Intrathecal Autologous Adipose-derived Mesenchymal Stromal Cells for Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS)
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ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT03268603 |
Recruitment Status :
Active, not recruiting
First Posted : August 31, 2017
Last Update Posted : October 12, 2022
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The purpose of this study is to determine the safety and efficacy of intrathecal treatment delivered to the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of mesenchymal stem cells in ALS patients every 3 months for a total of 4 injections over 12 months.
Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are a type of stem cell that can be grown into a number of different kinds of cells. In this study, MSCs will be taken from the subject's body fat and grown. CSF is the fluid surrounding the spine.
The use of mesenchymal stem cells is considered investigational, which means it has not been approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for routine clinical use. However, the FDA has allowed the use of mesenchymal stem cells in this research study.
Condition or disease | Intervention/treatment | Phase |
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ALS Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis | Drug: Autologous Adipose-derived Mesenchymal Stromal Cells | Phase 2 |
Study Type : | Interventional (Clinical Trial) |
Estimated Enrollment : | 69 participants |
Allocation: | N/A |
Intervention Model: | Single Group Assignment |
Masking: | None (Open Label) |
Primary Purpose: | Treatment |
Official Title: | A Phase II Study of Intrathecal Autologous Adipose-derived Mesenchymal Stromal Cells for Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis |
Actual Study Start Date : | October 10, 2017 |
Estimated Primary Completion Date : | December 2022 |
Estimated Study Completion Date : | December 2023 |

Arm | Intervention/treatment |
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Experimental: Mesenchymal Stromal Cells
Autologous Adipose-derived Mesenchymal Stromal Cells (aaMSCs) will be administered intrathecally at a single dose in a volume of 5-10 mL, all patients will receive 5 x 10^7 intrathecal aaMSCs at the first injection (Visit 4). Subsequent doses may be reduced to 1 x 10^7 or increased to 1 x 10^8, based on Dose Modification Rules.
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Drug: Autologous Adipose-derived Mesenchymal Stromal Cells
The investigational product consists of autologous adipose-derived Mesenchymal Stromal Cells (MSCs), suspended in 5-10 mL Lactated Ringer's. The MSC are provided in a sterile syringe labelled with appropriate patient and product identifiers ready for intrathecal injection. |
- Number of Adverse Events [ Time Frame: approximately 2 years ]Number of adverse events will be recorded from the time of enrollment until the end of the follow-up period or, in the case of early withdrawal, to the time of study withdrawal.
- Change in slope of ALS Functional Rating Scale - Revised (ALSFRS-R) [ Time Frame: baseline, approximately 1 year ]The ALSFRS-R includes 12 questions. Each task is rated on a five-point scale from 0 = can't do, to 4 = normal ability. Individual item scores are summed to produce a reported score of between 0=worst and 48=best.

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Ages Eligible for Study: | 18 Years and older (Adult, Older Adult) |
Sexes Eligible for Study: | All |
Accepts Healthy Volunteers: | No |
Inclusion Criteria:
- All patients will have ALS diagnosed as possible, laboratory-supported probable, probable, or definite as defined by the World Federation of Neurology criteria for the diagnosis of ALS.
- Examination and neurophysiological testing confirm a pure motor syndrome compatible with the diagnosis of ALS. All other possible causes of weakness have been excluded by extensive investigations.
- Age greater than 18 years, if female, must be post-menopausal, had a hysterectomy, or agree to two forms of birth control.
- Permanent resident or citizen of the United States.
- Geographic accessibility to the study site and willingness and ability to comply with follow-up.
- History of a chronic onset of a progressive motor weakness of less than two years duration.
- Subjects must be taking a stable dose of riluzole for at least 30 days prior to enrolment or not be on riluzole, and not have been on it for at least 30 days prior to enrolment (riluzole-naïve subjects are permitted in the study).
- Able to comply with protocol requirements, including MRI testing.
- Can provide written informed consent.
Exclusion Criteria:
- Use of Radicava® (edaravone) within 30 days of screening or intent to use Radicava® at any time during the course of the study including the follow up period.
- Any clinically significant medical condition (e.g., within six months of baseline, had myocardial infarction, angina pectoris, and/or congestive heart failure) that, in the opinion of the investigator, would compromise the safety of patient.
- Pulmonary Slow Vital Capacity (SVC) less than 65% of predicted for age, gender, and body type.
- Autoimmunity, including Crohn's disease or rheumatoid arthritis
- Current use of immunosuppressant medication or use of such medication within 4 weeks of Screening visit (Visit 1).
- Malignancy 5 years prior to enrollment, including melanoma,with the exception of localized skin cancers (with no evidence of metastasis, significant invasion, or re-occurrence within three years of baseline).
- Active systemic or local infection near the lumbar puncture site.
- Inability to lie flat for the duration of intrathecal cell transplantation, or inability to tolerate study procedures for any other reason.
- Other active systemic disease as defined by laboratory abnormalities delineated in Appendix IV.
- Use of herbal medications, nutritional supplements or other unapproved drugs or investigational medicinal products being used or studied for the treatment of ALS.
- Unwilling to forgo initiating the use of any new supplements during participation in the study.
- Enrolled in an investigational drug trial within 30 days of baseline visit
- Prior stem cell therapy for a neurological disease
- Kokmen Short Test of Mental Status score <32
- Presence of a tracheostomy
- Ventilator dependent
- Pregnancy
- Men or women of childbearing potential who are unwilling to employ adequate contraception
- Chronic low back pain requiring invasive procedures (i.e. epidural injections or lumbar spine surgery)

To learn more about this study, you or your doctor may contact the study research staff using the contact information provided by the sponsor.
Please refer to this study by its ClinicalTrials.gov identifier (NCT number): NCT03268603
United States, Arizona | |
Mayo Clinic | |
Scottsdale, Arizona, United States, 85259 | |
United States, Florida | |
Mayo Clinic | |
Jacksonville, Florida, United States, 32224 | |
United States, Minnesota | |
Mayo Clinic in Rochester | |
Rochester, Minnesota, United States, 55905 |
Principal Investigator: | Nathan P Staff, MD, PhD | Mayo Clinic | |
Principal Investigator: | Anthony J Windebank, MD | Mayo Clinic |
Responsible Party: | Nathan P. Staff, Professor of Neurology, Mayo Clinic |
ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: | NCT03268603 |
Other Study ID Numbers: |
15-008008 UL1TR000135 ( U.S. NIH Grant/Contract ) |
First Posted: | August 31, 2017 Key Record Dates |
Last Update Posted: | October 12, 2022 |
Last Verified: | October 2022 |
Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated Drug Product: | Yes |
Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated Device Product: | No |
Motor Neuron Disease Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Sclerosis Pathologic Processes Neurodegenerative Diseases Nervous System Diseases |
Neuromuscular Diseases Spinal Cord Diseases Central Nervous System Diseases TDP-43 Proteinopathies Proteostasis Deficiencies Metabolic Diseases |