Cs4 for Pneumoconiosis Rehabilitation

November 6, 2026 updated by: Tung Leong FONG

Efficacy and Safety of Cordyceps Sinensis Mycelium Culture Extract (Cs4) Supplementation in Pneumoconiosis Rehabilitation: a Randomized, Controlled Trial

This clinical trial will test whether a Cordyceps supplement improves lung function. The supplement is called Cordyceps sinensis mycelium Culture extract (Cs4). The study will include adults with pneumoconiosis, a lung disease caused by breathing in mineral dust. Researchers will also assess Cs4 safety.

The main questions are: (1) does Cs4 improve lung function compared with a placebo? (2) what health problems occur while participants take Cs4?

The study will include 84 adults aged 18 to 75 years. Their breathing condition must have been stable for at least three months. The study will take place at the School of Chinese Medicine, The University of Hong Kong.

Researchers will compare Cs4 with a placebo, a look-alike capsule containing no Cs4. Chance will determine which capsules each participant receives. Each participant has an equal chance of joining either group. Participants and researchers who assess them will not know which capsules participants receive.

Participants will: (1) take two capsules of Cs4 or placebo twice daily for 24 weeks; (2) record the capsules they take each day and return unused capsules at study visits; (3) attend clinic visits for breathing tests, a walking test, and blood tests; (4)answer questions about their breathing symptoms and daily life. (5) continue follow-up visits for 12 weeks after finishing the capsules.

Study Overview

Status

Status

Indicates the current recruitment status or the expanded access status.
Not yet recruiting

Conditions

Conditions

The disease, disorder, syndrome, illness, or injury that is being studied. On ClinicalTrials.gov, conditions may also include other health-related issues, such as lifespan, quality of life, and health risks.

Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.

Study Type

Study Type

Describes the nature of a clinical study. Study types include interventional studies (also called clinical trials), observational studies (including patient registries), and expanded access.
Interventional

Enrollment (Estimated)

Enrollment

The number of participants in a clinical study. The "anticipated" enrollment is the target number of participants that the researchers need for the study.
84

Phase

Phase

The stage of a clinical trial studying a drug or biological product, based on definitions developed by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The phase is based on the study's objective, the number of participants, and other characteristics. There are five phases: Early Phase 1 (formerly listed as Phase 0), Phase 1, Phase 2, Phase 3, and Phase 4. Not Applicable is used to describe trials without FDA-defined phases, including trials of devices or behavioral interventions.
  • Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Contact

Study Contact

The name and contact information for the person who can answer enrollment questions for a clinical study. Each location where the study is being conducted may also have a specific contact, who may be better able to answer those questions.

Study Contact Backup

  • Name: Yunqing Xun
  • Phone Number: +852 5229 5427

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

The key requirements that people who want to participate in a clinical study must meet or the characteristics they must have. Eligibility criteria consist of both inclusion criteria (which are required for a person to participate in the study) and exclusion criteria (which prevent a person from participating). Types of eligibility criteria include whether a study accepts healthy volunteers, has age or age group requirements, or is limited by sex.

Ages Eligible for Study

18 years to 75 years (Adult, Older Adult)

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Genders Eligible for Study

All

Description

Inclusion Criteria: (1) adults aged 18-75 years; (2) diagnosed with pneumoconiosis based on clinical and radiological criteria, including chest X-ray/computed tomography and International Labour Organization (ILO) classification; (3)stable respiratory condition for at least 3 months before enrollment, with no acute exacerbations, hospitalizations, or changes in respiratory medication; (4)able to provide written informed consent.

Exclusion Criteria:

(1) history of chronic respiratory diseases other than pneumoconiosis that may confound FEV1/FVC assessment, such as asthma, bronchiectasis, or interstitial lung disease of other etiologies; (2) known allergy to Cordyceps sinensis or any component of the study supplement; (3) pregnancy or breastfeeding; (4)severe comorbid conditions that could interfere with participation, such as active cancer, decompensated heart failure classified as New York Heart Association (NYHA) Class III-IV, or uncontrolled psychiatric illness; (5) cognitive impairment affecting decision-making capacity.

