A Phase 1 interventional study of HeXell-2020 in Frailty in Older Adults, sponsored by Hexun Biosciences Co., LTD.. Not yet recruiting. Open to participants aged 60 Years to 85 Years. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2026-09-25.
Sponsored by Hexun Biosciences Co., LTD. · Phase 1, Interventional, and Treatment
This is a phase I study to investigate the safety, and Tolerability of HeXell-2020 in Elderly Subjects with Mild to Moderate Frailty Syndrome.
HeXell-2020 is an investigational drug product consisting of allogenic umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells (UCMSCs) as the drug substance. All enrolled and eligible subjects will receive HeXell-2020 treatment.
Frailty Syndrome (FS) is a complex clinical phenotype characterized by increased vulnerability and reduced physiological reserve resulting from progressive decline across multiple physiological systems. Clinically, FS is manifested by reduced grip strength, exhaustion, slower walking speed, low physical activity, and unintentional weight loss. This condition is associated with elevated oxidative stress, chronic inflammation, decreased muscle mass, and organ dysfunction, which collectively contribute to an increased risk of disability, hospitalization, and mortality.
The pharmacological efficacy of MSCs has been extensively investigated including the secretion of immunomodulatory molecules, antioxidative enzymes, pro-angiogenic growth factors, and anti-apoptotic agents that collectively target multiple pathological mechanisms underlying frailty syndrome. UC-MSCs also exert potent anti-apoptotic effects by upregulating the expression of anti-apoptotic protein and simultaneously downregulating cellular senescence and apoptosis.
The investigational Drug Product (DP), HeXell-2020, consists of allogeneic umbilical cord-derived mesenchymal stem cells (UC-MSCs) isolated from human Wharton's jelly, which is intended to treat patients with FS. A GLP-compliant eleven repeated-dose (once every 7 days) toxicity study (Study Number 21005IV01), in which three does levels (1.5 × 10e6, 1.5 × 10⁷, 7.5 × 10⁷ cells/kg/dose) of HeXell-2020 or vehicle control was administered to NOD/SCID mice, was conducted to evaluate toxicity, local tolerance, and biodistribution. During the observation period, most of the survived animals appeared normal in all control and treated groups after dosing. The MTD (maximum tolerated dose) of HeXell-2020 is determined to be 1.5 × 10⁷ cells/kg/dose for 11 doses.
In current in vivo studies, rodents were administered UC-MSCs, which effectively restored skeletal muscle function by modulating extracellular matrix composition, activating muscle satellite cells, promoting autophagy, and mitigating cellular senescence through down-regulation of intracellular senescence signaling pathways. These mechanisms led to improved muscle mass, strength, and physical performance, directly addressing core symptoms of frailty. MSCs were observed to promote angiogenesis and improve tissue perfusion by secreting angiogenic factors, thereby facilitating capillary network formation and accelerating tissue regeneration.
This is a Phase I, open-label, dose-escalation study designed to evaluate the safety and tolerability of HeXell-2020 in elderly subjects with mild to moderate FS. Subjects aged 60 to 85 years will be enrolled. Up to 12 subjects will be sequentially allocated, and the study will follow a standard "3+3" dose-escalation design to determine the Maximum Feasible Dose (MFD). This study is designed to evaluate the safety of human umbilical cord-derived mesenchymal stem cells (UC-MSCs) product HeXell-2020 intravenous infusion in frail adults prior to further clinical development.
1,284 studies on the registry are indexed under Frailty; 452 are open to participants now.
This study's planned enrollment of 12 is below the median of 81 across 767 interventional studies indexed under Frailty.
Browse Frailty studies →Hexun Biosciences Co., LTD. is the lead sponsor of 2 studies on the registry; 2 are open to participants now.
Counted across the registry records on this site, refreshed daily.
Go through the criteria one by one — yes, no or not sure — and take the list to your doctor or the study team. Kept in this browser only.
