Immune cell infusion aims to free ARDS patients from ventilators

NCT ID NCT07706855

What the study statuses mean

This study's is highlighted.

Recruitment status, easiest to join first

Recruiting now
This trial is taking on new participants right now.
Not yet recruiting This study
Registered, but not yet taking participants.
By invitation only
Not open to general applications. Only people the study team invites can take part.
Paused
Paused for now. It may or may not start again.
Ongoing
Running, but no longer taking on new participants.
Completed
The trial has finished. Results may not be published yet.
Stopped early
Stopped early, before it reached the end. That can be for many reasons, including safety.
Cancelled
Cancelled before anyone took part.

Expanded access (not trials)

Expanded access
Not a trial. This treatment can be requested outside a study, case by case, for people who qualify.
Expanded access (paused)
Not a trial. The treatment can normally be requested outside a study, but is unavailable right now.
Expanded access (ended)
Not a trial. The treatment could once be requested outside a study, but no longer can.
Approved
The treatment has been approved, so it is available normally rather than through this programme.

When the status isn't known

Details not published
The full record has not been published yet, so there is little to show here.
Status unknown
This status has not been confirmed recently, so it may be out of date.

First seen Jul 16, 2026 · Last updated Jul 17, 2026 · Updated 1 time

Summary

This study tests an experimental therapy called GKL-006RTU, made from a type of immune cell (iNKT cells), for people with moderate to severe acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), a life-threatening lung condition. The trial has two parts: first, a small group receives the cell infusion to check safety; then, a larger group is randomly assigned to receive either the cell therapy or a placebo, both added to standard care. The main goal is to see if the treatment helps patients spend fewer days on a ventilator.

What this could mean

Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only, not medical advice or a prediction.

Active substance
an experimental iNKT cell therapy called GKL-006RTU
What this could lead to
If successful, this could lead to a new treatment that helps people with severe ARDS recover faster and spend less time on a ventilator.
What could go wrong
This is an early-phase trial with only 52 participants, so results may not apply broadly. Cell therapies can cause serious side effects like immune reactions.

This is an AI summary of the original study and may miss details. Read our disclaimer.

Study facts

What this study's own registry entry says, in plain language.

Phase

Phase 1/2

Runs two stages together: safety and dose first, then whether the treatment works.

Participants

About 52 people

The number the study aims to enrol. It can still change while the study runs.

Expected to start

Jul 2026

An estimate. Start dates often move.

Expected to finish

Jul 2027

An estimate. End dates often move.

Lead sponsor

A company

The lead sponsor is a pharmaceutical, biotech, or medical-device company.

Who can take part

This study's own entry requirements. Only the study team can say for certain whether you qualify.

Ages

18 to 80 years

Sex

Anyone

Healthy volunteers

Not accepted

This study is not open to healthy volunteers. The entry requirements below say who it is open to.

Show the full entry requirements

Copied word for word from the study's registry entry, so the wording is the study team's rather than ours.

