Safety and Tolerability Study of a Novel Bioartificial Liver in Liver Failure and Small-for-Size Syndrome

April 15, 2026 updated by: Li-Ying Sun, Beijing Friendship Hospital

A Clinical Trial Assessing the Safety, Tolerability, and Exploratory Efficacy of a Novel Bioartificial Liver Therapy in Patients With Liver Failure or Small-for-Size Syndrome

The goal of this clinical trial is to evaluate the safety and tolerability of a novel bioartificial liver (CiPS-BAL) in patients with liver failure or small-for-size syndrome. The study will also collect preliminary data on clinical outcomes and laboratory parameters during treatment. The main questions it aims to answer are:

Is the novel bioartificial liver system safe and well tolerated in patients with liver failure or small-for-size syndrome?

What effects does the treatment have on liver function and other clinical and laboratory indicators?

Researchers will treat participants with the CiPS-BAL system, which uses hepatocytes derived from chemically induced pluripotent stem cells (CiPS) within a bioartificial liver device.

Study Overview

Status

Recruiting

Conditions

Intervention / Treatment

Study Type

Interventional

Enrollment (Estimated)

12

Phase

  • Phase 2
  • Phase 1

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 Locations

  • China
      • Beijing, China, 101102
        • Recruiting
        • Beijing Friendship Hospital
        • Contact:

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

Ages Eligible for Study

  • Child
  • Adult
  • Older Adult

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Patients diagnosed with liver failure (including acute, subacute/acute-on-chronic, and chronic liver failure) or small-for-size syndrome

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Presence of severe extrahepatic systemic end-stage diseases
  • Uncontrollable infection or active bleeding
  • Pregnant or breastfeeding women
  • History of allergy or known severe hypersensitivity to CiPSC-derived cell products or blood products
  • Peripheral vascular collapse leading to inability to obtain venous access or collect blood
  • Unable or unwilling to provide informed consent or unable to comply with study requirements
  • Unwilling to receive CiPSC-based therapy

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: Treatment
  • Allocation: N/A
  • Interventional Model: Single Group Assignment
  • Masking: None (Open Label)

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm
Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: CiPS-BAL
Chemically induced pluripotent stem cells biological Artificial Liver
Biological: Chemically induced pluripotent stem cells biological Artificial Liver

Participants will receive CiPS-BAL therapy, a novel bioartificial liver treatment that combines functional hepatocytes derived from chemically induced pluripotent stem cells (CiPS) with an extracorporeal bioartificial liver device. The CiPS-derived hepatocytes are generated and cultured in vitro under Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) conditions and subsequently loaded into the bioartificial liver device prior to treatment.

Each treatment session utilizes 1 × 10¹⁰ functional hepatocytes. Therapy is administered via central venous access (e.g., femoral, internal jugular, or subclavian vein) for 4-8 hours per session. The planned treatment frequency is one session, with the possibility of additional sessions depending on clinical response and safety evaluation.

Standard medical therapy for liver failure or small-for-size syndrome will be provided concomitantly. Participants will be closely monitored for safety, tolerability, and changes in clinical and laboratory parameters throughout

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Number of participants with treatment-emergent adverse events and serious adverse events
Time Frame: From completion of CiPS-BAL therapy through Week 4 post-treatment (assessed at 1 hour, 12 hours, 24 hours, Day 2, Day 3, Day 5, Day 7, Week 2, Week 4).

The number and proportion of participants experiencing treatment-emergent adverse events (AEs) and serious adverse events (SAEs) following CiPS-BAL therapy, including but not limited to fever, rash, chest tightness, palpitations, acute infusion reactions, immune rejection, infections, and local complications (e.g., hematoma, bleeding), and thrombosis.

