MSC vs PRP for Erectile Dysfunction: what the registries show
For Erectile Dysfunction, the registry holds 23 MSC records against 22 PRP records. MSC carries the larger research programme; neither column is a head-to-head efficacy result. Snapshot 2026-08-29.
Side by side
| Metric | MSC | PRP |
|---|---|---|
| Registered studies | 23 | 22 |
| Recruiting now | 5 | 1 |
| Phase 3 or 4 records | 2 | 6 |
| Completed | 7 | 6 |
| Stopped early | 2 | 3 |
| Countries with sites | 10 | 11 |
| Median planned enrolment | 20 | 60 |
| First registration year | 2,013 | 2,019 |
The condition underneath the comparison
Erectile dysfunction is usually vascular and endothelial rather than structural, which is why regenerative approaches — cells, exosomes and shockwave adjuncts — target penile blood flow and nerve recovery. Post-prostatectomy nerve injury is a separate problem with a different time course, and the two are frequently blurred together in marketing.
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.
PRP: what it is
Platelet-rich plasma is a blood product, not a stem-cell product, though it is routinely sold as part of the same package. Preparation varies enormously between systems — platelet concentration, leukocyte content and activation all differ — so the label describes a category of procedure rather than a defined substance, which is the main reason its trial literature is so inconsistent.
Maturity difference
MSC has 2 Phase 3/4 records and 7 completed studies; PRP has 6 and 6. 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| NCT07480161 — Mesenchymal Stem Cell and Exosome Therapy for Diabetic Erectile Dysfunction | Phase 2, Phase 3 | Recruiting | 90 | Ankara City Hospital Bilkent | 2025-12-29 |
| NCT07048314 — Stem Cells for Erectile Dysfunction Post RALP | Phase 1, Phase 2 | Recruiting | 40 | The Methodist Hospital Research Institute | 2026-07-07 |
| NCT04684602 — Mesenchymal Stem Cells for the Treatment of Various Chronic and Acute Conditions | Phase 1, Phase 2 | Recruiting | 5,000 | Thomas Advanced Medical LLC | 2020-07-09 |
| NCT05147779 — Safety of Cultured Allogeneic Adult Umbilical Cord Stem Cells for Peyronie's Disease, ED, and Interstitial Cystitis | Phase 1 | Recruiting | 20 | The Foundation for Orthopaedics and Regenerative Medicine | 2021-09-12 |
| NCT07431008 — Safety Follow-up Study of Cellgram-ED in Post-Radical Prostatectomy Erectile Dysfunction | n/a | Recruiting | 32 | Pharmicell Co., Ltd. | 2024-12-26 |
Leading PRP studies
| Study | Phase | Status | Planned n | Lead sponsor | Start |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| NCT07124871 — PRP Exosomes Therapy for Erectile Dysfunction | Phase 2 | Recruiting | 30 | Institute for the Study of Urological Diseases, Greece | 2025-06-20 |
| NCT06942988 — Efficacy of Intracavernous Platelet-rich Plasma Injection in the Treatment of Erectile Dysfunction | Phase 3 | Active Not Recruiting | 34 | Bakirkoy Dr. Sadi Konuk Research and Training Hospital | 2023-12-29 |
| NCT07544537 — A Prospective Comparative Study of Autologous Bone Marrow-Derived and Adipose Tissue-Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells Versus Platelet-Rich Plasma and St | Phase 2 | Active Not Recruiting | 100 | National Scientific Medical Center, Kazakhstan | 2024-09-09 |
| NCT06433596 — Autologous PRP and Focal Shock Waves for Erectile Dysfunction | n/a | Active Not Recruiting | 116 | Elexial Research Limited | 2024-05-06 |
| NCT07602608 — Platelet-Rich Plasma With or Without Tadalafil for Erectile Dysfunction | Phase 4 | Completed | 160 | Benha University | 2025-04-15 |
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 PRP for Erectile Dysfunction?
The registries cannot answer that. They show research volume and maturity, not comparative effectiveness: 23 vs 22 registered records (2026-08-29).
Which has more late-stage research for Erectile Dysfunction?
MSC: 2 Phase 3/4 records. PRP: 6.
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.