Clinical trial • Phase II • Musculoskeletal

ALLOGENEIC PERIPHERAL BLOOD MONONUCLEAR CELLS INDUCED TO AN EARLY APOPTOTIC STATE for Knee osteoarthritis

Phase II trial of ALLOGENEIC PERIPHERAL BLOOD MONONUCLEAR CELLS INDUCED TO AN EARLY APOPTOTIC STATE for Knee osteoarthritis.

Overview

Trial Therapeutic Area
Musculoskeletal
Trial Disease
Knee osteoarthritis
Trial Stage
Phase II
Drug Modality
Cell therapy

Key dates

Initial CTIS Submission Date
04-02-2026
First CTIS Authorization Date
13-04-2026

Trial design

Randomised, matching placebo (vehicle) - dose and schedule not specified-controlled Phase II trial in Denmark.

Randomised
Yes
Comparator
Matching placebo (vehicle) - dose and schedule not specified
Target Sample Size
195
Trial Duration For Participant
183

Eligibility

Recruits 195 No vulnerable populations selected. Participants must be able to understand and provide informed consent (adult participants only); consent is provided by the participant. There are no provisions for assent of minors documented and the study enrollment criteria specify older adults..

Pregnancy Exclusion
Women who are pregnant, women who are breastfeeding and women of child-bearing potential (WOCBP) as defined in Appendix G.
Vulnerable Population
No vulnerable populations selected. Participants must be able to understand and provide informed consent (adult participants only); consent is provided by the participant. There are no provisions for assent of minors documented and the study enrollment criteria specify older adults.

Inclusion criteria

  • {"criterion_text":"- Age 64 years or above, at time of screening\n- Diagnosis of primary femorotibial knee OA by: a. American College of Rheumatology (ACR) clinical and radiographic criteria, AND b. knee OA symptoms for at least 3 months prior to randomization (can be based on verbal report from the participant), with the index knee being the most symptomatic.\n- Radiographic evidence of knee OA defined as Kellgren-Lawrence (KL) grade 2 or 3 in the index knee on a weight bearing x-ray using a fixed-flexion frame, confirmed by central blinded read. X-rays conducted up to 6 months prior to screening are acceptable, provided they were performed according to the required specifications and the quality is acceptable to allow confirmation of the entry criteria when read centrally.\n- Participants who are intolerant to or have failed to adequately respond within the last 24 months to at least 2 OA therapies that include: conservative non-pharmacological therapy and simple analgesics (e.g., acetaminophen); nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS); avoidance of activities that cause joint pain; exercise; weight loss; physical therapy; removal of excess fluid from the knee, and intra-articular corticosteroids.\n- Index knee pain meeting ALL the below criteria: a. At the first screening visit, the investigator assesses with the patient their typical osteoarthritis knee pain when not using medication as ≥ 4 out of 10. b. WOMAC Pain (normalized 0–100) score 40 or above at the Screening visit following analgesic medication washout of at least 48 hours. If the participant is receiving a long-acting analgesic the washout will be extended to 5-half-lives of the analgesic medication(s). c. WOMAC Function (normalized 0–100) score 40 or above at the Screening and Baseline visit following analgesic medication washout of at least 48 hours. If the participant is receiving a longacting analgesic the washout will be extended to 5-half-lives of the analgesic medication(s). d. Daily OA knee pain diary average numerical rating scale (NRS) score of ≥ 4.5 and ≤ 9.0 in the index knee, with no single score of 10, for 7 days during the Screening period. The last seven measurements collected up to and including the day of the pain NRS eligibility assessment, will be used to determine eligibility and will serve as the baseline ADP-NRS with a requirement of at least 4 days of data recorded. e. Observed standard deviation of the knee pain NRS intensity score during the 7 days of the Screening assessment must not exceed 1.5.\n- Stable use of permitted concomitant therapies and willingness to abstain from prohibited medications/treatments during the trial.\n- Women who are postmenopausal (≥12 months natural amenorrhea without alternative cause) or surgically sterilized (bilateral tubal ligation, bilateral oophorectomy, or hysterectomy).\n- Male participants with partners of childbearing potential, who are not surgically sterile (vasectomy) for at least 6 months prior to randomization, must use condoms with spermicide in addition to their partner’s contraception from randomization and for 90 days after last dose.\n- Ability of the participant to understand, and willingness to provide informed consent as described in this study protocol, which includes compliance with the requirements and restrictions listed in the informed consent form (ICF) and in this protocol. This includes: a. The willingness to agree not to use specified prohibited drugs during the study including other intra-articular treatments and adhere to the protocol restrictions for concomitant therapies. b. Ability to comply with all study requirements and procedures (at the discretion of the Investigator), including any contraindications to perform a required study assessment such as imaging assessments, availability for the duration of the study, and ability and willingness to return for follow-up visits."}