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

  • Primary Purpose: Supportive Care
  • Allocation: Randomized
  • Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
  • Masking: Triple

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm

Participant Group / Arm

A group or subgroup of participants in a clinical trial that receives a specific intervention/treatment, or no intervention, according to the trial's protocol.
Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.
Experimental: Cs4 supplementation

Participants will receive Cordyceps sinensis mycelium culture extract (Cs4) orally at 1.6 g per day, administered as two 0.4 g capsules twice daily for 24 weeks, followed by 12 weeks of follow-up.
Dietary supplement: Cordyceps sinensis mycelium culture extract (Cs4)

Cordyceps sinensis Mycelium Culture Extract (Cs4) is a fermented mycelial preparation of Cordyceps sinensis, a fungus used in Traditional Chinese Medicine. It is produced by cultivating and fermenting the mycelium, the vegetative part of the fungus. In this trial, Cs4 is used as a dietary supplement to investigate its effects on lung function and rehabilitation outcomes in adults with pneumoconiosis.
Placebo Comparator: Matching placebo

Participants will receive matching placebo orally, administered as two capsules twice daily for 24 weeks, followed by 12 weeks of follow-up. Placebo capsules will contain starch, sucrose, and food-grade colorants and will match Cs4 capsules in size, color, weight, smell, and packaging.
Other: Matching Placebo (B)

Matching placebo capsules containing starch, sucrose, and food-grade colorants, with no Cs4 extract. The placebo capsules will match the Cs4 capsules in size, color, weight, and smell and will be supplied in identical blister packs to maintain blinding. Participants will take two capsules orally twice daily for 24 weeks.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Primary Outcome Measures

In a clinical study's protocol, the planned outcome measure that is the most important for evaluating the effect of an intervention/treatment. Most clinical studies have one primary outcome measure, but some have more than one.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Forced Expiratory Volume in One Second/ Forced Vital Capacity (FEV1/FVC) ratio
Time Frame: from baseline to week 24

Forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1) and forced vital capacity (FVC) will be measured by trained, blinded assessors using standardized spirometry according to American Thoracic Society/European Respiratory Society standards.
from baseline to week 24

Secondary Outcome Measures

Secondary Outcome Measures

In a clinical study's protocol, a planned outcome measure that is not as important as the primary outcome measure for evaluating the effect of an intervention but is still of interest. Most clinical studies have more than one secondary outcome measure.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Forced Expiratory Volume in One Second (FEV1)
Time Frame: Baseline, week 12, week 24, and week 36

Change from baseline in FEV1, measured in liters by spirometry according to American Thoracic Society/European Respiratory Society standards.
Baseline, week 12, week 24, and week 36
Forced Vital Capacity (FVC)
Time Frame: Baseline, week 12, week 24, and week 36

Change from baseline in FVC, measured in liters by spirometry according to American Thoracic Society/European Respiratory Society standards.
Baseline, week 12, week 24, and week 36
Six-Minute Walk Distance (6MWD)
Time Frame: Baseline, week 12, week 24, and week 36

Change from baseline in the total distance walked during the six-minute walk test, measured in meters. A longer distance indicates greater functional exercise capacity.
Baseline, week 12, week 24, and week 36
St. George's Respiratory Questionnaire (SGRQ) Total Score
Time Frame: Baseline, week 12, week 24, and week 36

Change from baseline in SGRQ total score, assessing overall impairment in respiratory health status. Scores range from 0 to 100, with higher scores indicating worse health status.
Baseline, week 12, week 24, and week 36
Modified Medical Research Council (mMRC) Dyspnea Scale Score
Time Frame: Baseline, week 12, week 24, and week 36

Change from baseline in mMRC Dyspnea Scale score, assessing limitations in daily activities caused by breathlessness. Scores range from 0 to 4, with higher scores indicating greater limitation.
Baseline, week 12, week 24, and week 36
Leicester Cough Questionnaire (LCQ) Total Score
Time Frame: Baseline, week 12, week 24, and week 36

Change from baseline in LCQ total score, assessing cough-related quality of life using 19 items across physical, psychological, and social domains. The total score ranges from 3 to 21, with higher scores indicating better quality of life.
Baseline, week 12, week 24, and week 36

Other Outcome Measures

Other Outcome Measures

For clinical trials, a planned measurement described in the protocol that is used to determine the effect of an intervention/treatment on participants. For observational studies, a measurement or observation that is used to describe patterns of diseases or traits, or associations with exposures, risk factors, or treatment. Types of outcome measures include primary outcome measure and secondary outcome measure.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
High-Sensitivity C-Reactive Protein (hs-CRP) Level
Time Frame: Baseline, week 24, and week 36

Change from baseline in blood high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) concentration, measured using an immunoturbidimetric assay. Change will be calculated separately at week 24 and week 36 by subtracting the baseline concentration from the concentration at each follow-up visit.
Baseline, week 24, and week 36
Interleukin-6 (IL-6) Level
Time Frame: Baseline, week 24, and week 36

Change from baseline in blood IL-6 concentration, measured using a high-sensitivity enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Change will be calculated separately at week 24 and week 36 by subtracting the baseline concentration from the concentration at each follow-up visit.
Baseline, week 24, and week 36
Malondialdehyde (MDA) Level
Time Frame: Baseline, week 24, and week 36

