
2 19-02-2020; 15-02-2020 to 31-07-2020 1Not recruiting NCT04276987;https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT04276987 A pilot clinical study on inhalation of mesenchymal stem cells exosomes treating severe novel coronavirus pneumonia AT-MSC exosomes 30 Experimental group: 5 times aerosol inhalation of MSC-derived exosomes, 2.0×108 nano vesicles per 3 mL at days 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5Control group: none specified
3 26-02-2020; 28-02-2020 to 31-05-2020 0Not recruiting ChiCTR2000030261;http://www.chictr.org.cn/showprojen.aspx?proj=49963 A study for the key technology of mesenchymal stem cells exosomes atomization in the treatment of novel coronavirus pneumonia (COVID-19) MSC exosomes 26 Experimental group: aerosol inhalation of exosomesControl group: blank
4 03-03-2020; 31-01-2020 to 31-01-2021 NANot recruiting ChiCTR2000030484;http://www.chictr.org.cn/showproj.aspx?proj=50263 UC-MSCs and exosomes treating patients with lung injury following novel coronavirus pneumonia (COVID-19) UC-MSCs and exosomes 90 Experimental groups:Group 1: UC-MSCs i.v. 5×107 cells each time, once a week, twice per courseGroup 2: UC-MSCs i.v. 5×107 cells each time, once a week, twice per course, a total of 2 courses; exosomes i.v. administration, 180 mg each time, once a day, 7 days per course, 2 courses in totalControl group: same amount of placebo (stem cell solvent)
Clinical trials based on other cell types
1 14-02-2020; 20-02-2020 to 20-02-2021 0Not recruiting ChiCTR2000029812;http://www.chictr.org.cn/showproj.aspx?proj=49374 Clinical study for umbilical cord blood mononuclear cells in the treatment of acute novel coronavirus pneumonia (COVID-19) UCBMCs 60 Experimental group: conventional treatment followed by i.v. UCBMC preparationsControl group: conventional treatment
2 05-02-2020; 05-02-2020 to 30-04-2021 0Recruiting ChiCTR2000029572;http://www.chictr.org.cn/showproj.aspx?proj=41760 Safety and efficacy of umbilical cord blood mononuclear cells in the treatment of severe and critically novel coronavirus pneumonia (COVID-19): a randomized controlled clinical trial UCBMCs 30 Experimental group: conventional treatment combined with UCBMCsControl group: conventional treatment
3 17-02-2020; 24-02-2020 to 31-12-2024 1–2Recruiting NCT04276896;https://clinicaltrials.gov/show/NCT04276896 Function and safety study of SARS-CoV-2 synthetic minigene vaccines Autologous LV-DC vaccine or antigen-specific cytotoxic T-cells 100 Experimental group: 5×106 LV-DC vaccine or 1×108 cytotoxic T-cells as a single infusion via subcutaneous fluids or i.v. injection; may receive additional infusionsControl group: none specified
4 13-02-2020; 20-02-2020 to 30-12-2020 1Recruiting NCT04280224;https://clinicaltrials.gov/show/NCT04280224 NK cells treatment for novel coronavirus pneumonia NK cells 30 Experimental group: conventional treatment plus twice a week of NK cells (0.1–2×107 NK cells·kg−1 body weight)Control group: conventional treatment
5 06-03-2020; 10-04-2020 to 10-11-2020 2Not recruiting NCT04299152;https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT04299152 Clinical application of stem cell educator therapy for the treatment of viral inflammation caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) CB-SCs 20 Experimental group: combination product: stem cell educator-treated mononuclear cells apheresis therapy circulates a patient's blood through a blood cell separator, briefly cocultures the patient's immune cells with adherent CB-SCs in vitro, and returns the “educated” autologous immune cells to the patient's circulationControl group: conventional treatment: regular treatments, only addressing their symptoms, such as reducing fever and cough
6 28-02-2020; 01-03-2020 to 17-02-2021 0Not recruiting ChiCTR2000030088;http://www.chictr.org.cn/showproj.aspx?proj=49779 Clinical trial for umbilical cord blood CIK and NK cells in the treatment of mild and general patients infected with novel coronavirus pneumonia (COVID-19) CIK and NK cells 90 Experimental groups:CIK group: UCB CIK cells (1.6×108 cells·kg−1) injected twice every other dayNK group: UCB NK cells (1.6×108 cells·kg−1) injected twice every other dayControl group: conventional therapy
MSCs: mesenchymal stem (stromal) cells; i.v.: intravenous; UCB: umbilical cord blood; NK: natural killer; MenSCs: mesenchymal stem cells derived from menstrual fluid; UC: umbilical cord; CM: conditioned medium; AT: adipose tissue; UCBMCs: umbilical cord blood-derived mononuclear cells; LV-DC: lentivirus dendritic cell; CB-SCs: cord blood stem cells; CIK: cytokine-induced killer.