Exclusion criteria

  • {"criterion_text":"- Radiographic evidence of end-stage OA (KL grade 4) or bone-on-bone articulation in the index knee.\n- Rapidly progressive OA or any joint replacement of the lower limb (partial or complete, ipsilateral, or contralateral) within 6 months of randomization, any joint replacement (partial or complete) of the index knee at any time prior to randomization, or any disorder affecting musculoskeletal pain and/or function, that is expected to alter gait and/or require surgical intervention during the study and/or interfere with the evaluation of the index knee. Such disorders include, but are not limited to, symptomatic OA of the back, hips, ankle, or foot; generalized ligamentous laxity or neuromuscular disorders affecting lower limb function; lumbar radiculopathy, peripheral neuropathy, or other conditions causing referred pain to the index knee; and any other cause leading to the participant being wheelchair or bed bound.\n- Clinically significant contralateral knee OA likely to confound efficacy assessments, including screening WOMAC Pain score 40 or above following washout of at least 48 hours.\n- Clinically significant widespread pain syndromes, as assessed by the Investigator or by Widespread Pain Index (WPI), Part 1>4, (e.g., fibromyalgia complex regional pain syndrome, pain catastrophizing, long COVID syndrome), or any condition requiring prescription pain medication to manage pain other than that of the index knee.\n- Body Mass Index (BMI) >40 kg/m² at screening.\n- Any medical issue the investigator assesses would be a contraindication to the study treatment including, but not limited to: a. Uncontrolled diabetes. b. History of uncontrolled hypertension. c. Known severe cardiovascular, cerebrovascular, thromboembolic, or respiratory diseases including uncompensated congestive heart failure, ventricular arrhythmias, acute coronary disease, myocardial infarction within 6 months prior to first treatment, unstable angina, uncontrolled hypertension, severe pulmonary disease, or uncontrolled asthma, defined as symptomatic (i.e., shortness of breath and/or wheezing) despite therapy. d. History of solid organ or hematopoietic transplantation. e. History of malignancy within 5 years (excluding adequately treated non-melanoma skin cancer or in situ carcinoma). f. Regular use of anticoagulants, known coagulopathy or other bleeding disorders, or use of other medication which, in the opinion of the investigator, places the participant at excessive risk of bleeding complications from intra-articular injection. g. Any evidence of clinically significant immunodeficiency or current therapy with any systemic immunosuppressive therapy, including oral corticosteroids (> 5 mg/day of prednisone), biologics, methotrexate, or extended-release steroid use within 4 months prior to randomization. h. Chronic use of opioids, centrally acting pain medications (e.g., pregabalin, gabapentin, duloxetine, milnacipran) and muscle relaxants (e.g., cyclobenzaprine, methocarbamol, baclofen, diazepam). i. Any evidence of clinically significant active infection (anywhere in the body) or live vaccine within one month of randomization. j. Known Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) infection, or active/uncured hepatitis B or C. k. Any other uncontrolled or clinically significant systemic disease (hepatic, renal, hematologic, neurologic, endocrine, psychiatric) that would jeopardize participant safety, limit participation, or compromise interpretation of data derived from the participant.\n- Clinically significant findings on screening laboratory tests or physical examinations that are not specific to OA of the knee and may interfere with study conduct or interpretation of data or increase participant risk. These include the following laboratory abnormalities: Hb <8.5 g/dL, WBC <3.5×10⁹/L or >15×10⁹/L, platelets <100×10⁹/L, creatinine >2.0 mg/dL, bilirubin >2.0 mg/dL, AST and or ALT >3× ULN.\n- Participants with known hypersensitivities as described below: a. Known hypersensitivity to study product components (e.g., Dimethyl Sulfoxide [DMSO]). b. Participants with a high risk of a serious allergic reaction will be excluded even if a specific hypersensitivity to any component of the study treatment or its excipients is not known. High risk of hypersensitivity includes the following: i. Participants with a history of allergic/hypersensitivity reaction that required hospitalization and/or treatment with intravenous steroids/epinephrine . ii. Participants with a known allergy to more than 3 different allergens. iii. Participants with a history of severe atopic disease (including but not limited to chronic urticaria, allergic reaction with respiratory symptoms requiring systemic steroids), or iv. in the opinion of the Investigator the participant is at high risk of developing severe allergic/hypersensitivity reactions.\n- Participation in another interventional trial or receipt of Investigational Medicinal Product (IMP) within 60 days or 5 half-lives of randomization, whichever is longer, unless pre-approved by the Sponsor.\n- Known presence of any of the following clinically relevant conditions in the index knee: a. Meniscal tear requiring surgical intervention. b. acute loose bodies. c. large/fluctuating Baker’s cyst. d. symptoms of locking, intermittent block to range of motion, or loose body sensation that could indicate meniscal displacement or an IA loose body. e. Known ligament damage or osteochondritis dissecans, or f. any index knee acute trauma within 6 months prior to randomization that would interfere with the evaluation of the index knee.\n- Prior treatment with Allocetra.\n- Prior osseous or joint infection (septic arthritis), or current infection or dermatologic condition at the intended injection site.\n- Any major surgical cartilage treatment (such as, but not limited to, autologous chondrocyte implantation [ACI], osteochondral autograft transplantation surgery [OATS]) in the index knee within 12 months of randomization, or any minor surgical cartilage treatment (such as, but not limited to, microfracture) within 6 months of randomization\n- Any ligamentous repair, malalignment correction, arthroscopy in the index knee within 6 months of randomization, interventional arthroscopy within 12 months of randomization, prior osteotomy, mosaicplasty, meniscectomy with removal of over 50% of the meniscus or arthroplasty of the index knee.\n- Knee effusion requiring aspiration of the index or contralateral knee within 3 months prior to randomization, or large index knee effusion (e.g., stroke test 3+: so much fluid that it is impossible to move any of the effusion out of the medial aspect) that is anticipated to require aspiration during the study period.\n- Intra-articular corticosteroid injection in the index knee within 3 months prior to Randomization.\n- Viscosupplement (e.g., hyaluronic acid [HA]) injection, platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injection, bone marrow aspirate or bone marrow aspiration concentrate, placental-derived tissue/cells, adipose tissue, or any other cellular or biologic product injected into the index knee within 6 months prior to randomization.\n- Known presence of any of the following joint-related conditions: a. Current or prior clinically significant inflammatory arthropathy or crystal-deposition arthropathy (e.g., rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritis, axial spondyloarthritis, gout affecting any joint (calcium pyrophosphate deposition disease), pseudogout, chondrocalcinosis, hemochromatosis, villonodular synovitis, synovial chondromatosis, or other disorder other than osteoarthritis that in the opinion of the Investigator could cause inflammation of the knee). b. Major joint dysplasia or congenital abnormalities (aseptic osteonecrosis, acromegaly, Paget disease, Ehlers-Danlos syndrome, Stickler syndrome). c. Clinically significant malalignment (>10 varus/valgus in the femorotibial axis; knee flexion contracture >10) or ligamentous instability ≥ grade II in the index knee (participants with clinically well-compensated instability such as well compensated Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) instability can be included). d. Any known severe systemic cartilage and/or severe bone disorder, such as hereditary diseases (Chondrodysplasia, Osteogenesis Imperfecta, etc.). e. Any known current or prior tumor of the index knee.\n- Any condition that in the Investigator’s opinion could confound study results or place the participant at undue risk.\n- Any known psychiatric or social condition that, in the opinion of the Investigator, would make the participant unsuitable for the study (e.g., severe depression/anxiety as assessed by Patient Health Quesionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) ≥15 or by the Investigator, suicidal ideation, alcohol, drug or substance abuse, currently in prison, active worker’s compensation case, or any other reason that would make it unlikely for the participant to comply with study procedures)."}

