Alzheimer's stem cell trial pulled before it even started

NCT ID NCT04228666

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
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 Results may not be published yet.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 This study
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This status has not been confirmed recently, so it may be out of date.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 Jun 25, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026 · Updated 1 time

Summary

This trial aimed to test the safety of giving four infusions of a patient's own fat-derived stem cells to people with early Alzheimer's disease. It was designed for adults aged 50-85 with mild cognitive impairment or early-stage Alzheimer's. However, the study was withdrawn before enrolling any participants, so no data on safety or effectiveness were collected.

What this could mean

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

Active substance
autologous adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells (HB-adMSCs)
What this could lead to
If this approach had worked, it could have pointed toward a way to slow or manage Alzheimer's disease progression using a patient's own stem cells.
What could go wrong
The trial was withdrawn before enrolling any participants, so no results are available. Stem cell treatments for Alzheimer's are still highly experimental, with uncertain benefits and potential risks like infusion 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.

Started

Mar 2020

Expected to finish

Feb 2022

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

50 to 85 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. Men, and women of non-childbearing potential, 50-85 years of age inclusively, with a diagnosis of early stage's (preclinical/mild cognitive impairment) Probable Alzheimer's Disease according to the 2011 NIA-AA criteria. * Non-childbearing potential for women is defined as postmenopausal \[last natural menses greater than 24 months; in women under age 55, menopausal status will be documented with serum follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) test\] or undergone a documented bilateral tubal ligation or hysterectomy. * Male participants who are sexually active with a woman of childbearing potential must agree to use condoms during the trial unless the woman is using an acceptable means of birth control. Acceptable forms of birth control include abstinence, birth control pills, or any double combination of intrauterine device (IUD), male or female condom and diaphragm. 2. Informed consent signed by the subject 3. Documented Amyloid PET Scan (images and report) positive to amyloid plaques deposits on the brain. 4. If the patient is under any treatment, should have been on a stable dose for at least 30 days prior to signing the informed consent form and there is no intention to modify the dose over the course of the study. (NOTE: Cholinesterase inhibitors (AChEI) (donepezil, galantamine, or rivastigmine) may not be initiated, discontinued or modified after study initiation for the 12-months control period). Exclusion Criteria: 1. Hospitalization or change of chronic concomitant medication within one month prior to screening. 2. Clinically significant or unstable disease that may interfere with outcome evaluations, including but not limited to: * Respiratory Insufficiency * Poorly managed hypertension (systolic \>160 mm Hg and/or diastolic \>95 mm Hg) or hypotension (systolic \<90 mm Hg and/or diastolic \<60 mm Hg); or * Bradycardia (\<50 beats/min.) or tachycardia (\>100 beats/min.). Otherwise healthy subjects with borderline bradycardia may be discussed with the medical monitor to determine eligibility. * Renal insufficiency, defined as eGFR \<40 mL/min based on the CKD-EPI (Chronic Kidney Disease Epidemiology Collaboration) formula, https://www.mdcalc.com/ckd-epi-equations-glomerular-filtration-rate-gfr * Heart disease (myocardial infarction, unstable angina, heart failure, cardiomyopathy within 3 months before screening). If a subject has a history of heart disease of questionable clinical significance, the medical monitor may be contacted to discuss eligibility. 3. Records of PET Scan negative to Amyloid plaques deposition in the brain. 4. Suspected or known drug or alcohol abuse, i.e. more than approximately 60 g alcohol (approximately 1 liter of beer or 0.5 liter of wine) per day. 5. Acute intercurrent infections such as Hepatitis C Virus (HCV), Hepatitis B Virus (HBV), Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) or Syphilis. 6. Contraindications for PET scanning, including implanted metallic devices (e.g. non-MRI-safe cardiac pacemaker or neurostimulator; some artificial joints metal pins; surgical clips; or other implanted metal parts), or claustrophobia or discomfort in confined spaces. 7. Is unable or unwilling to comply with protocol follow-up requirements. 8. Enrollment in another investigational study or intake of investigational drug within the previous 30 days. 9. Any condition, which in the opinion of the investigator or the sponsor makes the patient unsuitable for inclusion.

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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.

Contacts and locations

Locations

  • Clinical Trial Network

    Houston, Texas, 77074, United States

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