COVID-19 Pneumonia
About the Disease
Coronavirus Disease 2019 (abbreviated “COVID-19”) is an infection caused by a new coronavirus found in Wuhan, China’s Hubei Province in December 2019. So far, there is no officially effective treatment. Since the first patient was reported on January 20, 2020, about 374,329 patients have been reported as of March 9, 2020. Treatment of high-risk patients is urgent as the mortality rate is high in cases of base disease or elderly people. In these high-risk groups, pneumonia cased by COVID-19 infection quickly deteriorated to severe and progressed to acute respiratory disorder syndrome (ARDS), so treatment for in vivo immune response and inflammatory response is required as is the same as antiviral treatment for COVID-19.
Mesenchymal stem cells secrete hepatocyte growth factor, TGF-β1 and TNF-α, TSG-6 etc, and thereby regulate immunity and inflammation. The immune-regulating mechanism suppresses B-type and T-type lymphocytes, dendritic cells, and promotes regulated T-type lymphocytes through IL-10 on both the innate immune system and adaptive immune system. It is also predicted to control these diseases effectively by regulating abnormally increased inflammation. This mechanism has been reported that mesenchymal stem cells can protect lung cells in ARDS. Recently cases of COVID-19 patients who have been treated with stem cells for treatment have improved symptoms without any special adverse reactions.
Ongoing clinical trials (Estimated study start date: December 1, 2020)
- Phase 1/2a Clinical trial in U.S.
A clinical trial to explore the safety and efficacy of allogenic adipose tissue- derived mesenchymal stem cells (AstroStem- V) therapy in patients with COVID-19 pneumonia
For more information on this clinical trial, please visit: