UC-MSC Cell Therapy Study for Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE) Patients

NCT06737380 | Recruiting Phase 1 DMC FDA Drug

• 1 other identifier: LK-23-01
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 10
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

The goal of this clinical trial is to evaluate the safety and effectiveness of UC-MSCs in adults with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). The main questions this study aims to answer are:

• Receive UC-MSCs in a single dose in addition to standard of care treatment.
• Provide blood and urine samples for laboratory assessments, including biomarkers and immune profiling (e.g., cytokines, complement proteins, and autoantibodies).
• Attend regular clinic visits for physical exams, disease activity scoring, and imaging tests to monitor kidney health.
• Complete assessments for safety, such as monitoring for adverse events and changes in laboratory values. This study aims to provide new insights into treatment options for SLE and lupus nephritis, addressing an unmet medical need in this population.

Conditions

SLE; Lupus; Systemic Lupus Erthematosus; Systemic Lupus Erythematosus; Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE)

Keywords

systemic lupus erythematosus; SLE; Lupus

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

• Incidence of Treatment-Emergent Adverse Events

  Analysis for the primary endpoint will be descriptive in nature. safety and tolerability will be measured by the number of AEs and SAEs observed. Adverse event incidents will be summarized descriptively. The severity grade of each recorded AE, and their relationship to study treatment will be analyzed. The action taken and outcome will also be analyzed accordingly.

  day 1 to day 168

Secondary Outcomes (5)

• Change from baseline in the SLEDAI 2K following administration

  day 1 to day 168

• Change from baseline in PROMIS(Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System) score

  day 1 to day 168

• Change from baseline in the BILAG-2004 Index score following administration

  day 1 to day 168

• Efficacy by SRI-4 Responder assessment at Day 168.

  day 1 to day 168

• Change from baseline in prednisone-equivalent corticosteroid doses at each visit performed.

  day 1 to day 168.

Other Outcomes (11)

• Change of pre-treatment versus post-treatment levels of Anti-ENA Antibodies

  day 1 to day 168.

• Change of pre-treatment versus post-treatment levels of Anti-dsDNA Antibodies

  day 1 to day 168

• Change of pre-treatment versus post-treatment levels of Total Serum IgG Levels

  day 1 to day 168

Study Arms (1)

UC-MSC therapy

EXPERIMENTAL

Diagnostic Test: Physical examination; Diagnostic Test: Electrocardiogram; Other: SF-36 questionnaire; Diagnostic Test: Clinical laboratory evaluations - Serology; Diagnostic Test: Clinical laboratory evaluations - Biochemistry; Diagnostic Test: Clinical laboratory evaluations - Hematology; Diagnostic Test: Pregnancy Test; Diagnostic Test: Urinalysis; Diagnostic Test: SLE activity evaluation; Diagnostic Test: SLE biomarker profiling; Diagnostic Test: Cytokines and chemokine profiling; Biological: single dose of UC-MSCs; Other: PROMIS instruments

Interventions

Physical examination DIAGNOSTIC_TEST

The physical examination will be performed at the Screening visit and at each subsequent study and safety in clinic follow-up visit. The exam will include: measurement of vital signs (heart rate, peripheral arterial blood pressure, respiratory rate, and temperature), weight, height (at Screening visit only), cardiovascular and respiratory systems, abdominal examination, skin evaluation, mouth and eye evaluation, and neurological assessment. Abnormal findings will be recorded in the CRF.

UC-MSC therapy

Electrocardiogram DIAGNOSTIC_TEST

A twelve-lead electrocardiogram (ECG), including corrected QT interval (QTc interval), will be performed in all participants at the Screening visit.

UC-MSC therapy

SF-36 questionnaire OTHER

Patients will fill out the SF 36 survey, assessing physical and mental health outcomes prior to dosing and/or any other clinical assessments, on visits 1 (baseline), visit 5 (day 14), visit 6 (day 28), visit 11 (day 168) and early termination visit.

UC-MSC therapy

Clinical laboratory evaluations - Serology DIAGNOSTIC_TEST

Serologic testing for HIV, HBV, HCV, TB, and CMV will be performed; HBV and HCV PCR will be done only if serology is positive. Autoimmune tests (ANA, anti-ENA, total IgG, anti-nucleosome) will be done at Day 0 and end of study; ANA only at Screening if no positive ANA or anti-dsDNA in prior 6 months. Inflammatory markers (hs-CRP, ESR) will be tested at Day 0 and end of study. CBC with differential, biochemistry, anti-dsDNA, and complement C3/C4 will be assessed at each scheduled visit.

