Safety, Tolerability, and Preliminary Efficacy of Intra-Articular Injection of Mesenchymal Stem Cell-Derived Exosomes for the Treatment of Non-Traumatic Avascular Necrosis of the Femoral Head

NCT07787923 | Not Yet Recruiting Early Phase 1 DMC

• 1 other identifier: K2026369-00
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 15
• Locations: 0 countries
• Sites: N/A

Brief Summary

This is a first-in-human, single-arm, open-label, dose-escalation, exploratory Phase I clinical trial designed to evaluate the safety, tolerability, and preliminary efficacy of local injection of mesenchymal stem cell-derived exosomes for non-traumatic osteonecrosis of the femoral head (ONFH). A total of 15 treatment-naïve patients with non-traumatic, non-septic ONFH at ARCO stages I-IIIA, treated at the outpatient clinic of our hospital between June 2026 and June 2027, will be enrolled. Under ultrasound guidance, exosomes will be administered via an anterior approach through a single intra-articular injection into the hip joint. Three dose cohorts will be evaluated: \\(4 \\times 10\^{10}\\), \\(1.2 \\times 10\^{11}\\), and \\(3.6 \\times 10\^{11}\\) particles per administration per hip. The low-dose cohort will include 3 patients, while the medium- and high-dose cohorts will each include 6 patients. The dose-limiting toxicity observation period will extend from the first administration to 14 days after the final administration. Exosomes will be administered once every 2 weeks at a volume of 3 mL per injection. Three administrations will constitute one treatment course, with a total treatment duration of 4 weeks. The primary endpoints are safety outcomes, including the incidence of adverse events, serious adverse events, and dose-limiting toxicities after administration. Secondary exploratory efficacy endpoints include changes in the Visual Analog Scale (VAS) pain score, Harris Hip Score (HHS), and radiological findings of the femoral head. The follow-up period will be 12 months.

Conditions

Non Traumatic Osteonecrosis of the Femoral Head (Hip)

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (3)

• Number of participants with dose-limiting toxicities (DLTs)

  Day 1 through Day 43

• Number of participants with treatment-emergent adverse events (TEAEs) and serious adverse events (SAEs), graded by CTCAE v6.0

  Day 1 through Month 12

• Number of participants with suspected unexpected serious adverse reactions (SUSARs)

  Day 1 through Month 12

Secondary Outcomes (8)

• Change from baseline in Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) pain score

  Baseline, Month 3, 6, 12

• Change from baseline in Harris Hip Score

  Baseline, Month 3, 6, 12

• Change from baseline in WOMAC score

  Baseline, Month 3, 6, 12

• Change from baseline in necrotic lesion volume of the femoral head on MRI

  Baseline, Month 6, 12

• Change from baseline in bone marrow edema area of the femoral head on MRI

  Baseline, Month 6, 12

Study Arms (3)

Low-dose cohort

EXPERIMENTAL

Biological: Exosome Intervention Group

Middle-dose cohort

EXPERIMENTAL

Biological: Exosome Intervention Group

High-dose cohort

EXPERIMENTAL

Biological: Exosome Intervention Group

Interventions

Exosome Intervention Group BIOLOGICAL

Participants will undergo dose escalation starting from the lowest dose, with sequential dose levels of 4×10\*10、1.2×10\*11、3.6×10\*11particles per administration per hip.

High-dose cohort; Low-dose cohort; Middle-dose cohort

Eligibility Criteria

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

You may qualify if:

• Age 18-70 years, inclusive, with no restriction on sex.
• A diagnosis of non-traumatic osteonecrosis of the femoral head (ONFH) confirmed by clinical manifestations and imaging findings, with ARCO stage II or IIIA disease. Patients with advanced femoral head collapse (ARCO stage IIIB or IV) will be excluded.
• The target hip must be treatment-naïve, defined as no prior hip-specific interventional or injection-based treatment for the affected side.
• Ability to understand and voluntarily provide written informed consent, with an expectation of completing long-term follow-up.

You may not qualify if:

• Presence of an active infection in the target joint (e.g., septic arthritis or infectious osteomyelitis), or skin disruption, infection, or other abnormalities at the intended injection site.
• Receipt of intra-articular injection therapy in the affected hip within 3 months before screening, including corticosteroids or sodium hyaluronate.
• Presence of any active systemic autoimmune disease (e.g., rheumatoid arthritis or systemic lupus erythematosus) or a primary or secondary immunodeficiency disorder.
• History of malignancy.
• Clinically significant abnormal laboratory findings during screening, including impaired hepatic or renal function (ALT or AST \>1.5 × the upper limit of normal \[ULN\], or serum creatinine \>ULN), or clinically significant abnormalities on complete blood count.
• Coagulation disorders (PT or APTT \>1.5 × ULN), active bleeding risk, or a requirement for long-term anticoagulant therapy that cannot be interrupted.
• Severe systemic chronic disease not adequately controlled with medication, such as severe heart failure or uncontrolled severe hypertension or diabetes mellitus.
• Severe alcohol dependence or a history of substance or corticosteroid abuse that, in the investigator's judgment, cannot be controlled during the trial and may substantially compromise treatment adherence or efficacy assessment.
• Participation in another clinical trial within 3 months before screening, or previous treatment with stem cells, exosomes, or other cell- or biologic-based therapies.
• Known hypersensitivity to any component of the investigational product.
• Women who are pregnant or breastfeeding, or patients who plan to conceive during the trial or within 6 months after the last administration.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Beijing Jishuitan Hospital: lead
• Carrier Biomed (Suzhou) Co., Ltd: collaborator

Central Study Contacts

XIAOLI DENG

CONTACT

010 50963096; dearnesta@163.com

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: early phase 1
• Allocation: NON RANDOMIZED
• Masking: NONE
• Purpose: TREATMENT
• Intervention Model: SEQUENTIAL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Doctor

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: July 27, 2026
• First Posted: August 26, 2026
• Study Start (Estimated): September 1, 2026
• Primary Completion (Estimated): May 31, 2028
• Study Completion (Estimated): May 31, 2028
• Last Updated: August 28, 2026

Record last verified: 2026-07