Change from baseline in blood MDA level, assessed using a thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) assay. Change will be calculated separately at week 24 and week 36 by subtracting the baseline value from the value at each follow-up visit.
Baseline, week 24, and week 36
Superoxide Dismutase (SOD) Activity
Time Frame: Baseline, week 24, and week 36

Change from baseline in blood SOD activity, measured using a colorimetric assay based on nitroblue tetrazolium reduction. Change will be calculated separately at week 24 and week 36 by subtracting the baseline activity from the activity at each follow-up visit.
Baseline, week 24, and week 36
Glutathione Peroxidase (GPx) Activity
Time Frame: Baseline, week 24, and week 36

Change from baseline in blood GPx activity, measured using a coupled enzyme assay based on nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH) oxidation. Change will be calculated separately at week 24 and week 36 by subtracting the baseline activity from the activity at each follow-up visit.
Baseline, week 24, and week 36

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

Sponsor

The organization or person who initiates the study and who has authority and control over the study.
Tung Leong FONG

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start (Estimated)

Study Start

The actual date on which the first participant was enrolled in a clinical study. The "anticipated" study start date is the date that the researchers think will be the study start date.
December 2, 2026

Primary Completion (Estimated)

Primary Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention to collect final data for the primary outcome measure. Whether the clinical study ended according to the protocol or was terminated does not affect this date. For clinical studies with more than one primary outcome measure with different completion dates, this term refers to the date on which data collection is completed for all the primary outcome measures. The "anticipated" primary completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the primary completion date for the study.
March 1, 2028

Study Completion (Estimated)

Study Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention/treatment to collect final data for the primary outcome measures, secondary outcome measures, and adverse events (that is, the last participant's last visit). The "anticipated" study completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the study completion date.
October 1, 2028

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

First Submitted

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submitted a study record to ClinicalTrials.gov. There is typically a delay of a few days between the first submitted date and the record's availability on ClinicalTrials.gov (the first posted date).
October 29, 2026

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submits a study record that is consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. The sponsor or investigator may need to revise and submit a study record one or more times before NLM's QC review criteria are met. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
November 6, 2026

First Posted (Actual)

First Posted

The date on which the study record was first available on ClinicalTrials.gov after National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review has concluded. There is typically a delay of a few days between the date the study sponsor or investigator submitted the study record and the first posted date.
November 12, 2026

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

Last Update Posted

The most recent date on which changes to a study record were made available on ClinicalTrials.gov. There may be a delay between when the changes were submitted to ClinicalTrials.gov by the study's sponsor or investigator (the last update submitted date) and the last update posted date.
November 12, 2026

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator submitted changes to a study record that are consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
November 6, 2026

Last Verified

Last Verified

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator confirmed the information about a clinical study on ClinicalTrials.gov as accurate and current. If a study with a recruitment status of recruiting; not yet recruiting; or active, not recruiting has not been confirmed within the past 2 years, the study's recruitment status is shown as unknown.
November 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

Keywords

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

Other Study ID Numbers

Identifiers or ID numbers other than the NCT number that are assigned to a clinical study by the study's sponsor, funders, or others. These numbers may include unique identifiers from other trial registries and National Institutes of Health grant numbers.
  • UW 26-315

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?

YES

IPD Plan Description

De-identified individual participant data underlying the results reported in the primary study publication will be shared, together with a data dictionary. Shared data will include participant characteristics, treatment allocation, lung function measurements, six-minute walk distance, questionnaire scores, biomarker results, and adverse event data used in the published analyses. Direct identifiers and the participant identification linkage file will not be shared. Access will be provided to qualified researchers following approval of a research proposal and execution of a data use agreement. Sharing will be subject to any required institutional review board (IRB) and institutional approvals and must be consistent with participant consent.

IPD Sharing Time Frame

De-identified individual participant data and the selected supporting documents will be available from publication of the primary study results until five years after study completion.

IPD Sharing Access Criteria

De-identified individual participant data underlying the published results, the data dictionary, and the selected supporting documents will be available to qualified researchers upon reasonable request. Requests should be submitted by email to the principal investigator and include a methodologically sound research proposal and statistical analysis plan. The principal investigator will review requests for scientific merit, feasibility, and consistency with participant consent and institutional requirements. Approved researchers may use the data only for analyses specified in the approved proposal. Access will require a signed data use agreement and any necessary IRB and institutional approvals. Data will be provided through secure transfer.

IPD Sharing Supporting Information Type

  • STUDY_PROTOCOL
  • SAP
  • ANALYTIC_CODE

Drug and device information, study documents

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product

No

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product

No

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

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