Adverse events will be graded according to the Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events (CTCAE), version 5.0.
From completion of CiPS-BAL therapy through Week 4 post-treatment (assessed at 1 hour, 12 hours, 24 hours, Day 2, Day 3, Day 5, Day 7, Week 2, Week 4).
Survival and Liver Transplantation Rate
Time Frame: From completion of CiPS-BAL therapy through Week 4 post-treatment (assessed at 24 hours, Day 2, Day 3, Day 5, Day 7, Week 2, Week 4,).
Overall survival of the patients and the proportion of participants who undergo liver transplantation during the study period.
From completion of CiPS-BAL therapy through Week 4 post-treatment (assessed at 24 hours, Day 2, Day 3, Day 5, Day 7, Week 2, Week 4,).
Model for End-Stage Liver Disease (MELD) score/Pediatric End-Stage Liver Disease (PELD) score
Time Frame: From completion of CiPS-BAL therapy through Week 4 post-treatment (assessed at 1 hour, 12 hours, 24 hours, Day 2, Day 3, Day 5, Day 7, Week 2, Week 4)
Changes in MELD/PELD score over time will be used to evaluate disease severity and treatment response.
From completion of CiPS-BAL therapy through Week 4 post-treatment (assessed at 1 hour, 12 hours, 24 hours, Day 2, Day 3, Day 5, Day 7, Week 2, Week 4)

