Bone marrow injection into skull shows promise for severe stroke recovery
NCT ID NCT07203521
First seen Jun 27, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026
Summary
This study tests a new drug called RK-4, injected directly into the skull bone marrow, for people with a severe type of stroke (large hemispheric infarction) who cannot have standard blood vessel treatments. About 194 participants will either get the RK-4 injection daily for 3 days or receive usual care. The goal is to see if the drug helps improve recovery and is safe to use.
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
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Phase 2
Tests whether the treatment actually works, and watches for side effects, in a larger group.
- Participants
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About 194 people
The number the study aims to enrol. It can still change while the study runs.
- Expected to start
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Nov 2025
An estimate. Start dates often move.
- Expected to finish
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Oct 2026
An estimate. End dates often move.
- Lead sponsor
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A government agency
The lead sponsor is a government body.
Who can take part
This study's own entry requirements. Only the study team can say for certain whether you qualify.
- Ages
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18 to 80 years
- Sex
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Anyone
- Healthy volunteers
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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 Hide 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\. 18≤ age \< 81 years old, gender is not limited; 2. The modified Rankin score (mRS) score ≤ 1 point before the onset of stroke; 3. Administration can be completed within 24 hours after the onset of symptoms and signs of neurological deficit (for subjects with stroke after waking up or stroke without witnesses, the last normal time of symptom onset is the time of symptom onset); 4. Clinical symptoms, signs and imaging diagnosed as cerebral infarction in the middle cerebral artery blood supply area, and the following characteristics are met: 1. 16≤NIHSS score ≤32 points, sum of the fifth upper limb and sixth lower limb scores≥6; 2. Imaging suggests the core area of infarction: cerebral blood flow (CBF) in electronic computed scan perfusion imaging (CTP) \< 30% volume or apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) value in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) sequence \< 70-300ml of 620×10-6mm2/s lesion volume or ASPECTS score of 0-6 points. Priority is given to CTP test results. If both CTP and DWI are completed during the screening period and the examination results are inconsistent, the investigator needs to take all information (scanning time, imaging method for optimal response infarct size, etc.) into account and then make a reasonable judgment and record that; ASPECTS scores can be based on CTP or MRI, but CTP is preferred. 5. If vascular reperfusion therapy is performed, the treatment is not effective and the following conditions are met: <!-- --> 1. Extended thrombolytic grading (eTICI) = 2a; 2. NIHSS score did not improve or progressed after vascular reperfusion treatment and the total score was still ≤ 32 points. Note: A decrease of 1 point or more is an improvement, and an increase of 1 point or more is progress. 6. Subjects or their legal representatives voluntarily sign the informed consent form. Exclusion Criteria: * Those who meet one of the following items at screening cannot be enrolled: 1. Concurrent cerebrovascular disease meets one of the following conditions: 1. Combined with acute cerebral hemorrhage and subarachnoid hemorrhage; 2. Combined with acute posterior circulation cerebral infarction, or severe posterior circulation vascular stenosis (\>70%); 3. Imaging suggests bilateral involvement of the cerebral infarction area; 4. The cause has been diagnosed by TOAST typing before screening, and other etiologies such as intracranial artery dissection, vasculitis, and moyamoya disease have been identified 2. Hemorrhage transformation in the infarct area, the hematoma area ≥ 30% of the infarcted area, and has an obvious mass occupancy effect; 3. Presence of clinical signs of cerebral herniation, e.g., unilateral or bilateral pupil dilation, fixation; Cerebral edema-related loss of consciousness (NIHSS 1a\>2 points), or other brainstem reflex loss judged by the investigator caused by cerebral edema or cerebral herniation formation; or other unstable signs of vital signs that are difficult to control; 4. Planned cranial decompression flap decompression at screening; 5. Refractory hypertension (systolic blood pressure \>200mmHg or diastolic blood \>110mmHg) or hypotension (systolic blood pressure \<70mmHg or diastolic blood pressure \<50mmHg) that is difficult to control with medication; 6. Abnormal blood glucose (random venous blood glucose \< 2.8mmol/L or \>23mmol/L); 7. Obvious abnormal liver function indicators or obvious abnormal renal function indicators; Note: Obvious abnormalities in liver function indicators refer to serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) or aspartate aminotransferase (AST) \> 3 times the upper limit of normal (ULN); Significant abnormal renal function measures are defined as eGFR less than 60 mL/min/1.73 m² (eGFR is calculated using the CKD-EPI formula). 8. Acute ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (MI), and/or acute decompensated heart failure (according to New York College of Cardiology (NYHA) cardiac function class III and IV) within the past 3 months\]; 9. Contraindications to transcranial bone marrow administration, such as skull fracture, skull infection, subdural/external hematoma, subscalp hematoma, scalp skin or subcutaneous infection, cranial plate obstruction in the past 3 months, etc.; 10. Bleeding tendency that is not conducive to operation in the opinion of the investigator, including but not limited to: platelet count \<100×109/L, presence of coagulation dysfunction diseases such as hemophilia, etc.; 11. Presence of severe or very severe anemia (hemoglobin \< 60 g/L); 12. Combined with severe respiratory diseases (severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, respiratory failure, etc.) that need to be corrected by endotracheal intubation, tracheostomy or ventilator; 13. Subjects have severe local or systemic infections within 3 days before screening, including but not limited to severe local symptoms due to infection, such as suppuration, severe pain, tissue necrosis, or clear systemic infection-related symptoms, such as rapid onset of high fever (\>38.5°C), rapid heart rate, chills, impaired consciousness, dyspnea, shock, etc. caused by infection; 14. Diagnosed serious CNS degenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer's disease (AD), Parkinson's disease (PD) and severe dementia caused by various reasons or mental system diseases (such as schizophrenia, depression, etc.); 15. Previously diagnosed with severe systemic disease, with an expected survival of \< 90 days; 16. Known allergy to any component of the treatment drug and contrast agent during the study process; 17. Subjects who are pregnant, lactating, or have possible pregnancy and plan to become pregnant; 18. Subjects are unable to comply with the study protocol or follow-up requirements; 19. Those who have participated in any other interventional clinical trial within 3 months before screening, or are currently participating in any other clinical trial; 20. The investigator believes that he is not suitable to participate in this clinical study. After enrollment, if the subject is found to have violated the enrollment criteria or met the exclusion criteria; such as the age is found to be greater than or equal to 81 years old or malignant tumors or other aspects that do not meet the inclusion criteria, the investigator can judge whether it is suitable to continue to participate in the study based on the risks and benefits.
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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.
How to take part
Only the study team decides who joins. These are the ways to reach them.
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The official record
ClinicalTrials.gov lists the study team's own contact details, including names and phone numbers. We don't republish those.
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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.
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