Mesenchymal Stem Cell Therapy for Lung Rejection

The overall clinical development strategy of this project is to conduct this Phase I dose escalation study entitled "A pilot Study to Evaluate the Safety and Feasibility of Mesenchymal Stem Cells to Induce Remission in Lung Transplant Patients Experiencing Treatment-Refractory Moderate Lung Rejection". This study will be performed under this current IND application and will be limited to the proposed 19 subjects (5 subjects in each of two dose escalating subject cohorts, and 5 subjects in a "boost dose" group who previously received MSC as part of the previous phase 1a study which included 9 patients

In this application we are proposing to evaluate safety and feasibility of allogeneic, bone marrow (BM) derived mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) to induce remission of moderate treatment refractory bronchiolitis obliterans (BO/BOS). Lung transplant patients with treatment refractory BO/BOS (grade 3) who do not qualify for a second transplant have near 100% mortality or extreme disability. MSCs are multi-potent cells that have the capacity to induce tissue repair and modulate immune response. They have been used successfully in preclinical and clinical studies to treat graft versus host disease (GVHD) and inflammatory bowel disease. Patients that progressed to moderate BO despite adequate medical treatments and who do not qualify for a second transplant will receive intravenous treatments of allogeneic MSC. The safety measure will include tolerance of MSC infusion and absence of significant cardiopulmonary compromise. The feasibility assessment will include ease of recruitment, practical issue of transporting, preparing and infusing the MSCs.

The clinical assessment from this initial safety study is intended to demonstrate safety of human MSC in subjects with BO and to evaluate the cell dose that demonstrates signs of efficacy. Pending favorable safety results and pharmacokinetic and pharamcodynamic data obtained in the current proposed study we will likely conduct additional human studies with a more directed focus on the evaluation of efficacy while collecting additional safety information.

Inclusion criteria

• Age range: 18 - 75 years
• Gender: Male of female
• Target disease or condition: Lung transplant recipients with treatment refractory moderate to severe o-CLAD. Patient must have diagnosis of treatment refractory o-CLAD Subject must have failed a standard immunosuppression regimen for lung transplant recipients. Note that subject may currently be receiving steroids or immunomodulators (see dosage requirements below) at the time of enrollment.
• The patient has persistent symptoms of BOS despite trials of other agents such asAzythromycin, anti-reflux therapy and others.
• Informed consent form (ICF): Each patient will be required to sign an IRB approved ICF. Only subjects who have signed the ICF will be enrolled into the study. The ICF will include elements required by Mayo IRB and FDA in US 21CFR50.
• Subject must have adequate renal function; estimated glomerular filtrate rate of greater than 30 ml/min.
• Subject must be available for all specified assessments at the study site through the completion of the study.
• Subject must provide written ICF and authorization for use of and disclosure of PHI.

Exclusion criteria

• Patients with clinically significant illness with manifestations of significant organ dysfunction which in the judgment of the PI or co-investigator would render the study subject unlikely to tolerate the MSC infusion or complete the study
• Patient should not have cancer not deemed to be in remission. (Superficial skin cancer shall not be deemed an exclusion criteria)Evidence or history of autoimmune disorders independent of o-CLAD
• Pregnant or breast-feeding
• Positive screening for HIV Hepatitis B and Hepatitis C
• Evidence of liver dysfunction; Liver profile showing alkaline phosphatase higher than 345 u/L, total bilirubin greater than 1.65 mg/dL, ALT greater than 275 units/L and AST great than 240 units/L.
• Evidence of significant cardiac dysfunction
• Septicemia with high fever and hemodynamic instability
• History of CMV pneumonitis
• Patients who received any experimental therapy (drug or biologic) for any indication within 12 months of the study enrollment