STEM CELLS Transl Med. 2021;1–14
Umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells for COVID-19 acute respiratory distress syndrome: A double-blind, phase 1/2a, randomized controlled trial
Giacomo Lanzoni1,2 | Elina Linetsky1,3 | Diego Correa1,4 | Shari Messinger Cayetano5 | Roger A. Alvarez6,7 | Dimitrios Kouroupis1 | Ana Alvarez Gil1 | Raffaella Poggioli1 | Phillip Ruiz3 | Antonio C. Marttos6,7,8 | Khemraj Hirani1,6 | Crystal A. Bell6 | Halina Kusack6 | Lisa Rafkin1 | David Baidal1,6,7 | Andrew Pastewski8 | Kunal Gawri6,7 | Clarissa Leñero1 | Alejandro M. A. Mantero5 | Sarah W. Metalonis5 | Xiaojing Wang1 | Luis Roque1 | Burlett Masters1 | Norma S. Kenyon1 | Enrique Ginzburg3,7,8 | Xiumin Xu1 | Jianming Tan9 | Arnold I. Caplan10 | Marilyn K. Glassberg11 | Rodolfo Alejandro1,6,7 | Camillo Ricordi1,3
Correspondence Camillo Ricordi, MD, Diabetes Research Institute, Cell Transplant Center, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, 1450 NW 10th Ave., Miami, FL 33137, USA. Tel +1 305 582 7151; FAX +1 305 243 4404 Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) in COVID-19 is associated with high mortality. Mesenchymal stem cells are known to exert immunomodulatory and anti-inflammatory effects and could yield beneficial effects in COVID-19 ARDS. The objective of this study was to determine safety and explore efficacy of umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cell (UCMSC) infusions in subjects with COVID-19 ARDS. A double-blind, phase 1/2a, randomized, controlled trial was performed. Randomization and stratification by ARDS severity was used to foster balance among groups. All subjects were analyzed under intention to treat design. Twenty-four subjects were randomized 1:1 to either UC-MSC treatment (n = 12) or the control group (n = 12). Subjects in the UC-MSC treatment group received two intravenous infusions (at day 0 and 3) of 100 ± 20 × 106 UC-MSCs; controls received two infusions of vehicle solution. Both groups received best standard of care. Primary endpoint was safety (adverse events [AEs]) within 6 hours; cardiac arrest or death within 24 hours post infusion). Secondary endpoints included patient survival at 31 days after the first infusion and time to recovery. No difference was observed between groups in infusion-associated AEs. No serious adverse events (SAEs) were observed related to UC-MSC infusions. UC-MSC infusions in COVID-19 ARDS were found to be safe. Inflammatory cytokines were significantly decreased in UC-MSC-treated subjects at day 6. Treatment was associated with significantly improved patient survival (91% vs 42%, P = .015), SAE-free survival (P = .008), and time to recovery (P = .03). UC-MSC infusions are safe and could be beneficial in treating subjects withCOVID-19ARDS.