Subjects will be eligible for enrollment in the study only if they meet ALL the following criteria at time of Screening:
Exclusion Criteria:
Subjects meeting ANY of the following criteria at time of Screening will be excluded from enrollment:
Subjects who have a significant comorbid medical condition(s) including, but not limited to:
Subjects who have a significant illness as judged by principal investigator (PI) including, but not limited to:
Underlined terms in the criteria open these too. Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
Before you join, the study team explains what taking part involves — its purpose, what happens, the risks and possible benefits — and answers your questions, so you can decide freely. Consent is usually recorded on a form (the informed consent form, ICF) signed by you or, where the law allows, by someone legally authorised to decide for you.
You can keep asking questions during the study, you are told of new information that matters, and you can choose to leave at any time.
Short tests of memory and thinking, each scored out of 30. Lower scores suggest more difficulty; criteria give a range, either to include people with memory problems or to leave them out.
The New York Heart Association’s four classes of how much heart failure limits physical activity.
Studies set their own limit — many outside heart failure leave out class III–IV, while heart failure studies may ask for a particular class. Check the class this study names.
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: long-term lung disease that makes it hard to breathe out, including emphysema and chronic bronchitis.
Malignancy means cancer. Criteria about another or earlier malignancy ask whether you have had a different cancer, usually within a set number of years.
Some are commonly allowed, such as treated skin cancers other than melanoma and early cancers removed completely — check the exceptions this study lists.
A weakened immune system. It can come from an illness, such as HIV or some blood cancers, or from medicines that turn the immune system down, for example after an organ transplant or for an autoimmune disease; steroids at higher doses count.
Read whether the line is about a condition or about medicines, and which medicines and doses it means.
Anti-inflammatory medicines such as prednisone, prednisolone and dexamethasone — not the anabolic steroids used for muscle.
Studies differ in what they allow: check which steroid medicines, routes (tablets, injections, creams, inhalers, eye drops) and doses this study accepts.
A drug or device being studied in a clinical trial.
It may be new, or already approved and being studied for another use, dose or form. Criteria often leave out people who took part in another study of one within a recent period, commonly 30 days or five half-lives.
An allergy, or another reaction of the immune system, to a substance. “Hypersensitivity to the study drug” means a known allergic reaction to it — not every side effect a medicine can have.
The human immunodeficiency virus, which weakens the immune system.
Many studies now accept people whose HIV is controlled on treatment, judged by the viral load and the CD4 count. Check the limits this study sets.
Hepatitis B is a virus that infects the liver. These are separate tests: HBsAg positive usually means a current infection (a recent vaccination can briefly cause it too); total anti-HBc (HBcAb) positive means an infection now or in the past; HBV DNA measures how much virus is in the blood.
Some studies accept a past infection if HBV DNA is undetectable, sometimes with antiviral medicine during the study. Check what this study allows.
Hepatitis C is a virus that infects the liver. An HCV antibody test can stay positive after an infection has cleared (and is occasionally positive without one); an HCV RNA test shows whether the virus is there now.
After treatment, hepatitis C counts as cured when HCV RNA is still undetectable 12 weeks or more after the treatment ended. Studies often accept people cured this way.
Informed consent
Before you join, the study team explains what taking part involves — its purpose, what happens, the risks and possible benefits — and answers your questions, so you can decide freely. Consent is usually recorded on a form (the informed consent form, ICF) signed by you or, where the law allows, by someone legally authorised to decide for you.
You can keep asking questions during the study, you are told of new information that matters, and you can choose to leave at any time.
Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
MMSE and MoCA
Short tests of memory and thinking, each scored out of 30. Lower scores suggest more difficulty; criteria give a range, either to include people with memory problems or to leave them out.
Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
NYHA class (heart failure)
The New York Heart Association’s four classes of how much heart failure limits physical activity.
Studies set their own limit — many outside heart failure leave out class III–IV, while heart failure studies may ask for a particular class. Check the class this study names.
Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
COPD
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: long-term lung disease that makes it hard to breathe out, including emphysema and chronic bronchitis.
Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
Cancer (malignancy)
Malignancy means cancer. Criteria about another or earlier malignancy ask whether you have had a different cancer, usually within a set number of years.
