Recruiting

Meningeal Patch

Sponsor:

The University of Texas Health Science Center, Houston

Code:

NCT06042140

Conditions

Spina Bifida; Fetus

Myelomeningocele

Myeloschisis

Eligibility Criteria

Sex: Female

Age: 18+

Healthy Volunteers: Not accepted

Interventions

NEOX Cord 1K applied fetoscopically

Study Details

Brief summary:

The objective is to test the efficacy of a laparotomy-assisted fetoscopic surgical approach to cover spina bifida spinal cord developmental defects using cryopreserved human umbilical cords (NEOX Cord 1K®) as a meningeal and skin patch.

Conditions

Spina Bifida; Fetus

Myelomeningocele

Myeloschisis

Study ID

NCT06042140

Start date

Sep 8, 2023

Status verified date

Aug, 2025

Completion date

Sep 8, 2036

Anticipated

Primary completion date

Mar 8, 2031

Anticipated

Eligibility Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

Sex: Female

Age: 18+

Healthy Volunteers: Not accepted

Inclusion Criteria:

Maternal Inclusion Criteria:

1. Singleton pregnancy
2. Gestational age at screening is 19 to 25 5/7 weeks and gestational age at surgery is 22 to 25 6/7 weeks
3. Maternal age: 18 years and older
4. Body mass index ≤45 kg/m2 (pre-pregnancy)
5. No preterm birth risk factors (short cervix <20 mm or a history of previous preterm delivery)
6. No previous uterine incision in the active uterine segment
7. Willing to undergo an open fetal repair if the fetoscopic approach is unsuccessful

Fetal Inclusion Criteria:

1. Spina bifida defect between T1 to S1 vertebral levels
2. Chiari II malformation
3. No evidence of kyphosis (curved spine)
4. No major life-threatening fetal anomaly unrelated to spina bifida
5. Normal karyotype, or a normal chromosomal microarray analysis (CMA), or a CMA with variants of unknown significance \[fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) acceptable if ≥ 24 weeks\].

Exclusion Criteria:

Maternal Exclusion Criteria:

1. Non-resident of the United States
2. Multifetal pregnancy
3. Poorly controlled insulin-dependent pregestational diabetes
4. Poorly controlled A2 diabetes mellitus (A2DM) insulin-dependent diabetes
5. Current or planned cerclage or documented history of an incompetent cervix
6. Placenta previa or placental abruption
7. Short cervix of < 20 mm
8. Obesity as defined by a body mass index of > 45 kg/m2
9. Previous spontaneous singleton delivery prior to 37 weeks
10. Maternal-fetal Rh isoimmunization, Kell sensitization, or a history of neonatal alloimmune thrombocytopenia
11. HIV or Hepatitis-B positive status
12. Known Hepatitis-C positivity
13. Uterine anomaly such as large or multiple fibroids or a mullerian duct abnormality that is diagnosed via imaging prior to surgery, which that are unavoidable during surgery
14. Other medical conditions which are contraindication to surgery or general anesthesia
15. Patient does not have a support person
16. Inability to comply with the travel and follow-up requirements of the trial
17. Patient does not meet psychosocial standardized assessment criteria
18. Participation in this or another intervention study that influences maternal and fetal morbidity and mortality
19. Maternal hypertension
20. Zika virus positivity
21. Allergy/history of drug reaction to Amphotericin B

Fetal exclusion criteria:

1. Major fetal anomaly not related to spina bifida
2. Kyphosis in the fetus of 30 degrees or more
3. Ventriculomegaly greater than 15 mm and no movements noted at hip and knee joints

Study Design

Enrollment

100 participants

Anticipated

Intervention Model

Single group

Primary purpose

Treatment

Interventions and Outcome Measures

Arms

experimental: NEOX Cord 1K applied fetoscopically

Patients intending to undergo open in-utero spina bifida repair will be offered to be screened for an alternative minimally invasive approach. All eligible pregnant mothers' fetuses within the trial will receive NEOX Cord 1K® as a spinal cord cover to close the developmental defect. In some cases, at the discretion of the Pediatric Neurosurgeon, NEOX Cord 1K® may be required to cover the skin. All eligible subjects meeting all inclusion criteria but none of the exclusion criteria may be enrolled.

Interventions

NEOX Cord 1K applied fetoscopically

Under general anesthesia and tocolysis, in-utero repair begins with a laparotomy that is followed by exteriorization of the uterus. The fetus is then positioned by external cephalic version. Uterine entry will be accessed using 3 cannulas, followed by heated-humidified carbon dioxide insufflation for visualization. Then, fetoscopically the placode will be examined and dissected. The lesion will be repaired using NEOX Cord 1K® (HUC) for closure of the first layer over the neural placode. Primary closure of the skin will then occur, or NEOX Cord 1K® (human umbilical cord) will be used for skin closure at the discretion of the Pediatric Neurosurgeon. Finally, the laparotomy site will be sutured in multiple layers.

Primary outcome measure

  • Number of participants that can ambulate independently by walking at least 10 steps [ Time Frame: 30-36 months after delivery ]

Central Contacts and Locations

Central contacts

Locations

The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston

Recruiting

Houston, Texas, United States, 77030

Contacts

Principal Investigator:

Ramesha Papanna, MD, MPH

More Information

Sponsor

The University of Texas Health Science Center, Houston

Last update posted

Aug 13, 2025

Last verified

Aug, 2025

Keywords

  • Fetoscopic fetal intervention
  • Human umbilical cord
  • NEOX Cord 1K

Trial information was received from ClinicalTrials.gov and was last updated on 2026-09-10. This information was provided to ClinicalTrials.gov by The University of Texas Health Science Center, Houston on 2025-08-13.