Global landscape of registered clinical trials of stem cell therapy for spinal cord injury: a cross-sectional analysis.

Stem cell therapy is a promising regenerative strategy for spinal cord injury (SCI), but its clinical development remains heterogeneous. This study analyzed the global landscape of registered interventional trials to characterize current translational progress. We performed a cross-sectional analysis of interventional clinical trials of stem cell therapy for SCI using the Informa Trialtrove database. Records available through December 31, 2025 were screened. Observational studies, duplicate registrations, and studies not directly evaluating stem cell-based treatment for SCI were excluded. Data on trial year, country, phase, status, sponsor, cell type, and primary endpoints were extracted. Eighty interventional trials were included. Trial activity increased overall from 2008 onward, with continued study initiation in 2024 and 2025. China contributed the largest number of trials (n = 20), followed by the United States (n = 13), Spain (n = 10), Japan (n = 10), and India (n = 7). Most studies were early- or mid-phase, whereas phase III or later trials were rare. Completed studies accounted for 57.5%, and terminated studies for 10.0%. Academic institutions were the leading sponsors. Mesenchymal stem cells were the predominant platform, while neural lineage and induced pluripotent stem cell-derived products were emerging. Clinical development of stem cell therapy for SCI remains concentrated in early-stage trials and will require stronger efficacy evidence, endpoint harmonization, product standardization, and improved patient stratification.