UC-MSC therapy

Clinical laboratory evaluations - Biochemistry DIAGNOSTIC_TEST

The panel will include analysis of albumin, blood urea nitrogen (BUN), creatinine, glucose, uric acid, calcium, phosphorus, potassium, sodium, lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), total protein, magnesium, alkaline phosphatase, alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), total bilirubin and hs-CRP. For biochemistry, 3 mL blood will be collected at each study visit. Results relating to inclusion criteria must be confirmed within 7 days prior to Day 1.

UC-MSC therapy

Clinical laboratory evaluations - Hematology DIAGNOSTIC_TEST

The complete blood count (CBC) will include: hemoglobin, hematocrit, white blood cells (WBCs) with complete manual or automated differential (total neutrophils, lymphocytes, monocytes, eosinophils, basophils; absolute or percentage will be acceptable), red blood cells (RBCs), platelet count. For CBC, 1mL blood will be collected at each study visit.

UC-MSC therapy

Pregnancy Test DIAGNOSTIC_TEST

A serum b-hCG pregnancy test will be performed for women of child-bearing potential at the Screening visit;urine pregnancy tests will be performed for women of child-bearing potential at each study visit noted above, including on Day 0 prior to study treatment. Pregnancy tests are not required for women unable to become pregnant for one of the following reasons: Menopause confirmed by healthcare provider, verbally reported by a participant that she has had her uterus or both ovaries or both fallopian tubes removed.

UC-MSC therapy

Urinalysis DIAGNOSTIC_TEST

General urinalysis will include analysis of pH, specific gravity, protein, glucose, ketones, bilirubin, urobilinogen, leukocytes, erythrocytes. In addition samples will be assessed for presence of urinary casts. Spot urine protein/creatinine measure will be done at each visit. If no casts are observed at Screening, then machine assessment of further urinary samples is allowed. For urinalysis, 10mL urine will be collected at each study visit.

UC-MSC therapy

SLE activity evaluation DIAGNOSTIC_TEST

SLE status will be assessed using the Safety of Estrogens in Lupus Erythematosus National Assessment- SLE Disease Activity Index (SLEDAI 2K scale).SLE activity will also be assessed using British Isles Lupus Assessment Group (BILAG), physician global and participant global assessment allowing use of the Systemic Lupus Responder Index (SRI 4) and the BILAG-based Composite Lupus Assessment (BICLA) instruments to assess clinical response.

UC-MSC therapy

SLE biomarker profiling DIAGNOSTIC_TEST

SLE biomarkers will be profiled at the study visit (Day 1) and at every subsequent follow up visit. For this purpose, urine and 10 ml blood will be collected. Anti-ENA, Anti-dsDNA antibodies, total serum IgG levels, CBC, C3, C4, anti-nucleosome antibodies, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, CRP, protein/creatinine ratio in spot urine, 24-hour urine protein - Day 1 - Baseline and at end of study visit only; Mononuclear cell changes. This analysis includes lymphocyte subsets and innate immune cell subsets

UC-MSC therapy

Cytokines and chemokine profiling DIAGNOSTIC_TEST

Samples will be analyzed for the following cytokines/chemokines: IFNγ, IL-6, IL-10, IL-18, TNFα, TGFβ1, CXCL10, CCL2, N-GAL, urine endothelin, KIM1. Serum and urine samples will be collected on Days 0, 28, 56, 140, 168, and early termination visit.

UC-MSC therapy

single dose of UC-MSCs BIOLOGICAL

participants will be treated on Baseline Day 1 with a UC-MSCs product administered subcutaneously. Participants will be observed for 2 to 3 hours after end of study treatment and then followed up for safety assessments over the subsequent 6-month period.

UC-MSC therapy

PROMIS instruments OTHER

PROMIS Fatigue, PROMIS, Depression, PROMIS Pain prior to dosing and/or any other clinical assessments, on visits 1 (baseline, day 0), visit 5 (day 14), visit 6 (day 28), visit 11 (day 168) and early termination visit.