Inclusion Criteria: 1. Male or female, aged 18 to 80 years (inclusive). 2. Participants (or their legally authorized representatives, if the participant is unable to provide informed consent) who fully understand the nature of the study, voluntarily sign the informed consent form, and are willing to comply with and complete all study procedures during the study period. 3. Clinically diagnosed with Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS) according to the diagnostic criteria, with a time from diagnosis to enrollment not exceeding 96 hours. 4. The etiology of ARDS is confirmed to be infectious. 5. Received active treatment (including anti-infective therapy and lung-protective ventilation strategies) for at least 24 hours; and arterial blood gas analysis results within 6 hours prior to enrollment support the diagnosis of moderate-to-severe ARDS (defined as Arterial Partial Pressure of Oxygen/Fraction of Inspired Oxygen Ratio (PaO2/FiO2) ≤ 200 mmHg and Positive End-Expiratory Pressure \[PEEP\] ≥ 5 cmH2O). 6. Participants and their partners must have no plans for reproduction, sperm donation, or egg donation for at least 6 months after the last dose of study drug, and must voluntarily adopt effective contraceptive measures deemed appropriate by the investigator. Exclusion Criteria: 1. Positive screening for infectious diseases meeting any of the following: a)Active Hepatitis B virus infection (defined as \[positive Hepatitis B Surface Antigen (HBsAg) or positive Hepatitis B Core Antibody (HBcAb)\] with Hepatitis B Virus DNA \[HBV-DNA\] above the upper limit of normal); b) Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection (defined as positive HCV antibody with HCV-RNA above the upper limit of normal); c) Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) infection (defined as positive HIV antibody); d) Syphilis infection (defined as positive Treponema pallidum antibody). 2. Known immune system dysfunction (e.g., primary immunodeficiency, acquired immunodeficiency) or currently receiving systemic immunosuppressive therapy. 3. Expected survival time of less than 72 hours. 4. Occurrence of a cerebrovascular or cardiovascular event (unstable angina, congestive heart failure, myocardial infarction, or stroke) within the past 6 months; or severe cardiovascular disease at screening: New York Heart Association (NYHA) Functional Classification Class III or higher; uncontrolled myocarditis or valvular disease; hemodynamic instability, severe cardiac dysfunction, malignant arrhythmias, or severe rhythm/conduction abnormalities requiring drug therapy within the past 6 months. 5. Currently receiving or expected to receive Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation (ECMO) during the trial period. 6. Severe hepatic or renal dysfunction at screening: long-term hemodialysis and known severe renal impairment with an estimated Glomerular Filtration Rate (eGFR) \< 30 mL/min/1.73 m² (calculation method detailed in Appendix 6), currently requiring Continuous Renal Replacement Therapy (CRRT); or moderate to severe liver failure (Child-Pugh score \> 12 ). 7. Severe hematological abnormalities at screening: evidence of bleeding with an International Normalized Ratio (INR) ≥ 2.0; severe anemia (Hemoglobin \[Hb\] \< 60 g/L); moderate or greater thrombocytopenia (Platelets \[PLT\] \< 50×10⁹/L); Disseminated Intravascular Coagulation (DIC); leukemia; or other hematological abnormalities deemed unsuitable for enrollment. 8. Severe end-stage respiratory diseases at screening (e.g., COPD with respiratory failure, pulmonary fibrosis, pulmonary hypertension with right heart failure, etc., excluding ARDS). 9. History of deep vein thrombosis or pulmonary embolism within 6 months prior to enrollment. 10. History of solid organ or hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. 11. Severe cardiopulmonary malformations at screening that significantly affect cardiopulmonary function. 12. Severe neuropsychiatric disorders (e.g., Alzheimer's disease, schizophrenia). 13. ARDS caused by other etiologies (e.g., trauma, aspiration). 14. Pregnant or lactating women. 15. Cumulative corticosteroid use equivalent to \> 400 mg of prednisone within 3 weeks prior to screening. 16. Known hypersensitivity to any component of the investigational product, or a history of severe allergies deemed unsuitable for enrollment by the investigator. 17. Receipt of cell therapy within 6 months prior to screening.

Get updates

Get notified about this study

Sign up to get updates when this study changes or when new studies for ARDS (acute respiratory distress syndrome) are added.

Our safety recommendation!

By submitting, you agree to our Terms of use

Conditions

The condition(s) this trial relates to.

As listed by the trial registrant

The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.

How to take part

Only the study team decides who joins. These are the ways to reach them.

  1. The official record

    ClinicalTrials.gov lists the study team's own contact details, including names and phone numbers. We don't republish those.

    Open the record ↗

  2. A doctor treating you

    A doctor who knows your case can contact a study site on your behalf, and can tell you whether this study is worth pursuing at all.

More trials for these conditions

Other studies related to the condition(s) this trial covers.