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CompletedNCT03265808AlaunusUpdated Jan 9, 2026

Allogeneic Human Mesenchymal Stem Cell Infusion vs Placebo in Alcohol Use Disorder and Major Depression.

A Phase 1/2 interventional study of allogeneic human mesenchymal stem cells (allo-hMSCs) and Placebo in Major Depressive Disorder and Alcohol Use Disorder, sponsored by Ihsan M Salloum, MD, MPH. Completed at 1 site in United States. Open to participants aged 18 Years to 75 Years. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2026-01-09.

Sponsored by Ihsan M Salloum, MD, MPH · Phase 1/2, Interventional, and Treatment

Phase
Phase 1/2
Study type
Interventional
Enrollment
31
Allocation
Randomized
Ages
18 Years to 75 Years
Sex
All
01

Study summary

The purpose of this study is to look at the safety of a study treatment with stem cells in Alcohol Use Disorder And Major Depression (AUD-MD) subjects.

Read the detailed description

This is a randomized, double-blind placebo-controlled study of allogeneic human mesenchymal stem cell in subjects with comorbid Alcohol Use Disorder And Major Depression (AUD-MD). 80 subjects will be randomized (1:1) to active treatment vs. placebo an followed weekly for 12 weeks and then every 3 months for 12 months.

02

Conditions studied

  • Major Depressive Disorder
  • Alcohol Use Disorder

Keywords

  • stem cells
03

Who can participate

Ages eligible
18 Years to 75 Years
Sexes eligible
All
Accepts healthy volunteers
No

Inclusion criteria

  1. Provide written informed consent.
  2. Subjects age >18 and \<75 years at the time of signing the Informed Consent Form.
  3. Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorder-5 criteria for Alcohol Urge Questionnaire (moderate or severe defined as meeting 4 or more of the 11 criteria) AND a concurrent Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorder-5 recurrent unipolar major depression with HRSD-25 score of 18 or above.
  4. A history of a depressive episode occurring or persisting during a period of one-month abstinence.
  5. Participants should express the desire to reduce or stop alcohol consumption, report 28 or more standard drinks (SD) per week for males or 21 for females over four weeks during the 90 days preceding study enrollment.
  6. Increased inflammation ([serum C-reactive protein] ≥3.0 mg/L.
  7. Agree to taper and discontinue antidepressant medications during the 12-week trial.
  8. Able to provide informed consent and comply with study procedures.
  9. Able to read English and understand study instruments.
  10. Entry criteria for depression and alcohol use disorder (moderate or severe) will be established using the Structured Clinical Interview for Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (SCID) for categorical diagnosis.
  11. Have a score of ≥18 on the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale for Depression (HAM-D).

Exclusion criteria

Exclusion Criteria:

  1. Acute suicidality.
  2. Any lifetime history of bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, or schizoaffective disorder.
  3. Active psychotic disorder, eating disorder, or substance use disorder except for alcohol and tobacco or "mild" cannabis use disorder within 6 months of enrollment.
  4. Any lifetime history of autoimmune or immunodeficiency syndrome.
  5. Treatment with any psychotropic (including hypnotic), steroidal, or anti-inflammatory medication (including NSAIDs) within 2 weeks of treatment randomization (6 weeks for fluoxetine).
  6. Any current use of medication that affect alcohol consumption such as acamprosate, disulfiram, naltrexone (po or IM), topiramate, or sedative-hypnotics including benzodiazepines or any psychostimulant.
  7. Being enrolled in an alcohol treatment program (self-help groups participation such as Alcoholics Anonymous or Dual Diagnosis self-help are allowed).
  8. Active medical condition that could cause or exacerbate depressive symptoms (e.g., hypothyroidism, anemia).
  9. Currently pregnant or breast-feeding.
  10. Lack of use of a reliable means of contraception methods. (Female subjects of childbearing potential must undergo a serum or urine pregnancy test at screening and within 36 hours prior to infusion.)
  11. First major depressive episode after 50 years of age.
  12. Any evidence of current infection including serum positive for HIV, hepatitis BsAg or Viremic hepatitis.
  13. Medical conditions with known autoimmune or inflammatory mechanisms including any chronic allergic condition.
  14. Positive urine screens for any drug of abuse other than cannabis at baseline.
  15. Inability to read or understand study forms or informed consent or the presence of any other conditions or factors, which in the opinion of the investigator would make the patient unsuitable for study participation.
  16. Prior history of a suicide attempt, within the past year.
  17. Have hypersensitivity to dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO).
  18. Have a clinical history of malignancy within 3 years (i.e., subjects with prior malignancy must be disease free for 3 years), except curatively-treated basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma, melanoma in situ or cervical carcinoma.
  19. Be serum positive for HIV, hepatitis BsAg or Viremic hepatitis C.
  20. Be currently participating (or participated within the previous 30 days) in an investigational therapeutic or device trial.
04

Study design

Phase
Phase 1 / Phase 2
Primary purpose
Treatment
Allocation
Randomized
Intervention model
Parallel assignment
Masking
Double (Participant, Investigator)
Enrollment
31 participants (actual)

Study arms

  • Experimental
    allogeneic human mesenchymal stem cells (allo-hMSCs)

    Participants will be treated with a single administration of allogeneic hMSCs: 100 x 10\^6 (100 million) allo-hMSCs of cells delivered via a single peripheral intravenous infusion.

