Official Title
Efficacy and Safety of EXOSOME-MSC (Mesenchymal Stem Cell-Derived Exosomes) Therapy to Reduce Hyper-inflammation In Moderate COVID-19 (2019- New Corona Virus Disease) Patients
Brief Summary

In COVID-19 infection caused by the Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2(SARS-CoV-2), there is a dysregulation of the immune system response that causes cytokinestorm syndrome. SARS-CoV-2 works like a hijacker (hackers), sabotaging communicationbetween cells so that the immune system, like T-cells, kills not only infected cells butalso healthy cells. This dysregulation results in hyper-inflammation which cause damageto organs, not just the lungs. This is the cause of the high mortality rate in COVID-19patients.Exosomes are vesicles with a size of 30-100 nanometers originating from within cells thatfunction to communicate with other cells. Exosomes are transport containers that containbioactive cargo: such as proteins, genetic material, and various other molecules. Thesecontainers move from cells of origin, flowing through blood vessels or other body fluidsto target cells. Exosomes penetrate the cell membrane and act on various organelleswithin the target cell.All cell types can produce exosomes. What differentiates them is the cargo they contain.The exosome produced by mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) contains bioactive cargo derivedfrom mesenchymal stem cells, such as anti-inflammatory cytokines, growth factors,messengerRNA (mRNA) and microRNA (miRNA). The target cells are immune system cells,infected cells and progenitor cells from infected organs. On target immune cells, theanti-inflammatory cytokines work as immunomodulators to relieve hyper-inflammation. Ininfected cells, the miRNAs work to prevent viral replication by inhibiting the expressionof SARS-CoV-2 virus RNA (viral mRNA silencing and degrading). In lung progenitor cellsand other infected organs, the growth factors work to stimulate protein synthesisprocesses that function for organ regeneration.This study is a multi-center, double-blind, randomized controlled trial (RCT) clinicaltrial with two arms: one intervention arm, and one control arm. The EXOSOME-MSC will betested as adjuvant, on top of standard COVID-19 drugs. It will be injected toparticipants via intravenous route twice, in day-1 and day-7 of 14 days of studyparticipation.

Detailed Description

The current study is a multi-center, double arm, adjuvant, randomized control trial
(RCT), double-blind clinical trial, to analyze the differences in the usefulness and
safety of Exosome-MSC intravenous injection therapy in moderate-grade COVID-19 patients
with hyper-inflammation (Evans S.R, 2010).

This study used 2 groups (double arm) of study participants:

Treatment Group (Intervention Arm): received treatment in the form of standard therapy
and injection of Exosomes-MSC.

Control Group (Control Arm): received treatment in the form of standard therapy and
injection placebo.

The time interval for the implementation of the study protocol was 14 days. For each
group (Treatment and Control) the minimum target number of participating patients and
according to the inclusion criteria in this study were 30 people. The minimum total
number of participants with 2 groups (Treatment and Control) is 60 people. (Rohrig B.,
2010)

Random sample selection was carried out nationally from patients who entered the
treatment room with a positive diagnosis of COVID-19 at the three Multi-Center Research
Implementation Hospitals (RSPAD Gatot Soebroto Jakarta, RSUP Dr. Sardjito Yogyakarta and
RSUP M. Djamil Padang) in the period 3 months after the issuance of Ethical Clearance and
Approval for Implementation of Clinical Trials from BPOM.

The sample size is calculated using the following formula:

n1 = n2 = 2(Za+Z1-β)^2/ Δ^2

n1: the number of participants in the Exosome-MSC group n2: the number of participants in
the control group Zα: standard deviation of type I error, 95% confidence interval (1.96)
Zβ: standard deviation of type II error, power 80% (0.84) SD: standard deviation of
duration of recovery on standard therapy (5.90). (Voinsky I, 2020)

Minimum expected difference in duration of healing (in days) when using Exosome-MSC
compared to standard therapy (5) From the above calculation, the results of the
calculation are N1 = N2 = 21.83 with rounding up each = 22 participants . To anticipate
the adequacy of the number of participants , each group was added 8 participants , 30
participants each in the Exosome-MSC group and the control group so that the total number
of participants was 60 participants.

Participants can be discontinued before the study is completed (drop-out) if they
experience significant side effects and/or adverse events, both treatment related and non
treatment related. Participants can also be discontinued before the study is completed
(drop-out) if it worsens to a severe degree. All Participants will be discontinued from
the study when the treatment and examination are completed according to the procedure.

Randomization of patients into the intervention group or control group was made for each
study site through the block 4 randomization technique. This process will be coordinated
by the Team who will carry out the Research Management/CRO function.

The double-blind procedure is a procedure to avoid bias of researchers and research
participants that will affect the results of data analysis. To apply this procedure, the
Exosome-MSC test material specimen in the Treatment Group was dissolved in 0.9% Nacl. The
dosage form will be disguised so that it is similar to Nacl 0.9% in the Control Group.
Research participants and local researchers implementing in hospitals do not have
knowledge about the status of the research group (arm). During the study, patients
continued to take their usual routine medications, such as antihypertensive drugs,
antidiabetic drugs, calcium, or folic acid. The treatment will be included as a
confounding factor.

