Rheumatoid Arthritis: cell-therapy evidence by therapy class
Across every stem-cell intervention, ClinicalTrials.gov holds 44 registered records for Rheumatoid Arthritis — 8 recruiting, 2 at Phase 3 or 4, in 27 countries. Snapshot 2026-08-29.
The condition, and why cells are proposed
Rheumatoid arthritis is autoimmune synovial inflammation causing joint erosion. Mesenchymal cells are studied for immunomodulation, generally in disease refractory to conventional and biologic therapy. As with psoriasis, effective established treatments define the comparison — the question is not whether cells do something, but whether they beat what already works.
Therapy classes side by side
Counts come from separate registry queries per class; a study testing two interventions can appear in more than one row, so rows do not sum to the all-interventions total.
Geography of the research
United States accounts for about 41% of country mentions among sampled studies; 27 countries host at least one site.
| Country | Studies with a site there |
|---|---|
| United States | 16 |
| China | 6 |
| South Korea | 4 |
| Iran | 2 |
| Denmark | 2 |
| Germany | 2 |
| Poland | 2 |
| Spain | 2 |
The largest registered studies
Sorted by planned enrolment — size is not quality, but a 300-participant trial can answer questions a 12-participant series cannot.
| Study | Phase | Status | Planned n | Lead sponsor | Start |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| NCT02639936 — New Generation IGRA in Immunocompromised Individuals | n/a | Completed | 2,663 | Tuberculosis Network European Trialsgroup | 2015-12 |
| NCT02327884 — Characterization of Diseases With Salivary Gland Involvement | n/a | Recruiting | 1,150 | National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research (NIDC | 2015-04-03 |
| NCT04449224 — Comparative Effectiveness of Targeted Therapy in RA Patients | n/a | Unknown | 506 | Hanyang University | 2020-04-27 |
| NCT01978639 — Injections of FloGraft Therapy, Autologous Stem Cells, or Platelet Rich Plasma for the Treatment of Degenerative Joint Pain | n/a | Unknown | 300 | Arizona Pain Specialists | 2014-01 |
| NCT03798028 — The Safety and Effects of Mesenchymal Stem Cell (MSCs) in the Treatment of Rheumatoid Arthritis | n/a | Unknown | 250 | Xijing Hospital | 2017-12-26 |
| NCT01547091 — Safety and Efficacy Study of Umbilical Cord-Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells for Rheumatoid Arthritis | Phase 1, Phase 2 | Unknown | 200 | Alliancells Bioscience Corporation Limited | 2013-04 |
Most recently registered
| Study | Phase | Status | Planned n | Lead sponsor | Start |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| NCT03828344 — Safety and Tolerability of a Single Intravenous Infusion of BX-U001 in Refractory Rheumatoid Arthritis | n/a | Not Yet Recruiting | n/a | Baylx Inc. | 2026-12-01 |
| NCT07301164 — Clinical Study of BCT301 Cell Injection Therapy for Refractory Autoimmune Diseases | n/a | Not Yet Recruiting | n/a | Peking University Third Hospital | 2025-12-11 |
| NCT07290946 — Repeated Mesenchymal Stem Cell Therapy for Radiation-Induced Hyposalivation and Xerostomia in Head and Neck Cancer Survivors | n/a | Not Yet Recruiting | n/a | Christian von Buchwald | 2025-12 |
| NCT06947746 — HiSCs in the Treatment of Rheumatoid Arthritis | n/a | Recruiting | n/a | Shanghai Changzheng Hospital | 2025-05-01 |
| NCT06888973 — Mesenchymal Stem Cells Infusion in Patients With Autoimmune Diseases | n/a | Enrolling By Invitation | n/a | National Institute of Blood and Marrow Transplant (NIBMT), P | 2025-02-01 |
Reading this honestly
None of these numbers say the therapy works. They say how much organised research exists and how far along it is; effect sizes live in published results, not registry entries. For Rheumatoid Arthritis specifically, the practical question is which registered study — if any — matches the product a provider is offering, and what its outcome measures actually are.
Frequently asked
How many stem-cell trials exist for Rheumatoid Arthritis?
44 registered records mention a stem-cell intervention for this condition (2026-08-29 snapshot), of which 8 were recruiting.
Which therapy class is furthest along for Rheumatoid Arthritis?
Ranked by Phase 3/4 records: MSC (1), HSCT (1), PRP (1), exosomes (0).
Does a recruiting trial mean I can be treated?
No. Trials have eligibility criteria, and joining one is not the same as buying a treatment. Paying a clinic for an unproven intervention outside a registered study gives you neither the protections nor the data collection of a trial.
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.
Download the query data
Query totals are full API matches; status, phase and country counts describe the first up to 400 returned records per query. Query classes overlap and must not be summed as unique trials. Counts are not treatment outcomes. Snapshot: 2026-08-29. Methods and field definitions.