Some are commonly allowed, such as treated skin cancers other than melanoma and early cancers removed completely — check the exceptions this study lists.
Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
Immunosuppression
A weakened immune system. It can come from an illness, such as HIV or some blood cancers, or from medicines that turn the immune system down, for example after an organ transplant or for an autoimmune disease; steroids at higher doses count.
Read whether the line is about a condition or about medicines, and which medicines and doses it means.
Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
Corticosteroids (steroids)
Anti-inflammatory medicines such as prednisone, prednisolone and dexamethasone — not the anabolic steroids used for muscle.
Studies differ in what they allow: check which steroid medicines, routes (tablets, injections, creams, inhalers, eye drops) and doses this study accepts.
Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
Investigational drug or device
A drug or device being studied in a clinical trial.
It may be new, or already approved and being studied for another use, dose or form. Criteria often leave out people who took part in another study of one within a recent period, commonly 30 days or five half-lives.
Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
Hypersensitivity
An allergy, or another reaction of the immune system, to a substance. “Hypersensitivity to the study drug” means a known allergic reaction to it — not every side effect a medicine can have.
Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
HIV
The human immunodeficiency virus, which weakens the immune system.
Many studies now accept people whose HIV is controlled on treatment, judged by the viral load and the CD4 count. Check the limits this study sets.
Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
Hepatitis B tests
Hepatitis B is a virus that infects the liver. These are separate tests: HBsAg positive usually means a current infection (a recent vaccination can briefly cause it too); total anti-HBc (HBcAb) positive means an infection now or in the past; HBV DNA measures how much virus is in the blood.
Some studies accept a past infection if HBV DNA is undetectable, sometimes with antiviral medicine during the study. Check what this study allows.
Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
Hepatitis C tests
Hepatitis C is a virus that infects the liver. An HCV antibody test can stay positive after an infection has cleared (and is occasionally positive without one); an HCV RNA test shows whether the virus is there now.
After treatment, hepatitis C counts as cured when HCV RNA is still undetectable 12 weeks or more after the treatment ended. Studies often accept people cured this way.
Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
Two cohort. Cohort 1: HeXell-2020 will be administered by intravenous once every two weeks, and a total of 3 doses. Cohort 2: HeXell-2020 will be administered by intravenous once every two weeks, and a total of 6 doses.
Drug: HeXell-2020
Cohort 1: 5 × 10⁷ cells per dose, administered via IV infusion every 2 weeks for a total of 3 doses Cohort 2 : 5 × 10⁷ cells per dose, administered via IV infusion every 2 weeks for a total of 6 doses
Maximum Feasible Dose (MFD) determination
MFD is determined on the occurrence of Dose Limiting Toxicities (DLTs) after IV administration in elderly subjects with mild to moderate FS. DLT is defined as any clinically significant adverse event (AE)/serious adverse event (SAE) or clinically significant laboratory abnormality which is classified as ≥ Grade 3 (according to the National Cancer Institute Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events \[CTCAE\] version 5.0), where applicable, is assessed as unrelated to disease progression, concurrent illness, or concomitant medications and occurring within 14 days after completion of the last study treatment .
Time frame: Within 14 days after completion of the last study treatment (day 28 for 3 doses treatment and day 70 for 6 doses treatment ) .
Incidence of Treatment-Emergent Adverse Events (TEAEs).
TEAE are defined as adverse events with onset date on or after the first treatment. TEAEs will be summarized by treatment group, System Organ Class, and preferred term. The following TEAE summaries will be provided: 1. Overall (i.e., regardless of severity or relationship to treatment) 2. Adverse events by severity 3. Related adverse events by severity 4. Adverse events leading to treatment discontinuation by severity 5. Adverse events leading to death by severity
Time frame: Within the first year after cell transplantation.
Incidence of withdrawals due to AEs
An adverse event (AE) is will be classified by system organ class (SOC) and preferred term (PT) according to the most recent version of MedDAR dictionary.
Time frame: Within the first year after cell transplantation.
Mean change from baseline in exercise performance as measured by change in the six-minute walk test (6MWT) total distance.
