- Background and Objective: The study aimed to evaluate the long-term safety and efficacy of human mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) treatment in severe COVID-19 patients over a two-year follow-up period. It was conducted following the initial randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial.
- Methods and Findings: A total of 100 patients with severe COVID-19 received either MSC treatment or placebo combined with standard care. They were evaluated 18 and 24 months after treatment. The study found that the MSC group showed a marginally smaller proportion of patients with walking distance below normal and higher general health scores at 18 months. However, no significant sustained efficacy in terms of lung imaging or antibody titers was observed.
- Conclusion: The long-term safety of MSC treatment for severe COVID-19 patients was confirmed, but the sustained efficacy over two years was not significant. The findings suggest the need for further large-scale, well-designed phase 3 clinical trials to determine the efficiency of MSC therapy for COVID-19.
Human mesenchymal stem cell therapy in severe COVID-19 patients Report
Date of report : 2023-05-10
Covid 19
The National Key Research and Development Program of China, The Innovation Platform for Academicians of Hainan Province, and the Fund of National Clinical Center for Infectious Diseases, PLA General Hospital.
Summary of the Main Points/Findings: