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NCT Number: NCT06996392

Phase I Trial of QH-1A Hybrid Bio-Artificial Liver With Ex Vivo Blood-Purifying MSCs in Acute-on-Chronic Liver Failure

The goal of this Phase I clinical trial is to evaluate the safety and efficacy of combining the QH-1A bioartificial liver device with mesenchymal stem cells（MSCs） for blood purification in treating patients with acute-on-chronic liver failure, and to determine the optimal treatment duration and frequency for Phase II. The study will enroll patients aged 18 to 65 years who meet the diagnostic criteria for acute-on-chronic liver failure as outlined in the 2024 Chinese Liver Failure Clinical Guidelines.

The main questions this study aims to answer are:

* Does the combined therapy improve the 28-day survival rate after the final treatment? * Does the QH-1A device in its HBAL mode consistently achieve the predefined device performance pass rate? * Do patients show significant improvements in their biochemical markers following treatment? * What is the immunogenicity profile of the mesenchymal stem cells used for blood purification?

Participants will be screened within 14 days before their first treatment and will be allocated into one of four groups based on treatment duration and frequency:

* 4-hour group (3 patients) * 6-hour group (3 patients) * 8-hour group (3 patients) * Multiple-treatment group (6 patients) Treatment will be administered in a sequential escalation-from the 4-hour group up to the multiple-treatment group-based on safety data from a 28-day observation period, which will be reviewed by a Safety Evaluation Committee. In addition, upon referral to the Hepatitis B Health Clinic, participants will receive tailored health education, comprehensive liver function and virological assessments, and an individualized treatment and follow-up plan.

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Key information

Conditions

Acute-On-Chronic Liver Failure Digestive System Diseases Hepatic Insufficiency Liver Diseases Liver Failure Liver Failure, Acute

Age range

18 year–65 year

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Phase 1

Primary location

Third Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University

Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510630, China

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: No

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

Inclusion criteria

  • Age between 18 and 65 years, irrespective of gender.
  • Patients with acute-on-chronic liver failure, diagnosed according to the - - Guideline for diagnosis and treatment of liver failure (2024 version) in China.
  • Subjects must provide informed consent prior to the study and voluntarily sign the written informed consent form.
  • Subjects must be able to communicate effectively with the investigators and comply with the study protocol.

Exclusion criteria

  • Active bleeding or disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) that is not effectively controlled.
  • Allergies to the blood products or medications used during treatment.
  • Circulatory failure.
  • Occurrence of myocardial infarction, cerebral infarction, or cerebral hemorrhage within the past 6 months.
  • A history of malignant tumors within the past 5 years (except for cured basal cell carcinoma of the skin or carcinoma in situ of the cervix).
  • Any other conditions that, in the opinion of the investigator, render the subject unsuitable for participation in the study.

Treatment and study plan

Combining the QH-1A bioartificial liver device with mesenchymal stem cells for blood purification（4 hours）

Combination Product

The 4-hour group treatment session lasts 4 hours (±15 minutes). In the HBAL mode of the combined bioartificial liver device QH-1A, blood is initially filtered to separate the plasma, which is then pumped into a bioreactor. In this study, this bioreactor is uniquely filled with immortalized mesenchymal stem cells (PT-MSCs) optimized for blood purification. These cells are cultured to adhere to the outer surface of hollow fibers within the bioreactor, creating a stable and efficient living interface that continuously secretes bioactive factors such as exosomes.After passing through the bioreactor, the plasma is re-filtered and then returned to the patient's circulation via a dedicated pump.

Combining the QH-1A bioartificial liver device with mesenchymal stem cells for blood purification（6 hours）

Combination Product

After the three subjects in the 4-hour group completed their 4-week follow-up, the Safety Evaluation Committee convened a meeting to review the safety data and determine whether to proceed with the recruitment for the 6-hour group.The 6-hour group treatment session lasts 6 hours (±15 minutes).The treatment procedure is identical to that of the 4-hour group.

Combining the QH-1A bioartificial liver device with mesenchymal stem cells for blood purification（8 hours）

Combination Product

After the three subjects in the 6-hour group completed their 4-week follow-up, the Safety Evaluation Committee convened a meeting to review the safety data and determine whether to proceed with the recruitment for the 8-hour group. The 8-hour group treatment session lasts 8 hours (±15 minutes).The treatment procedure is identical to that of the 4-hour group.

Combining the QH-1A bioartificial liver device with mesenchymal stem cells for blood purification（Multiple-treatment）

Combination Product

Subjects in the multiple-treatment group will receive 2-3 sessions of bioartificial liver treatment; the number of sessions will be determined by the investigators based on the subjects' clinical needs. The treatment duration for each session will be set as the maximum tolerable period, as confirmed by the Safety Evaluation Committee based on 28-day safety observations from the 4-hour, 6-hour, and 8-hour groups. Each treatment session is administered following the procedure applied to patients in the group with the optimal tolerability duration.

Primary outcomes

  1. Survival rate

    Time frame: 28-day

Secondary outcomes

  1. Combined Bioartificial Liver Device QH-1A Equipment Performance Pass Rate

    Time frame: Day 1

    Pass Criteria: If all items on the trial medical device evaluation are rated as "Yes," the device's performance is deemed acceptable. If any evaluation item is rated as "No," the device's performance is considered unacceptable. Reasons for any "No" ratings must be documented.

  2. Changes from the baseline in Child-Pugh grade

    Time frame: 28-day

    The Child-Pugh classification evaluation indicators consist of hepatic encephalopathy, ascites, total bilirubin, albumin, and prolonged PT time. The scoring and classification of the severity of Child-Pugh liver diseases are as follows:Grade A is 5 to 6 points. Grade B is 7 to 9 points. Grade C is 10 to 15 points. The higher the score, the worse the liver function.

  3. Changes from the baseline in COSSH-ACLF IIs

    Time frame: 28-day

    The Chinese Severe Hepatitis B Study Group (COSSH), based on a multicenter, open-label large cohort study, has established a novel prognostic scoring system for hepatitis B virus (HBV)-ACLF: COSSH-ACLF II s. A score of less than 7.4 indicates a low-risk group, a score between 7.4 and 8.4 indicates a moderate-risk group, and a score greater than 8.4 indicates a high risk of 28- and 90-day mortality.

  4. Changes from the baseline in MELD score

    Time frame: 28-day

    The MELD score (Model for End-Stage Liver Disease) is a scoring system used to assess the urgency of liver transplantation in chronic liver disease patients. The MELD score typically ranges from 6 to 40, with higher scores indicating more severe disease and a greater need for liver transplantation.

  5. The rate of bridging liver transplantation

    Time frame: 28-day

Other outcomes

  1. Incidence of adverse events and serious adverse events

    Time frame: 28-day

    All treatment-related adverse events will be assessed by CTCAE v5.0.

  2. Number of participants with positive infectious pathogens in the return fluid

    Time frame: Day1

    After each treatment session (0-15 minutes post-treatment), the return fluid from the bioreactor will be collected for testing of infectious pathogens (bacteria, fungi) and endotoxins.

  3. Number of participants with positive replicative lentivirus in the blood

    Time frame: Day1,Day28

    blood samples were collected for the detection of replicative lentivirus.

  4. Number of participants in whom mesenchymal stem cell shedding was detected in the return fluid

    Time frame: Day1

    During each treatment process, return fluid is collected at the front and back of the reactor at designated time points. Techniques such as flow cytometry and real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR are used to assess the shedding of mesenchymal stem cells.

  5. Changes from the baseline in immunogenicity indicators

    Time frame: Day1, Day7,Day28

    During the observational study, changes in immunogenicity indicators were monitored to evaluate the immunogenicity of the investigational product. The immunogenicity indicators included immunoglobulins (IgM, IgG, IgA, IgE), complements (C3, C4), lymphocyte subset analysis (CD3+ T cell count and percentage, CD4+ T cell count and percentage, CD8+ T cell count and percentage), and cytokines (IL-2, IL-6, IL-8, IL-10, TNF-α, IFN-γ).

    Blood samples were collected for immunogenicity assessment at the following time points: before each machine-based treatment (-30 min to 0 min), 7±1 days, 28±3 days.

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

Third Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University

Other

Collaborators

  • Guangdong Qianhui Biotechnology Co., Ltd

Registry information

Official study title

Phase I Trial of QH-1A Hybrid Bio-Artificial Liver With Ex Vivo Blood-Purifying MSCs in Acute-on-Chronic Liver Failure: Safety, Efficacy, and Treatment Schedule Exploration

Important dates

Study start
2025
Primary completion
2026
Study completion
2026
First posted
May 30, 2025
Registry last updated
May 30, 2025

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

View the official ClinicalTrials.gov record (opens in a new tab)

This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.

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