MSC vs HSCT for Anemia: what the registries show
For Anemia, the registry holds 10 MSC records against 163 HSCT records. HSCT carries the larger research programme; neither column is a head-to-head efficacy result. Snapshot 2026-08-29.
Side by side
| Metric | MSC | HSCT |
|---|---|---|
| Registered studies | 10 | 163 |
| Recruiting now | 0 | 26 |
| Phase 3 or 4 records | 1 | 12 |
| Completed | 1 | 72 |
| Stopped early | 1 | 20 |
| Countries with sites | 3 | 13 |
| Median planned enrolment | 25 | 31 |
| First registration year | 2,010 | 1,993 |
The condition underneath the comparison
Under 'anaemia' the registry mostly holds aplastic anaemia and marrow-failure syndromes, where haematopoietic transplantation is not experimental at all — it is standard care with decades of protocol refinement. Mesenchymal cells appear alongside it as a graft-support and graft-versus-host-disease adjunct, which is a different and much less settled question.
MSC: what it is
Mesenchymal stromal cells are the workhorse of commercial cell therapy: easy to source from fat, cord or marrow, easy to expand, and rarely characterised in the same way twice. Their proposed action is paracrine — signalling molecules that damp inflammation — rather than replacement of lost tissue. That matters when reading counts like these, because two studies filed under the same label can test materially different products at different doses by different routes.
HSCT: what it is
Haematopoietic transplantation is the oldest and most consequential cell therapy in medicine, with conditioning regimens that carry real mortality risk alongside genuine disease-modifying power. Registrations under this label therefore mix decades-old standard-of-care protocols with newer autoimmune-reset trials, and the risk profile is nothing like that of an outpatient infusion.
Maturity difference
MSC has 1 Phase 3/4 records and 1 completed studies; HSCT has 12 and 72. Where both sit early on the ladder, the honest answer to "which works better" is that registrations cannot tell you.
Leading MSC studies
| Study | Phase | Status | Planned n | Lead sponsor | Start |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| NCT02218437 — Treatment Protocol of Child SAA With the Injection of Mesenchymal Stem Cells（Umbilical Cord Derived） | Phase 4 | Unknown | 20 | Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences | 2013-10 |
| NCT07299123 — Phase I Clinical Study of Haplo-HSCT Combined With Hypoxic 3D-Cultured Umbilical Cord MSC for the Treatment of SAA | Phase 1, Phase 2 | Enrolling By Invitation | 40 | Chinese PLA General Hospital | 2022-08-01 |
| NCT02407470 — Safety and Efficacy of Patient's Own AD-MSC and AD-HSC Transplantation in Patients With Severe Aplastic Anemia | Phase 1, Phase 2 | Unknown | 90 | Navy General Hospital, Beijing | 2015-01 |
| NCT02145923 — Effectiveness and Safety of MMSCs for Enhancing Hematopoietic Recovery and Prophylaxis of Neutropenic Enterocolitis | Phase 1, Phase 2 | Unknown | 16 | Burnasyan Federal Medical Biophysical Center | 2014-05 |
| NCT02247973 — Mesenchymal Stem Cells Co-transplantation in Alternative Donor Transplantation of Severe Aplastic Anemia. | Phase 2 | Unknown | 100 | Guangzhou General Hospital of Guangzhou Military Command | 2013-02 |
Leading HSCT studies
| Study | Phase | Status | Planned n | Lead sponsor | Start |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| NCT06646497 — Indication of HSCT in Patients With Refractory/Relapse AA After First-line Standard Immunosuppressive Therapy Aged More Than 40 Years | Phase 2 | Recruiting | 52 | Assistance Publique - Hôpitaux de Paris | 2025-01-24 |
| NCT06839456 — Phase 1/2: CD45RA Depleted Stem Cell Addback to Prevent Viral or Fungal Infections Post TCRab/CD19 Depleted HSCT | Phase 1, Phase 2 | Recruiting | 100 | Children's Hospital of Philadelphia | 2025-03-21 |
| NCT06430788 — A Study of Emapalumab for Pediatric Aplastic Anemia | Phase 2 | Recruiting | 35 | Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center | 2024-05-21 |
| NCT06378060 — Clinical Study on Modified Allogeneic Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation Regimen for Severe Aplastic Anemia | Phase 2 | Recruiting | 30 | Hematology department of the 920th hospital | 2024-03-01 |
| NCT06412497 — MT2023-20: Hematopoietic Cell Transplant With Reduced Intensity Conditioning and Post-transplant Cyclophosphamide for Severe Aplastic Anemia and Other | Phase 2 | Recruiting | 60 | Masonic Cancer Center, University of Minnesota | 2024-06-05 |
The honest comparison
Head-to-head trials putting these two approaches in the same protocol are rare or absent for most conditions. Comparing counts from separate registry queries shows where research effort went — driven by cost, regulation and sponsor interest as much as by biology. Anyone presenting one column of this table as proof of superiority is overreading it.
Frequently asked
Is MSC better than HSCT for Anemia?
The registries cannot answer that. They show research volume and maturity, not comparative effectiveness: 10 vs 163 registered records (2026-08-29).
Which has more late-stage research for Anemia?
MSC: 1 Phase 3/4 records. HSCT: 12.
Can a clinic offer both?
Some do, which is itself worth questioning — a provider offering every modality for every condition is describing a business model, not a treatment rationale.
Registry and literature counts retrieved 2026-08-29 (ClinicalTrials.gov API v2; PubMed E-utilities). Registration or publication volume measures research activity, not effectiveness or approval. Educational information — not medical advice; verify product, indication, legal pathway and evidence with an independent qualified physician. Page generated 2026-08-29. See our editorial standards.