This study is a single-arm, multiple-dose, dose-escalation, open-label multicenter clinical trial, aiming to evaluate the safety, tolerability, and preliminary efficacy of VUM02 Injection for treatment of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF). VUM02 Injection (Human Umbilical Cord Tissue-derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells Injection, hUCT-MSC) is an allogeneic cell therapy product comprising culture-expanded Mesenchymal Stem Cells derived from the human umbilical cord tissue. The product is cryopreserved with the amount of 5 x 10\^7 cells per 10 mL per bag (5 x 10\^6 cells/mL). This study is a multiple-dose tolerability study following the "3+3" dose escalation principle and progressing from the low-dose group to the high-dose group sequentially. Three to six patients will be enrolled in each dose group and administered every 3 days for a total of 3 doses.
Gender unrestricted, aged between 40 and 75 years old (inclusive);
Diagnosed with IPF according to the 2022 Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis (an Update) and Progressive Pulmonary Fibrosis in Adults: An Official ATS/ERS/JRS/ALAT Clinical Practice Guideline.
In the 3 months prior to administration, determined by the investigator to have stable disease, with diffusing capacity of the lung for carbon monoxide (DLCO) between 30% and 79% of the predicted value (adjusted for Hb), FVC/predicted ≥50%, and forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1)/FVC ≥0.70;
Allowed to enroll are the patients who have been treated according to the current standard treatment plan for IPF and have maintained the treatment for at least 3 months;
Allergic to any ingredient of the product;
Suffering from interstitial lung diseases (ILD) other than IPF, including but not limited to: any other type of interstitial pneumonia; lung diseases related to exposure to fibrogenic agents or other environmental toxins or drugs (such as amiodarone, bleomycin, or methotrexate); other types of occupational lung diseases; granulomatous lung diseases; systemic diseases including vasculitis, infectious diseases (i.e., tuberculosis), and connective tissue diseases, or a history of prior pulmonary resection;
During the screening period, having any of the following pulmonary diseases: asthma, pulmonary embolism, pneumothorax; lung cancer, obstructive bronchitis, or other active lung diseases; a known history of immune system diseases (such as thymic diseases, systemic lupus erythematosus); acquired or congenital immunodeficiency diseases, or a history of organ transplantation;
Chest HRCT during the screening period shows emphysema area > fibrosis area;