MSC-Exosome Therapy for Frontotemporal Dementia (NCT07638813) | Clinical Trial Compass
Not Yet RecruitingPhase 1/2
MSC-Exosome Therapy for Frontotemporal Dementia
33 participantsStarted 2026-07-01
Plain-language summary
This study is testing a new treatment for Frontotemporal Dementia (FTD) - a progressive brain disease that affects personality, behavior, and language. Currently, there is no cure for FTD and no approved medication that can slow down or stop the disease. Existing treatments only help manage some symptoms temporarily.
The investigational treatment in this study is made from exosomes - tiny particles naturally released by umbilical cord stem cells. Exosomes act like "message carriers" between cells. Researchers believe they may help protect brain cells, reduce harmful protein buildup, and improve brain function.
The exosomes will be given as a nasal spray (sprayed into the nose). This method may allow the treatment to reach the brain directly without needing to pass through the blood-brain barrier (a natural protective layer that often blocks medications from entering the brain).
Who can participate
Age range
30 Years – 80 Years
Sex
ALL
See this in plain English?
AI-rewrites the medical criteria so a patient or caregiver can understand them. Always confirm with the trial site.
Inclusion criteria
. Diagnosis of probable frontotemporal dementia (FTD), including behavioral variant (bvFTD), semantic variant primary progressive aphasia (svPPA), or non-fluent variant primary progressive aphasia (nfvPPA), according to established diagnostic criteria, with supportive neuroimaging evidence showing frontal and/or temporal lobe atrophy score of 2 or higher on brain CT or MRI.
. Age between 30 and 80 years (inclusive) at screening.
. Study partner who agrees to participate in the study, provides at least 3 hours of daily care or visits, and can manage all study medication.
. Frontotemporal Lobar Degeneration Clinical Dementia Rating (FTLD-CDR) score of 0-2 and Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) score greater than 10 at screening.
. Stable use of cognition- or behavior-related medications (e.g., cholinesterase inhibitors, memantine, antidepressants, antipsychotics, mood stabilizers, benzodiazepines) for at least 30 days before baseline.
Questions worth asking your doctor
Bring these to your next appointment. They're a starting point for a shared conversation — not a sign you qualify or a recommendation to enrol.
1Based on my diagnosis and history, is this trial worth exploring for me — or is there a standard treatment we should try first?
2What does this trial's phase tell us about how much is already known about its safety and benefit?
3What would taking part actually involve for me — visits, tests, time, and travel?
4What are the known and possible risks or side effects I should weigh, and how would they be monitored?
5If this trial isn't the right fit, what other options or trials would you suggest I look into?
Generated to help you prepare — always confirm anything about your own eligibility and care with the study team and your doctor.
Questions for the trial coordinator
The trial coordinator is the person who runs the study day to day. These cover the practical side — logistics, costs, and what taking part would actually mean for your life. The study team confirms whether you meet the criteria; these are questions to ask, not a sign you qualify.
1What does taking part actually involve week to week — how many visits, where, and how long does each one take?
2What costs are covered by the study, and what might I have to pay for myself, including travel, parking, or time off work?
3What happens during screening, and what happens if the study team confirms I don't meet the criteria after those tests?
4Who pays for the scans, blood work, and other tests the trial requires — the study, my insurance, or me?
5How will being in the trial affect my regular care, and will my own doctor stay informed and involved?
6Can I leave the trial at any point if I change my mind, and what would happen to my care if I do?
A starting point for the conversation — always confirm anything about your own eligibility, costs, and care with the study team and your doctor.
What they're measuring
1
Clinical Efficacy: Change in CDR plus NACC FTLD Score
Timeframe: Baseline and Week 24
2
Safety and Tolerability: Incidence of Adverse Events
Timeframe: Baseline through Week 24 (end of treatment)
. History of stroke or other neurological or psychiatric disorder (other than FTD) that is considered the primary cause of behavioral symptoms.
. Pregnancy or breastfeeding, or plan to become pregnant during the study period.
. Use of any investigational or experimental drug or device within 60 days or 5 half-lives (whichever is longer) prior to screening.
. Presence of speech or language impairment that severely affects the implementation of neuropsychological assessments or safety evaluations per the study protocol.
. History of cancer, unless: (a) considered cured; (b) not actively receiving anti-cancer therapy or radiation and the investigator judges that treatment is unlikely to be needed in the next 5 years; or (c) for prostate cancer or basal cell carcinoma, no significant progression in the past 2 years.
. Any clinically significant hematologic, endocrine, cardiovascular, renal, hepatic, gastrointestinal, or neurological disease that would interfere with study participation. Participants may be included if the condition has been stable for at least one year and the investigator judges that it does not affect participation.
. Known hypersensitivity to the study drug or any of its excipients.