Mesenchymal stromal cells safe in ARDS in COVID-19 but don't have definite role: Study
Mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) have been tested as a possible therapy for acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) because of their antiinflammatory, proresolution, and antimicrobial effects. Phase 2 studies to date in ARDS related to coronavirus disease (COVID-19) have shown conflicting results.
Mesenchymal stromal cells are safe in ARDS in COVID-19 but don't have definite role suggests a new study published in the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine.
Mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) may modulate inflammation, promoting repair in coronavirus disease (COVID-19)–related acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). Researchers investigated the safety and efficacy of ORBCEL-C (CD362 [cluster of differentiation 362]–enriched, umbilical cord–derived MSCs) in COVID-19–related ARDS.
In this multicenter, randomized, double-blind, allocation-concealed, placebo-controlled trial (NCT 03042143), patients with moderate to severe COVID-19–related ARDS were randomized to receive ORBCEL-C (400 million cells) or placebo (Plasma-Lyte 148). The primary safety and efficacy outcomes were the incidence of serious adverse events and oxygenation index at Day 7, respectively. Secondary outcomes included respiratory compliance, driving pressure, PaO2:FiO2 ratio, and Sequential Organ Failure Assessment score. Clinical outcomes relating to duration of ventilation, lengths of ICU and hospital stays, and mortality were collected. Long-term follow-up included diagnosis of interstitial lung disease at 1 year and significant medical events and mortality at 2 years. Transcriptomic analysis was performed on whole blood at Days 0, 4, and 7.
Results: Sixty participants were recruited (final analysis: n = 30 received ORBCEL-C, n = 29 received placebo; 1 participant in the placebo group withdrew consent). Six serious adverse events occurred in the ORBCEL-C group and three in the placebo group (risk ratio, 2.9 [95% confidence interval, 0.6–13.2]; P = 0.25). Day 7 mean (SD) oxygenation index did not differ (ORBCEL-C, 98.3 [57.2] cm H2O/kPa; placebo, 96.6 [67.3] cm H2O/kPa). There were no differences in secondary surrogate outcomes or in mortality at Day 28, Day 90, 1 year, or 2 years. There was no difference in the prevalence of interstitial lung disease at 1 year or significant medical events up to 2 years. ORBCEL-C modulated the peripheral blood transcriptome.
ORBCEL-C MSCs were safe in subjects with moderate to severe COVID-19–related ARDS but did not improve surrogates of pulmonary organ dysfunction.
Reference:
Repair of Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome in COVID-19 by Stromal Cells (REALIST-COVID Trial): A Multicenter, Randomized, Controlled Clinical Trial
https://doi.org/10.1164/rccm.202302-0297OC