Research participants will be monitored closely. CLINICAL examinations are carried out
EVERY DAY, starting from the baseline (day 0) to day 14.

The clinical examination consists of:

1. body temperature,

2. oxygen saturation,

3. respiratory rate,

4. breath difficulties,

5. cough with phlegm,

6. RT-PCR results

7. standard therapy.received

8. allergic reactions,

9. secondary infection

10. side effects/ adverse events (AE) that are life threatening.

11. Remission score assessment based on 8 ordinal scales to determine Time to Clinical
Improvement (TTCI).

TTCI is the number of days until clinical improvement can be observed, as indicated by a
score of 1-3 out of 8 ordinal scales.

Laboratory examinations will be carried out on days 0, 1, 3, 7, 10 and 14 (unless they
have been discharged/recovered first) . On days 0 and 7 when the Exosomes-MSC injection
therapy is administered, laboratory examinations were performed before therapy.

Laboratory examinations consist of:

1. C-Reactive Protein,

2. ferritin,

3. D-Dimer,

4. LDH

5. Fibrinogen,

6. Routine blood, type count (including lymphocyte count)

7. PT and APTT

8. SGOT/SGPT,

9. urea/creatinine,

10. electrolyte K/Na/Cl,

Measures of intervention outcomes must be documented in a standardized Case Report Form
(CRF) for each patient participating in the study.

Adverse Events are any events, whether predicted or not, which can be related to the test
material or not, this includes worsening of the clinical condition previously owned by
the participant.

Serious Adverse Events (SAE), include

1. Dead

2. Life threatening Inpatient / Participant requires treatment as an inpatient

3. Additional length of stay *

4. Permanent / significant disability

5. Congenital abnormalities

Additional length of stay, defined as length of stay at any time. Hospitalization due to
routine administration of standard therapy is not included in this definition. If the
participant experiences an adverse event during the hospitalization period, the condition
must be reported as an adverse event.

All adverse events identified from the start of the study (day 0) to day 14 will be
recorded in the adverse event form in the case report form (CRF).

In the event of a Serious Adverse Events (SAE), researchers at the research site must
report it to Dermama Biotechnology Laboratorium within 24 hours after it is known as the
initial report, the report is addressed to: Dr. dr. Indah Hidajati Kampono, Sp.DV(K)
Dermama Biotechnology Laboratory Jl. Kelengkeng No. 8 Surakarta Phone/Fax Number:
0271-727007 E-mail: Indahhidajati01@gmail.com Telephone/Mobile Number: +62 811-2632-086

Written reports of serious adverse events must be sent to the Ethics Committee within 3
calendar days and to Indonesian National Agency of Food and Drugs Control (BPOM) within 7
calendar days for SAE that are fatal or life threatening, and within 15 calendar days for
other SAE according to BPOM Regulation No. 21/201514.

Unknown status
SARS-CoV2 Infection

Drug: Exosome-MSC Intravenous injection

Intravenous injection of Exosome-MSC
Other Name: Dermama Exosome-MSC

Drug: Placebo Intravenous Injection

Intravenous injection of Placebo
Other Name: Placebo

Drug: COVID-19 Standard Treatment

Specific drugs considered standard treatment for COVID-10 by each location may vary
Other Name: Drugs accepted as cures for COVID-19

Eligibility Criteria

Inclusion Criteria:

1. Diagnosed with COVID-19 pneumonia confirmed by RT-PCR examination. Samples were
obtained from nasopharyngeal swabs in patients with moderate

2. There is evidence of changes in chest X-ray with a picture of COVID-19 pneumonia
and/or CT-Scan of the thorax with a ground glass opacity picture

3. Willing to participate in the study and sign the informed consent by the subject or
family members.

Exclusion Criteria:

1. Diagnosed with mild COVID-19 pneumonia

2. Pregnant woman or positive pregnancy test

3. The subject is participating in another clinical trial.

4. Have a history of anaphylactic reactions, angioedema, or allergic reactions to
antibiotics (penicillin and its derivatives) or other drugs.

5. Have an autoimmune disease

6. Have a history of malignancy

7. Undergoing hemodialysis or peritoneal dialysis

8. Recuring COVID-19 sufferers

Eligibility Gender
All
Eligibility Age
Minimum: 18 Years ~ Maximum: 75 Years
Countries
Indonesia
Locations

RSPAD Gatot Soebroto
Jakarta, DKI Jakarta, Indonesia

RSUP Dr. M. Jamil
Padang, West Sumatra, Indonesia

RSUP Dr. Sardjito
Yogyakarta, Indonesia

Contacts

Bambang H Darwono, Dr.Sp.OT
+62 811-1180-21
bdarwono@hotmail.com

Indah H Kampono, Dr. Sp.DV
+62 811-2632-086
indahhidajati01@gmail.com

Kementerian Riset dan Teknologi / Badan Riset dan Inovasi Nasional, Indonesia
NCT Number
Keywords
Mesenchymal Stemcells - derived Exosomes
SARS-CoV-2, COVID-19
hyper-inflammation
Cytokine storm
MeSH Terms
COVID-19
Inflammation