Recruiting
Phase 3

Extracellular Vesicle

Sponsor:

Direct Biologics, LLC

Code:

NCT05354141

Conditions

Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome

ARDS

Eligibility Criteria

Sex: All

Age: 18 - 70+

Healthy Volunteers: Not accepted

Interventions

ExoFlo

Intravenous normal saline

Study Details

Brief summary:

To evaluate the safety and efficacy of intravenous (IV) administration of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cell derived extracellular vesicles (EVs), ExoFlo, versus placebo for the treatment of hospitalized patients with moderate-to-severe Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS).

Conditions

Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome

ARDS

Study ID

NCT05354141

Start date

Jul 1, 2022

Status verified date

Feb, 2026

Completion date

Dec 31, 2027

Anticipated

Primary completion date

Nov 30, 2027

Anticipated

Eligibility Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

Sex: All

Age: 18 - 70+

Healthy Volunteers: Not accepted

Inclusion Criteria:

1. Men and women aged 18-75 years of age
2. Presence of the following criteria for moderate to severe ARDS as defined by the Berlin Criteria within 24 hours of the first infustion:

1. Onset within 7 days of known clinical insult or requiring increasing respiratory rate, increasing oxygen flows, or increased work of breathing, and
2. Bilateral lung opacities not fully explained by pleural effusions, atelectasis, or nodules, and
3. PaO2/FiO2 (P/F ratio) ≤ 200 mm Hg, and
4. Invasive or noninvasive ventilation with a minimum PEEP 5 cm H2O or minimum of continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) 5 cm H2O, or High Flow Nasal Oxygen at ≥ 30 L/min, and
5. Respiratory failure not fully explained by cardiac failure or fluid overload.

Exclusion Criteria:

1. Lack of signed and dated informed consent form (either by the individual or by the individual's healthcare proxy).
2. Stated unwillingness to comply with all study procedures and availability for the duration of the study
3. Vulnerable populations such as pregnant patients, children, individuals with severe physical or mental disabilities who cannot provide meaningful consent.
4. Active malignancy requiring treatment within the last two years, with the exception of non-melanoma skin cancers.
5. Major physical trauma in the last 2 days, including motor vehicle accidents, assaults, mechanical falls with sequelae of significant bleeding or craniofacial bruising, and surgeries, such that not one or more injury may be undiagnosed at time of screening.
6. Duration of mechanical ventilation exceeds 3 days or 72 hours from diagnosis of ARDS.
7. ALT or AST > 8 x Upper Limit of Normal (ULN).
8. Documented history of cirrhosis.
9. DNR order, as in electing not to receive chest compressions, cardiac defibrillation, cardiac drugs, or intubation.
10. Moribund-expected survival < 24 hours.
11. Severe metabolic disturbances at randomization (e.g., ketoacidosis, pH < 7.2)
12. Patient currently connected to Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation at initiation of screening.
13. If the candidate, either a male or female of reproductive potential, is unwilling to two methods of highly effective birth control contraception such as condoms with oral contraceptive pill or choose to remain abstinent if already practicing abstinence during the screening period. The required duration of usage of double method OR maintenance of abstinence must include the time from the beginning of the screening period until Day 61, day of withdrawal or early termination
14. Use of investigational COVID-19 agents or any other investigational agents within 30 days prior to the first dose.

Study Design

Enrollment

970 participants

Anticipated

Allocation

Randomized

Intervention Model

Parallel Assignment

Primary purpose

Treatment

Interventions and Outcome Measures

Arms

placebo comparator: Placebo

Normal saline 100 mL

experimental: Experimental Dose

Normal saline 85 mL and ExoFlo 15 mL

Interventions

ExoFlo

Intravenous administration of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cell derived extracellular vesicles

Intravenous normal saline

Placebo

Primary outcome measure

  • Evaluation of 60-day All-cause Mortality [ Time Frame: 60 days ]

Central Contacts and Locations

Locations

Direct Biologics Investigational Site

Recruiting

Phoenix, Arizona, United States, 85012

Direct Biologics Investigational Site

Recruiting

Little Rock, Arkansas, United States, 72205

Direct Biologics Investigational Site

Recruiting

Davis, California, United States, 95817

Direct Biologics Investigational Site

Recruiting

Irvine, California, United States, 92627

Direct Biologics Investigational Site

Recruiting

Sacramento, California, United States, 95817

Direct Biologics Investigational Site

Recruiting

Washington D.C., District of Columbia, United States, 20010

Direct Biologics Investigational Site

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Jacksonville, Florida, United States, 32224

Direct Biologics Investigational Site

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Boise, Idaho, United States, 83712

Direct Biologics Investigational Site

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Iowa City, Iowa, United States, 52242

Direct Biologics Investigational Site

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Silver Spring, Maryland, United States, 20910

Direct Biologics Investigational Site

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Boston, Massachusetts, United States, 02115

Direct Biologics Investigational Site

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Burlington, Massachusetts, United States, 01805

Direct Biologics Investigational Site

Recruiting

Springfield, Massachusetts, United States, 01199

Direct Biologics Investigational Site

Recruiting

Detroit, Michigan, United States, 48202

Direct Biologics Investigational Site

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Rochester, Minnesota, United States, 55905

Direct Biologics Investigational Site

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Jackson, Mississippi, United States, 39202

Direct Biologics Investigational Site

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Flushing, New York, United States, 11368

Direct Biologics Investigational Site

Recruiting

Queens, New York, United States, 11040

Direct Biologics Investigational Site

Recruiting

The Bronx, New York, United States, 10467

Direct Biologics Investigational Site

Recruiting

Durham, North Carolina, United States, 27710

Direct Biologics Investigational Site

Recruiting

Winston-Salem, North Carolina, United States, 27157

Direct Biologics Investigational Site

Recruiting

Cincinnati, Ohio, United States, 45219

Direct Biologics Investigational Site

Recruiting

Cleveland, Ohio, United States, 44106

Direct Biologics Investigational Site

Recruiting

Portland, Oregon, United States, 97239

Direct Biologics Investigational Site

Recruiting

Charleston, South Carolina, United States, 29425

Direct Biologics Investigational Site

Recruiting

Knoxville, Tennessee, United States, 37996

Direct Biologics Investigational Site

Recruiting

Nashville, Tennessee, United States, 37235

Direct Biologics Investigational Site

Recruiting

Dallas, Texas, United States, 75246

Direct Biologics Investigational Site

Recruiting

Fort Worth, Texas, United States, 76104

Direct Biologics Investigational Site

Recruiting

Houston, Texas, United States, 77030

Direct Biologics Investigational Site

Recruiting

Salt Lake City, Utah, United States, 84101

More Information

Sponsor

Direct Biologics, LLC

Last update posted

Feb 23, 2026

Last verified

Feb, 2026

Keywords

  • ExoFlo
  • Extracellular Vesicles
  • Exosome
  • ARDS

Trial information was received from ClinicalTrials.gov and was last updated on 2026-09-26. This information was provided to ClinicalTrials.gov by Direct Biologics, LLC on 2026-02-23. Recruitment status is synced daily from ClinicalTrials.gov and may not reflect the sponsor's current status. Confirm during your call.