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Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis and Progressive Fibrotic Interstitial Lung DiseasePhase 1HALT-IPFNCT04262167

Human Autologous Lung Stem Cell Transplant for Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis

A Phase 1 study testing Lung Spheroid Stem Cells 100 million and Lung Spheroid Stem Cells 200 million in people with Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis and Progressive Fibrotic Interstitial Lung Disease, run by University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill at 1 site in United States.

Active, not recruiting

Under way, not looking for participants. Everyone needed has enrolled. The study is still running.

Official record
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Trial summary

Purpose: To demonstrate the safety and efficacy of autologous Lung Spheroid Stem Cells (LSCs) administered by intravenous infusion in patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis Progressive Fibrotic Interstitial Lung Disease. Read more about this study

Who is it for?
Ages 40 to 80 years
What is being tested?
Lung Spheroid Stem Cells 100 million and Lung Spheroid Stem Cells 200 million
Type of treatment
Injection or infusion
Could I receive a placebo?
No, everyone receives an active treatment
How many people
24 participants
Where
1 siteUnited States
Study dates
22 Oct 2020to Dec 2027
Phase
Phase 1
Are there results?
Not yet: the study is under way

Key requirements

Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.

  • Ages 40 to 80 years
  • All sexes
  • No healthy volunteers
  • Adult, Older adult

Who may be able to join

  • Male or female between the ages of 40 to 80.
  • Diagnosis of a Progressive Fibrotic Interstitial Lung Disease
  • Diagnosis of IPF based on the following criteria in accordance with American Thoracic Society (ATS) guidelines for diagnosing IPF:
  • Definite usual interstitial pneumonia (UIP) confirmed on surgical lung biopsy (SLB) with all other etiologies for UIP excluded OR High resolution CT scan (HRCT) showing definite UIP with all other etiologies for UIP excluded.
  • Probable UIP on both imaging and surgical lung biopsy with all other etiologies for UIP excluded.
  • Forced vital capacity (FVC) greater than 50% of predicted with a ratio of forced expiratory volume in 1 second to FVC (FEV1/FVC) greater than 0.75 (Pulmonary function tests must be completed no more than 90 days before screening).
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  • Diffusing capacity for carbon monoxide (DLCO) greater than 25% of predicted capacity.
  • Ability to perform a 6-Minute Walk Test (6MWT) at screening.
  • Competency to understand the information given in the Human Research and Ethics Committee (HREC) approved Informed Consent Form and must sign the form prior to the initiation of any study procedures

Who cannot join

  • Diagnosis of an interstitial lung disease (ILD) or restrictive lung disease other than IPF or Progressive Fibrotic Interstitial Lung Disease.
  • Obstructive lung disease as determined by evidence of airflow obstruction on HRCT or physiologic criteria including: FEV1/FVC ratio less than 0.75, Residual volume (RV) greater than 120% by plethysmography or significant (verified by radiologist) emphysema on HRCT or evidence of reactive airway disease by change in FEV1 of greater than 12% following bronchodilator challenge.
  • Evidence of sustained improvement lung function defined as improvement from pre-therapy pulmonary function tests (PFTs) observed with two or more successive post-therapy PFTs over the year prior to randomization.
  • Active or recent (less than 60 days prior to enrollment) significant respiratory tract infections, or a history of frequent (greater than 2 per year for the last 2 years) infective exacerbations of IPF.
  • Hospitalization within 60 days of screening for an acute exacerbation of IPF (AE-IPF).
  • Chronic heart failure (NYHA class III/IV) or known left ventricular ejection fraction less than 45%.
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  • Acute or chronic impairment (other than dyspnea) which limits the ability to comply with study requirements and procedures including the 6MWT.
  • Subject requires hemodialysis, peritoneal dialysis or hemofiltration.
  • Infection with HIV
  • Viral Hepatitis
  • Resting oxygen requirements or >4 L of nasal canula oxygen needed with exertion

Trial locations and contacts

1 site in 1 country.

United States1 site
  • University of North Carolina as Chapel Hill

    Chapel Hill, North Carolina, 27514

Other trials in United States

About this study

Official title: A Phase I, Randomized Study of the Safety and Efficacy of Intravenous Delivery of Lung Spheroid Stem Cells (LSCs) in Patients With Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis

Purpose:

To demonstrate the safety and efficacy of autologous Lung Spheroid Stem Cells (LSCs) administered by intravenous infusion in patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis Progressive Fibrotic Interstitial Lung Disease.

