ProTrans Phase II COVID-19 Trial Accepted for Publication in Cytotherapy

March 13, 2026

NextCell Pharma AB (“NextCell” or the “Company”) announces that the Phase II clinical trial evaluating ProTrans® (allogeneic Wharton’s Jelly-derived mesenchymal stromal cells) for respiratory complications associated with COVID-19 has been accepted for publication in Cytotherapy, the official journal of the International Society for Cell & Gene Therapy.

The study, titled “Umbilical Cord Mesenchymal Stromal Cells for Respiratory Complications of COVID-19 Infection (ProTrans): Phase II Randomized Clinical Trial,” reports results from ProTrans19+, a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, multi-center Phase II study conducted in Canada.

The trial was investigator-initiated and sponsored by McGill University Health Centre (MUHC). NextCell supported the study by supplying ProTrans. Patients were recruited at two McGill University–affiliated hospitals in Montreal: The Royal Victoria Hospital and the Jewish General Hospital.

ProTrans19+ evaluated the safety and exploratory efficacy of a single intravenous infusion of ProTrans in hospitalized patients with severe COVID-19 pneumonia requiring oxygen support. The trial was discontinued early due to feasibility considerations in the context of evolving standards of care and reduced event rates during later stages of the pandemic.

The study confirms the short-term safety of ProTrans in hospitalized patients receiving contemporary standard-of-care therapies. Due to limited enrollment and early termination, no definitive conclusions regarding efficacy can be drawn.

“The publication underscores the robustness of the ProTrans manufacturing platform, and the potential for the drug’s use in a growing number of inflammatory conditions. This trial has also demonstrated the importance of rigorous trial design when evaluating advanced therapies in rapidly changing clinical settings,” said Lindsay Davies, PhD, Chief Scientific Officer of NextCell Pharma.

Lindsay Davies and CEO Mathias Svahn are co-authors of the publication.

Acceptance for publication in Cytotherapy reflects the scientific rigor of the study and contributes to the growing body of clinical evidence evaluating mesenchymal stromal cell therapies in inflammatory lung disease.

The publication is available via the link: https://www.isct-cytotherapy.org/article/S1465-3249(26)00736-X/abstract

For more information about NextCell Pharma, please contact
Mathias Svahn, CEO
Eric Gustafsson, CFO
Tel: +46 8 735 5595
E-mail: info@nextcellpharma.com

Websites:
NextCell Pharma AB: www.nextcellpharma.com
Cellaviva Sverige: www.cellaviva.se
Cellaviva Danmark: www.cellaviva.dk
QVance AB: www.qvance.se

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/15255207/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/NextCellPharma

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About NextCell Pharma AB
NextCell Pharma is a clinical-stage cell therapy company developing ProTrans, a patent-protected platform based on allogeneic mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) from umbilical cord tissue. Using a proprietary selection algorithm, ProTrans delivers optimised cell tailored to specific indications. In type 1 diabetes, a single infusion has been shown to preserve insulin production and delay disease progression for at least five years. A Phase III trial is planned to commence upon securing a commercial partner. ProTrans is also being evaluated for other autoimmune and inflammatory conditions. NextCell’s subsidiaries include Cellaviva, Scandinavia’s largest private stem cell bank, and QVance, the Nordic region’s first dedicated provider of quality services for developers of advanced therapies.

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