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS)
Time Frame: From completion of CiPS-BAL therapy through Week 12 post-treatment (assessed at 1 hour, 12 hours, 24 hours, Day 2, Day 3, Day 5, Day 7, Week 2, Week 4, and Week 12).
GCS will be evaluated at each follow-up visit. The outcome will be reported as the change from baseline in GCS score.
From completion of CiPS-BAL therapy through Week 12 post-treatment (assessed at 1 hour, 12 hours, 24 hours, Day 2, Day 3, Day 5, Day 7, Week 2, Week 4, and Week 12).
SOFA Score
Time Frame: From completion of CiPS-BAL therapy through Week 12 post-treatment (assessed at 1 hour, 12 hours, 24 hours, Day 2, Day 3, Day 5, Day 7, Week 2, Week 4, and Week 12).
SOFA score will be measured at each specified time point. The outcome will be reported as the change from baseline in SOFA score.
From completion of CiPS-BAL therapy through Week 12 post-treatment (assessed at 1 hour, 12 hours, 24 hours, Day 2, Day 3, Day 5, Day 7, Week 2, Week 4, and Week 12).
RBC (Red Blood Cell Count)
Time Frame: From completion of CiPS-BAL therapy through Week 12 post-treatment (assessed at 1 hour, 12 hours, 24 hours, Day 2, Day 3, Day 5, Day 7, Week 2, Week 4, and Week 12).
From completion of CiPS-BAL therapy through Week 12 post-treatment (assessed at 1 hour, 12 hours, 24 hours, Day 2, Day 3, Day 5, Day 7, Week 2, Week 4, and Week 12).
Hemoglobin (Hb)
Time Frame: From completion of CiPS-BAL therapy through Week 12 post-treatment (assessed at 1 hour, 12 hours, 24 hours, Day 2, Day 3, Day 5, Day 7, Week 2, Week 4, and Week 12).
From completion of CiPS-BAL therapy through Week 12 post-treatment (assessed at 1 hour, 12 hours, 24 hours, Day 2, Day 3, Day 5, Day 7, Week 2, Week 4, and Week 12).
Blood Ammonia
Time Frame: From completion of CiPS-BAL therapy through Week 12 post-treatment (assessed at 1 hour, 12 hours, 24 hours, Day 2, Day 3, Day 5, Day 7, Week 2, Week 4, and Week 12).
From completion of CiPS-BAL therapy through Week 12 post-treatment (assessed at 1 hour, 12 hours, 24 hours, Day 2, Day 3, Day 5, Day 7, Week 2, Week 4, and Week 12).
Lactate
Time Frame: From completion of CiPS-BAL therapy through Week 12 post-treatment (assessed at 1 hour, 12 hours, 24 hours, Day 2, Day 3, Day 5, Day 7, Week 2, Week 4, and Week 12).
Lactate levels will be measured from blood samples. The outcome will be reported as the change from baseline at each specified time point.
From completion of CiPS-BAL therapy through Week 12 post-treatment (assessed at 1 hour, 12 hours, 24 hours, Day 2, Day 3, Day 5, Day 7, Week 2, Week 4, and Week 12).
WBC (White Blood Cell Count)
Time Frame: From completion of CiPS-BAL therapy through Week 12 post-treatment (assessed at 1 hour, 12 hours, 24 hours, Day 2, Day 3, Day 5, Day 7, Week 2, Week 4, and Week 12).
From completion of CiPS-BAL therapy through Week 12 post-treatment (assessed at 1 hour, 12 hours, 24 hours, Day 2, Day 3, Day 5, Day 7, Week 2, Week 4, and Week 12).
Platelet Count (PLT)
Time Frame: From completion of CiPS-BAL therapy through Week 12 post-treatment (assessed at 1 hour, 12 hours, 24 hours, Day 2, Day 3, Day 5, Day 7, Week 2, Week 4, and Week 12).
From completion of CiPS-BAL therapy through Week 12 post-treatment (assessed at 1 hour, 12 hours, 24 hours, Day 2, Day 3, Day 5, Day 7, Week 2, Week 4, and Week 12).
ALT (Alanine Aminotransferase)
Time Frame: From completion of CiPS-BAL therapy through Week 12 post-treatment (assessed at 1 hour, 12 hours, 24 hours, Day 2, Day 3, Day 5, Day 7, Week 2, Week 4, and Week 12).
From completion of CiPS-BAL therapy through Week 12 post-treatment (assessed at 1 hour, 12 hours, 24 hours, Day 2, Day 3, Day 5, Day 7, Week 2, Week 4, and Week 12).
AST (Aspartate Aminotransferase)
Time Frame: From completion of CiPS-BAL therapy through Week 12 post-treatment (assessed at 1 hour, 12 hours, 24 hours, Day 2, Day 3, Day 5, Day 7, Week 2, Week 4, and Week 12).
From completion of CiPS-BAL therapy through Week 12 post-treatment (assessed at 1 hour, 12 hours, 24 hours, Day 2, Day 3, Day 5, Day 7, Week 2, Week 4, and Week 12).
Total Bilirubin (TBIL)
Time Frame: From completion of CiPS-BAL therapy through Week 12 post-treatment (assessed at 1 hour, 12 hours, 24 hours, Day 2, Day 3, Day 5, Day 7, Week 2, Week 4, and Week 12).
From completion of CiPS-BAL therapy through Week 12 post-treatment (assessed at 1 hour, 12 hours, 24 hours, Day 2, Day 3, Day 5, Day 7, Week 2, Week 4, and Week 12).
Direct Bilirubin (DBIL)