Read more

Participants:

Patients with Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis (IPF) and Progressive Fibrotic Interstitial Lung Disease

Procedures (methods):

24 patients previously diagnosed with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis or Progressive Fibrotic Interstitial Lung Disease meeting all inclusion/exclusion criteria will be evaluated at baseline. LSCs will be grown from autologous trans-bronchial pulmonary biopsy specimens. The first group, consisting of 6 patients will be randomized after completion of the screening procedures to either a treatment group of 100 million LSCs administered via intravenous infusion or to a control group (standard care) in a 2:1 LSC to control group ratio. The second group of 18 patients will be randomized after completion of the screening procedures to either a treatment group of 200 million LSCs administered via intravenous infusion or to a control group (standard care) in a 2:1 LSC to control group ratio. Patients will be randomized using permuted blocks in a 2:1 LSC to control group ratio, providing a distribution of 8:4:12 patients among the control, low dose, and high dose groups, respectively. If the patient is randomized and 100 million LSCs are not achieved, then the patient will be analyzed separately and another patient enrolled. Intravenous infusion of LSCs will take place 4-8 weeks after the pulmonary biopsies are obtained. All patients will be followed up at months 0.5, 1, 3, 6, 9, 12, 18, and 24 after infusion to complete the safety and efficacy assessments listed herein. All patients will receive standard of care for their IPF.

Being tested
Lung Spheroid Stem Cells 100 million, Lung Spheroid Stem Cells 200 million
Medical subject headings
Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis

What participants receive

What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.

  • Lung Spheroid Stem Cells 100 millionBiological

    Also called LSCs

    LSCs grown from autologous trans-bronchial biopsy specimens

  • Lung Spheroid Stem Cells 200 millionBiological

    Also called LSCs

    LSCs grown from autologous trans-bronchial biopsy specimens

Study groups in NCT04262167
Study groupRoleWhat they receive
Low Dose LSCs (cohort 1) n = 4 plannedExperimental4-8 weeks following transbronchial biopsy, participants in this arm will receive 100 million Lung Spheroid Stem Cell (LSC) infusion.
Receives: Biological: Lung Spheroid Stem Cells 100 million
Usual Care (Cohort 1) n = 2 plannedNo interventionPatients will receive standard of care with no biopsy and no infusion. Placebo will not be used.
High Dose LSCs (Cohort 2) n = 12 plannedExperimental4-8 weeks following transbronchial biopsy, participants in this arm will receive 200 million LSC infusion.
Receives: Biological: Lung Spheroid Stem Cells 200 million
Usual Care (Cohort 2) n = 6 plannedNo interventionPatients will receive standard of care with no biopsy and no infusion. Placebo will not be used.

What is being measured

The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.

  1. Number of Participants With Adverse Events (AEs) and Serious Adverse Events (SAEs)

    An AE is any untoward medical occurrence in a clinical study participant, temporally associated with the use of a study treatment, whether or not considered related to the study treatment. An SAE is defined as any untoward medical occurrence that, at any dose: results in death; is life-threatening; requires inpatient hospitalization or prolongation of existing hospitalization; results in persistent disability/incapacity; is a congenital anomaly/birth defect; other important medical events that may jeopardize the participant or may require medical or surgical intervention to prevent one of the other outcomes listed before.

    Measured: Through study completion, 24 months

  2. Number of Participants With Hematological Parameters of Potential Clinical Importance

    Blood samples will be collected for the assessment of hematology parameters. The clinical concern range for the parameters will be: hematocrit (high: >0.54 proportion of red blood cells in blood); hemoglobin (high: >180 grams per liter [g/L]), lymphocytes (low: <0.8x10^9 cells per liter [cells/L]); neutrophil count (low: <1.5x10^9 cells/L); platelet count (low: <100x10^9 cells/L and high: >550x10^9 cells/L); white blood cells count (low: <3x10^9 cells/L and high: >20x10^9 cells/L).

