What research stage is stem-cell therapy for Liver Cirrhosis at?
7 of 89 registered records carry a Phase 3 or Phase 4 label. The rest sit at earlier phases or carry no phase label at all. Snapshot 2026-08-29.
Phase distribution
| Phase label | Records | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Phase 1 | 49 | 40% |
| Phase 2 | 49 | 40% |
| Not applicable | 17 | 14% |
| Phase 3 | 6 | 5% |
| Early Phase 1 | 2 | 2% |
| Phase 4 | 1 | 1% |
What the phase mix means for Liver Cirrhosis
Liver cell studies include a meaningful number of later-phase attempts, reflecting quantifiable endpoints such as MELD change and decompensation events. The termination rate in this area is also informative — stopped trials are part of the evidence picture, not a footnote.
The later-phase studies themselves
| Study | Phase | Status | Planned n | Lead sponsor | Start |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| NCT05080465 — Long Term Follow up Mesenchymal Stem Cell Therapy for Patients Virus-related Liver Cirrhosis | Phase 3 | Completed | 700 | Ukraine Association of Biobank | 2018-12-02 |
| NCT04689152 — Clinical Trial to Evaluate the Efficacy and Safety of Cellgram-LC Administration in Patients With Alcoholic Cirrhosis | Phase 3 | Recruiting | 200 | Pharmicell Co., Ltd. | 2021-03-02 |
| NCT01491165 — Safety and Efficacy of Stem Cell Transplantation for Treatment of Liver Cirrhosis | Phase 2, Phase 3 | Unknown | 75 | General Hospital of Chinese Armed Police Forces | 2011-12 |
| NCT03109236 — Autologous Endothelial Progenitor Cell Therapy for Reversal of Liver Cirrhosis | Phase 3 | Unknown | 66 | National University Hospital, Singapore | 2017-08-24 |
| NCT01560845 — ABMSC Infusion Through Hepatic Artery in Portal Hypertension Surgery for the Treatment of Liver Cirrhosis | Phase 2, Phase 3 | Unknown | 50 | Wenzhou Medical University | 2010-06 |
| NCT01854125 — Autologous Mesenchymal Stem Cell Transplantation in Cirrhosis Patients With Refractory Ascites | Phase 3 | Unknown | 30 | Nanjing PLA General Hospital | 2013-05 |
How to read phase labels
The ladder runs from tolerability through signal-finding to a controlled, adequately powered test of benefit. Cell-therapy records frequently carry no phase at all, because observational designs and some tissue-based protocols sit outside the drug framework entirely. Read that as a classification gap, not a verdict.
Median planned enrolment across sampled studies here is 30 participants. Small single-arm studies can flag safety problems; they cannot separate a treatment effect from natural fluctuation, placebo response or regression to the mean.
The largest studies by planned enrolment
Size is a crude proxy for what a study can detect, but it separates a serious attempt from a case series presented as evidence.
| Study | Phase | Status | Planned n | Lead sponsor | Start |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| NCT05080465 — Long Term Follow up Mesenchymal Stem Cell Therapy for Patients Virus-related Liver Cirrhosis | Phase 3 | Completed | 700 | Ukraine Association of Biobank | 2018-12-02 |
| NCT07028112 — Impact of Iron Overload on the Incidence of Liver Complications in Long-Term Survivors (≥10 Years) of Allogeneic Hematopoietic Stem-Cell Transplantati | n/a | Recruiting | 500 | Assistance Publique - Hôpitaux de Paris | 2025-08-20 |
| NCT01573923 — Safety and Efficacy Study of Umbilical Mesenchymal Stem Cells for Liver Cirrhosis | Phase 1, Phase 2 | Unknown | 320 | Alliancells Bioscience Corporation Limited | 2014-07 |
| NCT01756794 — Validation of the Procedure of Early Liver Transplantation in Alcoholic Hepatitis Resisting to Medical Treatment | n/a | Completed | 284 | University Hospital, Lille | 2012-12-05 |
| NCT01220492 — Umbilical Cord Mesenchymal Stem Cells for Patients With Liver Cirrhosis | Phase 1, Phase 2 | Completed | 266 | Beijing 302 Hospital | 2009-05 |
Frequently asked
What research stage is stem-cell therapy for Liver Cirrhosis at?
7 of 89 records are labelled Phase 3 or 4 (2026-08-29).
Is a Phase 3 trial proof that it works?
No — it is a design capable of testing that question. Proof depends on the reported result, replication, and whether the outcome measured matters to patients.
Why do so many records have no phase?
Observational studies and some cell-therapy protocols are registered without a phase label. It is a registry field, not a quality rating.
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.
More on this condition
- Liver Cirrhosis: cell-therapy evidence and registered trials
- How much does stem cell therapy for Liver Cirrhosis cost? (2026)
- Liver Cirrhosis stem cell therapy — your questions answered (2026)
- Liver Cirrhosis: cell-therapy evidence by therapy class
- MSC vs HSCT for Liver Cirrhosis: what the registries show