UC-MSC therapy

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 18 Years - 75 Years
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: No
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)

You may qualify if:

• Age 18-75 years at the time of screening
• Diagnosis of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), meeting at least 4 of the 11 criteria included in the American College of Rheumatology (ACR) Classification Criteria and/or 4 of the 17 criteria (with at least one of those being clinical and at least one being immunologic) included in the Systemic Lupus International Collaborating Clinics (SLICC) Criteria, at the screening visit.
• Must have a positive ANA (≥1:160 titer) or positive anti-dsDNA antibody test within 6 months of the screening visit
• An eGFR of ≥ 30 mL/min/1.73 m2 in the screening period
• Prior SLE background therapy with at least one non-biologic medication (e.g. immunosuppressant and/or antimalarial), not including corticosteroids, is required for ≥ 12 weeks before the screening visit.
• SLEDAI-2K ≥6 at the time of screening
• Participant able and willing to provide written informed consent
• Must be able and willing to adhere to the study visit schedule and other protocol requirements.

You may not qualify if:

• History of any non-systemic lupus erythematosus (non-SLE) disease that required treatment with oral or parenteral corticosteroids for more than a total of 2 weeks within the 12 weeks preceding the screening visit.
• History of dialysis within 12 months prior to the screening visit or expected need for renal replacement therapy (dialysis or renal transplant) within a six-month period after enrollment.
• Use of prednisone \>0.5 mg/kg/day (or equivalent corticosteroid) in the 4 weeks prior to the screening visit.
• Any change or addition to a non-biologic immunosuppressant and/ or antimalarial regimen (not including corticosteroids) ≤ 12 weeks prior to the Screening visit.
• Treatment with an interventional agent within the washout time of 90 days or 5 half-lives prior to Baseline (Day 0), whichever is longer.
• Receipt of any commercially available biologic agent within the washout period described above prior to Baseline (Day 0).
• Receipt of prior MSC therapy within the washout time of 52 weeks prior to Baseline (Day 0).
• Previous treatment with any type of cellular therapy e.g., Tregs or CAR-T cells, with the exception of previous MSCs.
• Major surgery within 90 days prior to Baseline (Day 0) or major surgery planned during the study period
• Confirmed positive test for active hepatitis B, hepatitis C, human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) or tuberculosis (TB).
• Any active infection that has not been adequately treated or completely resolved prior to Baseline (Day 0).
• History of cancer, apart from adequately treated squamous or basal cell carcinoma of the skin, or cervical carcinoma in situ
• Pregnant or breast-feeding women and women with intention to become pregnant/to breast-feed during the duration of the trial.
• Women and men who do not agree to use a medically acceptable form of contraception for the duration of the trial.
• Any other comorbidity which may render the participant unfit for study participation according to the investigator's judgement.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• LiveKidney.Bio: lead
• Medical University of South Carolina: collaborator
• Galilee CBR: collaborator

Study Sites (1)

Medical University of South Carolina

Charleston, South Carolina, 29425, United States

RECRUITING

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic

Interventions

Physical Examination; Electrocardiography; Pregnancy Tests; Urinalysis

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Connective Tissue Diseases; Skin and Connective Tissue Diseases; Autoimmune Diseases; Immune System Diseases

Intervention Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Diagnostic Techniques and Procedures; Diagnosis; Heart Function Tests; Diagnostic Techniques, Cardiovascular; Electrodiagnosis; Clinical Laboratory Techniques; Diagnostic Techniques, Obstetrical and Gynecological; Investigative Techniques; Clinical Chemistry Tests; Diagnostic Techniques, Urological

Central Study Contacts

Nadya Lisovoder, MD

CONTACT

+972524753435; nadyal@galilee-cbr.com

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: phase 1
• Allocation: NA
• Masking: NONE
• Purpose: TREATMENT
• Intervention Model: SINGLE GROUP
• Sponsor Type: INDUSTRY
• Responsible Party: SPONSOR

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: December 11, 2024
• First Posted: December 17, 2024
• Study Start: January 7, 2025
• Primary Completion (Estimated): June 1, 2026
• Study Completion (Estimated): July 1, 2026
• Last Updated: September 11, 2025

Record last verified: 2025-09

Locations

US (1)