Xintela AB (publ) is conducting a first-in-human study (Phase I/IIa) for the treatment of knee osteoarthritis in Australia where three different dose levels of the stem cell product XSTEM®? are being tested. The primary goal of the study is to show that XSTEM is safe but also to investigate preliminary efficacy signals.

The treatment of 16 patients on the first and second dose levels with XSTEM has been assessed as safe at a one-month follow-up by the Safety Review Committee. The first efficacy results from the lowest dose show that patients experience reduced pain and improved joint function in the knee six months after the injection of XSTEM. XSTEM, which consists of allogeneic (donated) integrin a10b1-selected mesenchymal stem cells, is developed and produced by Xintela.

Patients with moderate knee osteoarthritis (grades II-III) receive one injection of XSTEM into the knee joint. Three different dose levels are being evaluated in a total of 24 patients with the possibility to increase the number up to 54 patients. The first two dose levels have been considered safe and 6 out of 8 patients have been dosed at the third and final dose level.

Xintela has now started to evaluate the first efficacy results for patients at the lowest dose level and can see an early trend showing that patients experience reduced pain and improve joint function in the knee six years after the injection with XSTEM. Each patient will be followed for 18 months with efficacy readings every six months. The primary goal is to show that X STEM is safe, but also to investigate preliminary efficacy signal, such as reduced pain, reduced degradation of articular cartilage, regeneration of damaged cartilage and improved joint function.

Safety data from all dose levels and up to 12 months efficacy data from the lowest dose level are expected in 2023.