Endpoints

Primary endpoints

  • {"endpoint_text":"- The change from baseline of the WOMAC Pain score at 3 months between Allocetra and Placebo.","definition_or_measurement_approach":"Change from baseline in WOMAC Pain score at 3 months as assessed by WOMAC instrument; comparison between Allocetra and Placebo."}
  • {"endpoint_text":"- The change from baseline for the WOMAC Function score at 3 months.","definition_or_measurement_approach":"Change from baseline in WOMAC Function score at 3 months as assessed by WOMAC instrument."}
  • {"endpoint_text":"- Incidence and severity of Adverse Events (AEs), treatment disruptions/ discontinuations and evaluation of safety laboratory values up to 6 months.","definition_or_measurement_approach":"Safety assessed by incidence and severity of AEs, treatment disruptions/discontinuations and review of safety laboratory values up to 6 months post-treatment."}

Secondary endpoints

  • {"endpoint_text":"- The change from baseline of the WOMAC Pain score at 6 months.","definition_or_measurement_approach":"Change from baseline in WOMAC Pain score at 6 months as assessed by WOMAC instrument."}
  • {"endpoint_text":"- The change from baseline of the WOMAC Function score at 6 months.","definition_or_measurement_approach":"Change from baseline in WOMAC Function score at 6 months as assessed by WOMAC instrument."}
  • {"endpoint_text":"- The change from baseline for the WOMAC Total score at 3 months.","definition_or_measurement_approach":"Change from baseline in WOMAC Total score at 3 months as assessed by WOMAC instrument."}
  • {"endpoint_text":"- The change from baseline of the WOMAC Total score at 6 months.","definition_or_measurement_approach":"Change from baseline in WOMAC Total score at 6 months as assessed by WOMAC instrument."}
  • {"endpoint_text":"- The change from baseline of the Average Daily Pain Numerical Rating Scale (ADP-NRS) at 3 months.","definition_or_measurement_approach":"Change from baseline in Average Daily Pain NRS at 3 months; baseline defined from screening diary (7 days) with requirement of at least 4 days of data."}
  • {"endpoint_text":"- The change from baseline of the ADP-NRS at 6 months.","definition_or_measurement_approach":"Change from baseline in Average Daily Pain NRS at 6 months."}

Recruitment

Planned Sample Size
195
Recruitment Window Months
23
Consent Approach
Informed consent must be provided by the participant (adult participants). Study documents include subject information and informed consent form (DK versions are listed). Ability to understand and willingness to provide informed consent is an inclusion requirement. No assent provisions for minors are documented.

Geography

Total Number Of Sites
3
Total Number Of Participants
75

Denmark

Earliest CTIS Part Ii Submission Date
01-04-2026
Latest Decision Or Authorization Date
13-04-2026
Processing Time Days
12
Number Of Sites
3
Number Of Participants
75

Sites

Site Name
Sanos Clinic Vejle
Department Name
Sanos Clinic Vejle
Contact Person Name
Sidsel Boll
Contact Person Email
sib@sanosclinic.com
Site Name
Sanos Clinic Gandrup
Department Name
Sanos Clinic Gandrup
Contact Person Name
Søren Ramme Bro
Contact Person Email
sbr@sanosclinic.com
Site Name
Sanos Clinic Herlev
Department Name
Sanos Clinic Herlev
Contact Person Name
Linda Bracher
Contact Person Email
lbr@sanosclinic.com

Sponsor

Primary sponsor

Full Name
Enlivex Therapeutics Ltd.
Organisation Type
Pharmaceutical company
Country Of Registered Address
Israel

Contract research organisations

Name
Suvoda LLC
Responsibilities
eClinical support (sponsorDuties codes 14,3)
Name
Espresso Clinical Inc
Responsibilities
use of Artificial Intelligence for data handling

Third parties

  • {"country":"United States","full_name":"Suvoda LLC","duties_or_roles":"sponsorDuties codes: 14,3","organisation_type":"Non-Pharmaceutical company"}
  • {"country":"United Kingdom","full_name":"Image Analysis Limited","duties_or_roles":"X-ray and MR scan assessment; sponsorDuties code: 6","organisation_type":"Pharmaceutical company"}
  • {"country":"Belgium","full_name":"Cerba Research","duties_or_roles":"Central Laboratory","organisation_type":"Laboratory/Research/Testing facility"}
  • {"country":"Denmark","full_name":"NBCD A/S","duties_or_roles":"sponsorDuties codes: 1,12,13,2,5,6,7,8","organisation_type":"Pharmaceutical company"}
  • {"country":"Denmark","full_name":"Nordic Bioscience A/S","duties_or_roles":"Immunological marker and future research; sponsorDuties codes: 4,6","organisation_type":"Pharmaceutical company"}
  • {"country":"Israel","full_name":"Espresso Clinical Inc","duties_or_roles":"use of Artificial Intelligence for data handling","organisation_type":"Industry"}

Investigational products

Investigational Product Name
Allocetra-OTS
Active Substance
ALLOGENEIC PERIPHERAL BLOOD MONONUCLEAR CELLS INDUCED TO AN EARLY APOPTOTIC STATE
Modality
Cell therapy
Routes Of Administration
INTRA-ARTICULAR INJECTION
Route
INTRA-ARTICULAR INJECTION
Maximum Dose
Max daily dose 200 million organisms; max total dose 600 million organisms
Investigational Product Name
Matching placebo (vehicle)
Modality
Other

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