The six-minute walk test (6MWT) measures the total distance an individual is able to walk over a total of six minutes on a hard, flat surface. The goal is for the individual to walk as far as possible in six minutes. The individual is allowed to self-pace and rest as needed as they traverse back and forth along a marked walkway.
Time frame: Day 0 (baseline), Week 6, 12, 24, 36, 52
Mean change from baseline in hand grip strength as measured by change in maximum force using hand dynamometer.
Hand grip strength is a measure of the maximum static force that a hand can squeeze using a Baseline Hydraulic Hand Dynamometer.
Time frame: Day 0 (baseline), Week 6, 12, 24, 36, 52
Mean change from baseline in physical activity as measured by change in the Short Physical Performance Battery (SPPB) assessment total score.
The Short Physical Performance Battery (SPPB) Total Score is a measure of physical function. It is calculated by summing three measures of lower-extremity function: standing balance (side-by-side, semi-tandem, and tandem stance), 4-meter walking speed, and ability to rise from a chair. Each task is rated on a 0-4 scale, with increasing scores indicating better physical performance. The SPPB Total scores range from 0-12.
Time frame: Day 0 (baseline), Week 6, 12, 24, 36, 52
Mean change from baseline in Clinical Frailty Scale (CFS) score.
The Clinical Frailty Scale (CFS) is a common way to summarize the overall level of fitness or frailty of an elderly after they had been evaluated by an experienced clinician. CFS evaluates specific domains, including comorbidity, function, and cognition, to generate a frailty score ranging from 1 (very fit) to 9 (terminally ill). A higher score indicates a higher illness.
Time frame: Day 0 (baseline), Week 6, 12, 24, 36, 52
Mean change from baseline in quality of life as measured by change in the Falls Efficacy Scale- International (FES-I) questionnaire score.
The Falls Efficacy Scale- International (FES-I) is a 16-item questionnaire that assesses concern about falling during daily activities. Scores range from 16 (no concern) to 64 (severe concern). A lower score indicates a lower fear of falling.
Time frame: Day 0 (baseline), Week 6, 12, 24, 36, 52
Mean change from baseline in quality of life as measured by change in the Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS) Physical Function Short Form 20a score.
The Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS) Physical Function Short Form 20a assesses one's ability to carry out activities that require physical actions, ranging from self-care (activities of daily living) to more complex activities that require a combination of skills, often within a social context. Subjects will rank 20 questions from a scale of 1 to 5, with 5 being the highest physical function and 1 being the lowest. The score will be added up, and the Raw score will be converted to T-Score using the PROMIS Adult v2.0 Physical Function 20a Short Form Conversion Table.
Time frame: Day 0 (baseline), Week 6, 12, 24, 36, 52
Mean change from baseline in quality of life as measured by change in the 36-Item Short Form survey (SF-36) score.
The 36-Item Short Form Survey (SF-36) is a patient-reported generic measure of health status. It consists of 36 items covering both mental and physical domains. Items include limitations in physical activities because of health problems, limitations in social activities because of physical or emotional problems, limitations in usual role activities because of physical health problems, bodily pain, general mental health (psychological distress and well-being), limitations in usual role activities because of emotional problems, vitality (energy and fatigue), and general health perceptions.
Time frame: Day 0 (baseline), Week 6, 12, 24, 36, 52
No study locations are listed for this record.
Plan to share: No
No publications or documents are linked to this record.
From the registry record's own update history. This site started tracking changes on Sep 25, 2026; for anything earlier, see the record history on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗
This study is not yet recruiting, as verified in Sep 2026. You cannot join it, but the record below documents what was studied.
Get an email when the registry record changes — status, dates, results — or when someone posts here.
Sign in to followQuestions and observations about this study, from anyone following it. Not medical advice, and not a channel to the study team — their contact details are on the registry record.
Sign in to join the discussion. Reading takes no account; posting does. You choose a display name, and a pseudonym is the default.
Nothing here yet. If you are running this trial, taking part in it, or weighing whether to, this is the place to say so.
Hexun Biosciences Co., LTD.