    Drug: allogeneic human mesenchymal stem cells (allo-hMSCs)

  • Placebo comparator
    Placebo

    Participants will be treated with a placebo administration consisting of 1% human albumin serum in Plasma-Lyte A delivered via a single peripheral intravenous infusion.

    Drug: Placebo

Interventions

  • Drugallogeneic human mesenchymal stem cells (allo-hMSCs)

    Single administration of allogeneic hMSCs: 100 x 106 (100 million) allo-hMSCs of cells delivered via a single peripheral intravenous infusion.

  • DrugPlacebo

    Placebo administration consisting of 1% human albumin serum in Plasma-Lyte A delivered via a single peripheral intravenous infusion.

05

What researchers measure

Primary outcomes

  1. Incident of treatment emergent-serious adverse events

    Incidence of any treatment-emergent serious adverse events, defined as a composite of acute suicidality and hospitalization for suicide attempts.

    Time frame: One month post-infusion

Secondary outcomes

  1. Change in serum concentrations of high sensitivity C-reactive protein.

    Change in serum concentrations of high sensitivity C-reactive protein. A serum sample will be collected to assess the change.

    Time frame: Baseline, 12 weeks

  2. Change in serum concentrations of inflammatory biomarkers

    Change in serum concentrations of inflammatory biomarkers, such as in TNF alpha and interleukin-6. A serum sample will be collected to assess the change.

    Time frame: Baseline, 12 weeks

  3. Change in depressive symptoms as assessed by MADRS

    Montgomery and Asberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS) is a ten item questionnaire with a total score ranging from 0-60 with a higher score indicating higher depressive symptoms.

    Time frame: Baseline, 12 weeks

  4. Change in Depressive symptoms as assessed by CGI

    Clinical Global Improvement (CGI) is rated on a 7 point scale ranging from 1 (very much improved) to 7 (very much worse).

    Time frame: Baseline, 12 weeks

  5. Change in quantity of alcohol use as assessed by TLFB

    30-day self report Timeline Follow Back (TLFB) questionnaire will be used to assess daily alcohol use.

    Time frame: Baseline, 12 weeks

  6. Change in frequency of alcohol use as assessed by TLFB

    30-day self report Timeline Follow Back (TLFB) questionnaire will be used to assess frequency of daily alcohol use.

    Time frame: Baseline, 12 weeks

  7. Change in Anhedonia as measured by SHAPS

    Snaith Hamilton Pleasure Scale (SHAPS) is a 14 item questionnaire with a total score ranging from 0-56 with a higher score indicating increased anhedonic symptoms.

    Time frame: Baseline, 12 weeks

  8. Change in cravings as assessed by AUQ

    Alcohol Urge Questionnaire (AUQ) is an 8 item questionnaire with total score ranging from 8-56 with a high score indicating increased cravings .

    Time frame: Baseline, 12 weeks

  9. Change in cravings as assessed by OCDS

    Obsessive-Compulsive Drinking Scale (OCDS) is a 14 item questionnaire ranging from 0-56 with a higher score indicating increase cravings.

    Time frame: Baseline, 12 weeks

  10. Change in cognition as assessed by BAC-A

    Brief Assessment of Cognition for Affective Disorders (BAC-A) includes brief assessments of executive functions, verbal fluency, attention, verbal memory, working memory and motor speed. Z-scores are calculated from composite scores. Higher z-scores are indicative of better cognitive performance, lower z-scores are indicative of lower cognitive performance. Range of z-scores anticipated to be between -3 and 3.

    Time frame: Baseline, 12 weeks

  11. Change in functioning as assessed by UPSA-B

    University of California of San Diego (UCSD) Performance Based Skills Assessment (UPSA-B) questionnaire has a total score from 0-100 with a higher score indication better functioning.

    Time frame: Baseline, 12 weeks

  12. Change in functioning as assessed by GAF

    Global Assessment of Functioning (GAF) questionnaire has a total score ranging from 1-100 with a higher score indicating of daily activities.

    Time frame: Baseline, 12 weeks

  13. Change in quality of life as assessed by QOLI

    Quality of Life Index (QOLI) questionnaire has a total score ranging from 10-100 with a higher score indicating higher quality of life.

    Time frame: Baseline, 12 weeks

06

Study locations

1 site
  • University of Texas Rio Grande Valley School of Medicine
    Harlingen, Texas 78550, United States
07

References and documents

Individual participant data

Plan to share: No

No publications or documents are linked to this record.

08

Registry details

Key details

Study ID
NCT03265808
Lead sponsor
Ihsan M Salloum, MD, MPH
Collaborators
National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA)
Responsible party
Ihsan M Salloum, MD, MPH (Professor, University of Texas Rio Grande Valley) — Sponsor-investigator
First posted
Aug 29, 2017
Start date
Mar 18, 2018
Primary completion
Jul 30, 2025
Completion
Jul 30, 2025
Last update
Jan 9, 2026

Study contacts

Ihsan Salloum, MD
principal investigator · University of Texas Rio Grande Valley School of Medicine

Oversight

Data monitoring committee
Yes
FDA-regulated drug
Yes
FDA-regulated device
No
View the source record on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗

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