Intra-Articular Injection of Autologous Adipose Tissue-Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells for the Treatment of Knee Osteoarthritis: A Phase IIb, Randomized, Placebo-Controlled Clinical Trial

Lee WS, Kim HJ, Kim KI, et al. · Stem Cells Translational Medicine

AD-MSC group improved significantly on WOMAC at 6 months while placebo did not; MRI showed no cartilage-defect worsening in the MSC group vs progression in controls.

Population

24 patients with KL grade 3 knee OA (12 per arm)

Intervention

Single injection of 100 million culture-expanded autologous adipose-derived MSCs

Comparator

Saline placebo (double-blind)

Limitations

Very small n; 6-month primary endpoint; funded by R-Bio (cell manufacturer).