Time Frame: From completion of CiPS-BAL therapy through Week 12 post-treatment (assessed at 1 hour, 12 hours, 24 hours, Day 2, Day 3, Day 5, Day 7, Week 2, Week 4, and Week 12).
From completion of CiPS-BAL therapy through Week 12 post-treatment (assessed at 1 hour, 12 hours, 24 hours, Day 2, Day 3, Day 5, Day 7, Week 2, Week 4, and Week 12).
ALP (Alkaline Phosphatase)
Time Frame: From completion of CiPS-BAL therapy through Week 12 post-treatment (assessed at 1 hour, 12 hours, 24 hours, Day 2, Day 3, Day 5, Day 7, Week 2, Week 4, and Week 12).
From completion of CiPS-BAL therapy through Week 12 post-treatment (assessed at 1 hour, 12 hours, 24 hours, Day 2, Day 3, Day 5, Day 7, Week 2, Week 4, and Week 12).
BUN (Blood Urea Nitrogen)
Time Frame: From completion of CiPS-BAL therapy through Week 12 post-treatment (assessed at 1 hour, 12 hours, 24 hours, Day 2, Day 3, Day 5, Day 7, Week 2, Week 4, and Week 12).
From completion of CiPS-BAL therapy through Week 12 post-treatment (assessed at 1 hour, 12 hours, 24 hours, Day 2, Day 3, Day 5, Day 7, Week 2, Week 4, and Week 12).
Serum Creatinine (Scr)
Time Frame: From completion of CiPS-BAL therapy through Week 12 post-treatment (assessed at 1 hour, 12 hours, 24 hours, Day 2, Day 3, Day 5, Day 7, Week 2, Week 4, and Week 12).
From completion of CiPS-BAL therapy through Week 12 post-treatment (assessed at 1 hour, 12 hours, 24 hours, Day 2, Day 3, Day 5, Day 7, Week 2, Week 4, and Week 12).
Albumin (ALB)
Time Frame: From completion of CiPS-BAL therapy through Week 12 post-treatment (assessed at 1 hour, 12 hours, 24 hours, Day 2, Day 3, Day 5, Day 7, Week 2, Week 4, and Week 12).
From completion of CiPS-BAL therapy through Week 12 post-treatment (assessed at 1 hour, 12 hours, 24 hours, Day 2, Day 3, Day 5, Day 7, Week 2, Week 4, and Week 12).
Glucose (GLU)
Time Frame: From completion of CiPS-BAL therapy through Week 12 post-treatment (assessed at 1 hour, 12 hours, 24 hours, Day 2, Day 3, Day 5, Day 7, Week 2, Week 4, and Week 12).
From completion of CiPS-BAL therapy through Week 12 post-treatment (assessed at 1 hour, 12 hours, 24 hours, Day 2, Day 3, Day 5, Day 7, Week 2, Week 4, and Week 12).
Prothrombin Time (PT)
Time Frame: From completion of CiPS-BAL therapy through Week 12 post-treatment (assessed at 1 hour, 12 hours, 24 hours, Day 2, Day 3, Day 5, Day 7, Week 2, Week 4, and Week 12).
From completion of CiPS-BAL therapy through Week 12 post-treatment (assessed at 1 hour, 12 hours, 24 hours, Day 2, Day 3, Day 5, Day 7, Week 2, Week 4, and Week 12).
Prothrombin Activity (PTA)
Time Frame: From completion of CiPS-BAL therapy through Week 12 post-treatment (assessed at 1 hour, 12 hours, 24 hours, Day 2, Day 3, Day 5, Day 7, Week 2, Week 4, and Week 12).
From completion of CiPS-BAL therapy through Week 12 post-treatment (assessed at 1 hour, 12 hours, 24 hours, Day 2, Day 3, Day 5, Day 7, Week 2, Week 4, and Week 12).
International Normalized Ratio (INR)
Time Frame: From completion of CiPS-BAL therapy through Week 12 post-treatment (assessed at 1 hour, 12 hours, 24 hours, Day 2, Day 3, Day 5, Day 7, Week 2, Week 4, and Week 12).
From completion of CiPS-BAL therapy through Week 12 post-treatment (assessed at 1 hour, 12 hours, 24 hours, Day 2, Day 3, Day 5, Day 7, Week 2, Week 4, and Week 12).
Activated Partial Thromboplastin Time (APTT)
Time Frame: From completion of CiPS-BAL therapy through Week 12 post-treatment (assessed at 1 hour, 12 hours, 24 hours, Day 2, Day 3, Day 5, Day 7, Week 2, Week 4, and Week 12).
From completion of CiPS-BAL therapy through Week 12 post-treatment (assessed at 1 hour, 12 hours, 24 hours, Day 2, Day 3, Day 5, Day 7, Week 2, Week 4, and Week 12).

Collaborators and Investigators

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

Sponsor

Beijing Friendship Hospital

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 (Actual)

December 1, 2025

Primary Completion (Estimated)

December 31, 2027

Study Completion (Estimated)

December 31, 2028

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

November 26, 2025

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

December 17, 2025

First Posted (Actual)

December 31, 2025

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

April 20, 2026

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

April 15, 2026

Last Verified

November 1, 2025

More Information

Terms related to this study

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

  • BFH20251124001

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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