MSC vs PRP for Peripheral Neuropathy: what the registries show
For Peripheral Neuropathy, the registry holds 18 MSC records against 24 PRP records. PRP 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 | 18 | 24 |
| Recruiting now | 5 | 1 |
| Phase 3 or 4 records | 0 | 4 |
| Completed | 5 | 13 |
| Stopped early | 0 | 1 |
| Countries with sites | 6 | 5 |
| Median planned enrolment | 30 | 60 |
| First registration year | 2,005 | 2,012 |
The condition underneath the comparison
Peripheral neuropathy covers diabetic, chemotherapy-induced and idiopathic nerve damage with very different prognoses. Cell rationales target microvascular support and nerve regeneration, and unlike the central nervous system, peripheral nerves do regenerate — slowly, and only if the underlying cause is controlled.
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 0 Phase 3/4 records and 5 completed studies; PRP has 4 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| NCT07183761 — A Randomized Controlled Trial on the Efficacy and Safety of Umbilical Cord Mesenchymal Stem Cell Therapy in Subjects With Moderate to Severe Diabetic | Phase 2 | Recruiting | 140 | Min Long | 2025-10-01 |
| NCT06328712 — Evaluate the Safety and Efficacy of EN001 in Patients With Charcot-Marie-Tooth Disease Type 1A(CMT1A) (Phase 1b: Open-label, Dose-escalation, Single-c | Phase 1, Phase 2 | Recruiting | 27 | ENCell | 2024-05-30 |
| 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 |
| NCT05152368 — Safety of Cultured Allogeneic Adult Umbilical Cord Stem Cells Exosomes for Trigeminal Neuralgia | Phase 1 | Recruiting | 20 | The Foundation for Orthopaedics and Regenerative Medicine | 2022-09-09 |
| NCT07723313 — Effectiveness of Amniotic Membrane Combined With Secretome as an Adjunct to Carpal Tunnel Release Surgery: Evaluation Using the Boston Carpal Tunnel Q | Early Phase 1 | Recruiting | 30 | PT. Prodia Stem Cell Indonesia | 2025-12-15 |
Leading PRP studies
| Study | Phase | Status | Planned n | Lead sponsor | Start |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| NCT07565844 — Intradermal Exosomes, Platelet-Rich Plasma, and Steroids for Post-Herpetic Neuralgia | n/a | Recruiting | 45 | Zagazig University | 2025-02-02 |
| NCT06249503 — Ultrasound Guided Activated and Non Activated Platelet Rich Plasma Injection Versus Hydro Dissection by Steroids. | Phase 4 | Completed | 90 | Ain Shams University | 2023-02-01 |
| NCT06209957 — Study of Single Platelet-Rich Plasma Local Injection Vs. Single Corticosteroid Local Injection in Carpal Tunnel Syndrome | Phase 4 | Completed | 40 | Menoufia University | 2017-06-01 |
| NCT04434105 — Ultrasound-guided PRP Versus Steroid Injections in Management of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome | Phase 2, Phase 3 | Unknown | 90 | Tanta University | 2020-02-01 |
| NCT04000932 — Platelet Rich Plasma in Carpal Tunnel Syndrome | Phase 3 | Unknown | 84 | Baskent University | 2018-07-15 |
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 Peripheral Neuropathy?
The registries cannot answer that. They show research volume and maturity, not comparative effectiveness: 18 vs 24 registered records (2026-08-29).
Which has more late-stage research for Peripheral Neuropathy?
MSC: 0 Phase 3/4 records. PRP: 4.
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.