    Measured: Through study completion, 24 months

  3. Number of Participants With Clinical Chemistry Parameters of Potential Clinical Importance

    Blood samples will be collected for the assessment of clinical chemistry parameters. The clinical concern range for the parameters are: albumin (low: <30 millimoles per liter [mmol/L]); alanine aminotransferase (ALT) (high: >=2xupper limit of normal [ULN]); aspartate aminotransferase (AST) (high: >=2xULN); alkaline phosphatase (ALP) (high: >=2xULN); total bilirubin (high: >=1.5xULN); calcium (low: <2 mmol/L and high: >2.75 mmol/L); glucose (low: <3 mmol/L and high: >9 mmol/L); potassium (low: <3 mmol/L and high: >5.5 mmol/L) and sodium (low: <130 mmol/L and high: >150 mmol/L).

    Measured: Through study completion, 24 months

Secondary outcomes (4)
  1. Change from Baseline in High Resolution CT scan Fibrosis Score (0-50)

    Each lobe of the lung will be numerically scored on findings seen with fibrosis utilizing High resolution CT Chest (HRCT). A numerical value is assigned to a specific finding related to fibrosis, with higher values assigned to more specific findings of fibrosis. A total composite overall numerical score will be obtained for the lungs, with a maximum possible pulmonary fibrosis score of 50 (Right upper lobe, right middle lobe, right lower lobe, left upper lobe, and left lower lobe). An azygous lobe if present will be considered as part of the right upper lobe.

    Measured: screening visit prior to infusion and 12 months after infusion

  2. Change from baseline in Forced Vital Capacity (FVC)

    Efficacy of therapy as measured by the annual rate of decline in FVC expressed in mL

    Measured: screening visit prior to infusion and 360days post infusion

  3. Change from baseline in 6 minute walk test distance (meters)

    A 6 minute walk test will be done at the indicated time points to determine change in exercise capacity with the intervention and meters walked in 6 minutes on a flat surface will be recorded

    Measured: screening visit prior to infusion and 360days post infusion

  4. Change from baseline in Diffusion capacity of the lung for carbon monoxide (DLCO)

    Change from baseline in DLCO, corrected for Hemaglobin (mmol/min/kPa)

    Measured: screening visit prior to infusion and 360days post infusion

Timeline

From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.

  1. First posted10 Feb 2020
  2. Study start22 Oct 2020
  3. Primary completionDec 2027 (estimated)
  4. Study completionDec 2027 (estimated)

Resources

More details

For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.

Study design
Study type
Interventional
Phase
Phase 1
Primary purpose
Treatment
Allocation
Randomised
Intervention model
Sequential
Masking
None (open label)
Enrolment
24 participants (estimated)
IDs, dates and publications
ClinicalTrials.gov ID
NCT04262167
Sponsor's protocol ID
18-1430
Acronym
HALT-IPF
Status last verified
Dec 2025
First submitted
6 Feb 2020
Last updated
29 Jan 2026
Results posted
No
Data monitoring committee
Yes
FDA-regulated drug
Yes
FDA-regulated device
No
Individual data sharing
Yes: Deidentified individual data that supports the results will be shared beginning 9 to 36 months following publication provided the investigator who proposes to use the data has approval from an Institutional Review Board (IRB), Independent Ethics Committee (IEC), or Research Ethics Board (REB), as applicable, and executes a data use/sharing agreement with UNC.

Questions about this trial

What is this clinical trial studying?

A Phase 1 study testing Lung Spheroid Stem Cells 100 million and Lung Spheroid Stem Cells 200 million in people with Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis and Progressive Fibrotic Interstitial Lung Disease, run by University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill at 1 site in United States.

The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.

Who may be eligible to take part?

The sponsor lists 9 inclusion and 11 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.

Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?

The record says: under way, not looking for participants, as of the sponsor's last update on 29 Jan 2026. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.

Where is the study taking place?

The record lists 1 site in United States. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.

What are the possible benefits and risks?

They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.

What does this phase mean?

Phase 1 studies test a treatment in a small group of people for the first time or in a new way, mainly to check safety and find the right dose.

Not every study follows the same path, and some studies (observational studies, device studies) have no phase.

Are results available for this study?

This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.

How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?

The record lists no contact. The official record names the sponsor, who can be asked directly. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.

What does the primary outcome measure?

Number of Participants With Adverse Events (AEs) and Serious Adverse Events (SAEs) (time frame: Through study completion, 24 months). The study lists 3 primary outcomes in all. It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.

Where can I read the original study information?
Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?

No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.

How often is this information updated?

AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 29 Jan 2026.

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