MSC vs HSCT for Multiple Sclerosis: what the registries show
For Multiple Sclerosis, the registry holds 37 MSC records against 38 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 | 37 | 38 |
| Recruiting now | 3 | 6 |
| Phase 3 or 4 records | 0 | 3 |
| Completed | 22 | 13 |
| Stopped early | 5 | 9 |
| Countries with sites | 19 | 15 |
| Median planned enrolment | 21 | 24 |
| First registration year | 2,006 | 1,997 |
The condition underneath the comparison
MS is immune-mediated demyelination with axonal loss. It holds an unusual position in this field: autologous haematopoietic transplantation has controlled evidence in aggressive relapsing disease and is offered in national health systems in several countries, while mesenchymal infusions marketed to MS patients have a much weaker base. The gap between those two is the single most important distinction in this indication.
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 0 Phase 3/4 records and 22 completed studies; HSCT has 3 and 13. 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| NCT05532943 — Evaluate the Safety and Efficacy of Allogeneic Umbilical Cord Mesenchymal Stem Cells in Patients With Multiple Sclerosis | Phase 1, Phase 2 | Recruiting | 41 | Ever Supreme Bio Technology Co., Ltd. | 2023-09-08 |
| NCT05003388 — Safety of Cultured Allogeneic Adult Umbilical Cord Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cell Intravenous Infusion for MS | Phase 1 | Recruiting | 15 | The Foundation for Orthopaedics and Regenerative Medicine | 2021-06-26 |
| NCT06551649 — Human Amniotic Mesenchymal Cell Secretome for Neurodegeneration and Neuroinflammation | n/a | Recruiting | 60 | Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Agostino Gemelli IRCCS | 2025-01-17 |
| NCT04749667 — Study of Mesenchymal Autologous Stem Cells as Regenerative Treatment for Multiple Sclerosis | Phase 1, Phase 2 | Active Not Recruiting | 18 | Haukeland University Hospital | 2021-08-09 |
| NCT04956744 — A Study to Evaluate the Safety, Tolerability, and Exploratory Efficacy of IMS001 in Subjects With Multiple Sclerosis | Phase 1 | Active Not Recruiting | 30 | ImStem Biotechnology | 2021-08-31 |
Leading HSCT studies
| Study | Phase | Status | Planned n | Lead sponsor | Start |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| NCT04047628 — Best Available Therapy Versus Autologous Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplant for Multiple Sclerosis (BEAT-MS) | Phase 3 | Recruiting | 156 | National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID | 2019-12-19 |
| NCT05832515 — AHSCT With Fludarabine and Cyclophosphamide Based Conditioning Regimes in Patients With Multiple Sclerosis | Phase 1 | Recruiting | 200 | St. Petersburg State Pavlov Medical University | 2020-10-01 |
| NCT07635693 — ATLG Levels in Autologous HSCT for Multiple Sclerosis | n/a | Recruiting | 20 | Ciceri Fabio | 2026-05-04 |
| NCT06567197 — Multiple Sclerosis Treatment With Autologous Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation in the Netherlands | n/a | Recruiting | 24 | Amsterdam UMC, location VUmc | 2023-08-25 |
| NCT06218927 — The Effect of Autologous Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation on the Lower Urinary Tract Function Related to QoL in MS Patients | n/a | Recruiting | 40 | University Hospital Ostrava | 2023-11-01 |
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 Multiple Sclerosis?
The registries cannot answer that. They show research volume and maturity, not comparative effectiveness: 37 vs 38 registered records (2026-08-29).
Which has more late-stage research for Multiple Sclerosis?
MSC: 0 Phase 3/4 records. HSCT: 3.
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.