The goal of this clinical trial is to learn if allogeneic human bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (CG-BM1) are safe and show preliminary efficacy in treating patients with ankylosing spondylitis (AS). It will also explore the appropriate dose of CG-BM1. The main questions it aims to answer are: What medical problems (adverse events) do participants have when taking CG-BM1? (Safety and tolerability) Does CG-BM1 improve disease activity, pain, and function in patients with AS? (Preliminary efficacy) Researchers will compare CG-BM1 to a placebo (an inactive substance that looks like CG-BM1) in the second phase of the study to see if CG-BM1 works for AS. This study has two phases: Phase 1 (dose-escalation): Open-label, single-arm. Participants will receive one of three escalating doses of CG-BM1 weekly for 4 weeks. Phase 2 (dose-expansion): Randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled. Participants will receive either the recommended dose of CG-BM1 or a placebo weekly for 4 weeks, in addition to standard background therapy (celecoxib). Participants will: Receive CG-BM1 or placebo via intravenous infusion once a week for 4 weeks Visit the clinic for follow-up assessments at Week 1, 4, 8, 12, and 24 after the first infusion Undergo physical exams, laboratory tests (blood and urine), and complete questionnaires about disease activity, pain, and function (e.g., BASDAI, VAS, ASAS response criteria)
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
DOUBLE
Enrollment
40
Dose level 1: CG-BM1 1.0×10⁶ cells/kg, IV, weekly × 4 + celecoxib, 0.2g, p.o. daily Dose level 2: CG-BM1 2.0×10⁶ cells/kg, IV, weekly × 4 + celecoxib, 0.2g, p.o. daily Dose level 3: CG-BM1 4.0×10⁶ cells/kg, IV, weekly × 4 + celecoxib, 0.2g, p.o. daily
Sodium Chloride Solution, 5 ml, IV, weekly × 4+ celecoxib, 0.2g, p.o. daily
CG-BM1 \[recommended dose\], IV, weekly × 4 + celecoxib, 0.2g, p.o. daily
The Eighth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University
Shenzhen, Guangdong, China
Incidence of Adverse Events (AEs) and Serious Adverse Events (SAEs)
Time frame: 24 weeks
Incidence of Dose-Limiting Toxicities (DLTs)
Time frame: 24 weeks
Percentage of Participants Achieving ASAS20 Response
ASAS20 response is defined as an improvement of \> 20% and an absolute improvement of \> 1 unit (on a 0-10 scale) or \> 10 mm (on a 0-100 mm scale) in at least 3 of the following 4 domains: Patient Global Assessment, Physical Function (BASFI), Total Spinal Pain, and Inflammation (Morning Stiffness). Additionally, there must be no worsening in the remaining domain.
Time frame: Weeks 1, 4, 8, 12, and 24
Global Assessment of Disease Activity
Evaluated using a 0-10 Visual Analog Scale (VAS), where 0 indicates "not active" and 10 indicates "very active". Higher scores represent greater disease activity. The outcome will report the change from baseline values at each subsequent visit timepoint.
Time frame: Weeks 1, 4, 8, 12, and 24
Total Spinal Pain Intensity Score
Measured by a Visual Analog Scale (VAS) ranging from 0 mm (no pain) to 100 mm (severe pain), calculating the average score of overall spinal pain and nocturnal spinal pain over the past week. Higher scores represent worse pain intensity.
Time frame: Weeks 1, 4, 8, 12, and 24
Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Functional Index (BASFI)
BASFI consists of 10 items assessing the patient's ability to perform specific activities of daily living. Each item is scored on a 0-10 scale (0 = easy, 10 = impossible). The total score is calculated as the mean of the 10 scores, where a higher score indicates more severe functional impairment.
Time frame: Weeks 1, 4, 8, 12, and 24
Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Index (BASDAI)
BASDAI evaluates 6 items: fatigue, spine pain, peripheral joint pain, localized tenderness, morning stiffness severity, and morning stiffness duration over the past week, each on a 0-10 scale. The final score is calculated as the average of the first 4 items plus the average of the two morning stiffness items, with a total range of 0 to 10. Higher scores indicate more severe disease activity.
Time frame: Weeks 1, 4, 8, 12, and 24
Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Metrology Index (BASMI)
BASMI evaluates spinal mobility based on 5 clinical measurements: cervical rotation, tragus-to-wall distance, lumbar flexion (modified Schober's test), lumbar side flexion, and intermalleolar distance. Each component is scored linearly from 0 to 2, with a total composite score ranging from 0 to 10. Higher scores indicate more severe impairment of spinal mobility.
Time frame: Weeks 1, 4, 8, 12, and 24
Swollen Joint Count(SJC) and Tender Joint Count(TJC) Based on 44-Joint Assessment
Peripheral arthritis progression will be evaluated via the standard 44-joint count assessment. Scores range from 0 to 44 joints, where a reduction in count indicates therapeutic improvement.
Time frame: Weeks 1, 4, 8, 12, and 24
Serum C-reactive Protein (CRP) Concentration (mg/L)
Evaluated via peripheral blood samples to explore the systemic anti-inflammatory effect of CG-BM1.
Time frame: Weeks 1, 4, 8, 12, and 24
Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate (ESR) (mm/h)
Evaluated via peripheral blood samples to explore the systemic anti-inflammatory effect of CG-BM1.
Time frame: Weeks 1, 4, 8, 12, and 24
Serum Concentrations of Cytokines (TNF-α and BMP2) (pg/mL)
Measured via enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) from collected serum samples to investigate the mechanistic pathways of bone remodeling and immune regulation.
Time frame: Weeks 1, 4, 8, 12, and 24
Peripheral Blood Immune Cell Subset Percentages
Evaluated via multicolour flow cytometry to quantify the percentages of CD4+ T cells, CD8+ T cells, Treg cells, Th17 cells, NK cells, MAIT cells, monocytes, neutrophils, and B cells relative to total lymphocytes or leukocytes, in order to track immune homeostasis reconstruction.
Time frame: Weeks 1, 4, 8, 12, and 24
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