BAFF-targeted CAR-T (LMY-920) for adults with refractory lupus

A Phase I Study of BAFF CAR-T Cells (LMY-920) for Treatment of Systemic Lupus Erythematosus

This will try autologous BAFF-targeting CAR-T cells (LMY-920) in adults with refractory systemic lupus to see if the treatment is safe and lowers disease activity.

Quick facts

• Phase: PHASE1
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 18 (estimated)
• Ages: 18 Years to 65 Years
• Sex: All
• Sponsor: Luminary Therapeutics (industry)
• Drugs / interventions: Rituximab, belimumab, CAR-T, Methotrexate, Cyclophosphamide, prednisone
• Locations: 1 site (Columbus, Ohio)
• Trial ID: NCT06340750 on ClinicalTrials.gov

What this trial studies

This is an open-label Phase 1 dose-escalation trial of autologous BAFF-directed CAR-T cells (LMY-920) in adults with refractory systemic lupus erythematosus. A 3+3 design will be used across three planned dose levels with one possible de-escalation, and the maximum tolerated dose (MTD) will be identified; the MTD cohort may be expanded to six patients. A recommended Phase 2 dose (RP2D) may be selected at or below the MTD and expanded so that up to 40 patients can be treated to further evaluate safety and early efficacy signals. During escalation, infusions are staggered by at least 14 days for safety monitoring, with closer inpatient and outpatient follow-up required after cell infusion.

Who should consider this trial

Good fit: Adults aged 18–69 with SLICC-confirmed SLE who have active disease despite or intolerant to standard therapies (or steroid-dependent disease) and who meet organ-function requirements (e.g., creatinine clearance ≥30 ml/min, LVEF ≥40%, pulse oximetry ≥92% on room air) are the intended candidates.

Not a fit: Patients with well-controlled or mild SLE on standard medications, those with significant organ dysfunction outside the protocol limits, uncontrolled active infections, pregnancy, or those outside the 18–69 age range are unlikely to benefit or will be ineligible.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, LMY-920 could provide a new option that produces durable reductions in lupus activity for patients who have not responded to standard therapies, potentially reducing steroid use and long-term organ damage.

How similar studies have performed: Small case series of B-cell–targeting CAR-T (anti-CD19) in refractory SLE have reported remissions, but BAFF-directed CAR-T like LMY-920 is a newer and less-tested approach.

Eligibility criteria

Inclusion Criteria:

* Age 18-69 years
* Confirmed Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE) as per Systemic Lupus International Collaborating Clinics (SLICC) 2012 Criteria with one or more of the following:

  a. Active disease despite use of standard therapy (i) and one or more additional therapies (ii).

  i. Corticosteroids (CS), Hydroxychloroquine ii. Mycophenolate mofetil (MMF), Methotrexate (MTX), Azathioprine (AZA), Tacrolimus (TAC), Cyclophosphamide (CYC), Rituximab, and/or belimumab b. Active disease due to intolerance of standard therapy (i) and one or more additional therapies (ii).

  c. Steroid-Dependent Disease
* Subjects must meet organ function criteria:

  1. Creatinine clearance more than or equal to 30 ml/min calculated by the Cockcroft - Gault formula
  2. Subjects must have adequate cardiac function as defined as left ventricular ejection fraction ≥ 40% on the most recent echocardiogram.
  3. Adequate pulmonary function with pulse oximetry ≥92% on room air
  4. Total Bilirubin ≤ 1.5x the institutional upper limit of normal (except in patients with Gilbert's syndrome)
  5. ALT (SGPT) and AST (SGOT) \< 3x the institutional upper limit of normal

Exclusion Criteria:

* SLE complicated by:

  * Active neuropsychiatric lupus
  * Active secondary hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (sHLH)
* Presence of any medical or psychological conditions which may affect patient ability to comply with study protocol requirements and study visits
* Presence of active, untreated infection such as:

  * Active microbial infection. Patients with possible fungal infections must have had at least 2 weeks of appropriate anti-fungal therapy and be asymptomatic. Patients with active tuberculosis must have had at least 4 weeks of appropriate anti-mycobacterial treatment and be asymptomatic.
  * Active or latent hepatitis B or active hepatitis C (test within 8 weeks of screening), or any uncontrolled infection at screening
  * HIV positive test within 8 weeks of screening
* Acute/ongoing neurologic toxicity \> Grade 1 except for a history of controlled seizures or fixed neurologic deficits that have been stable/improving over the past 1 months.
* Patients with concomitant genetic syndrome: such as patients with Fanconi anemia, Kostmann syndrome, Shwachman syndrome or any other known bone marrow failure syndrome. Patients with Down Syndrome will not be excluded.
* Evidence of myelodysplasia or cytogenetic abnormality indicative of myelodysplasia on any bone marrow biopsy prior to initiation of therapy
* Pregnant or breastfeeding women are excluded from this study because CAR-T cell therapy may be associated with the potential for teratogenic or abortifacient effects. Women of childbearing potential must have a negative serum pregnancy test. Because there is an unknown, but potential risk for adverse events in nursing infants secondary to treatment of the mother with CAR-T cells, breastfeeding should be discontinued. These potential risks may also apply to other agents used in this study. Women of childbearing potential must agree to remain abstinent (refrain from heterosexual intercourse) or use a contraceptive method with a failure rate of \< 1% per year during the treatment period and for at least 6 months after the CAR-T cell infusion.
* A woman is considered to be of childbearing potential if she is postmenarcheal, has not reached a postmenopausal state (\< 12 continuous months of amenorrhea with no identified cause other than menopause), and has not undergone surgical sterilization (removal of ovaries and/or uterus).
* Examples of contraceptive methods with a failure rate of \< 1% per year include bilateral tubal ligation, male sterilization, hormonal contraceptives that inhibit ovulation, hormone-releasing intrauterine devices, and copper intrauterine devices. Periodic abstinence (e.g., calendar, ovulation, symptothermal, or postovulation methods) and withdrawal are not acceptable methods of contraception.
* Men who will not agree to remain abstinent (refrain from heterosexual intercourse) or use contraceptive measures, and agree to refrain from donating sperm, as defined below:
* With female partners of childbearing potential, men must remain abstinent or use a condom plus an additional contraceptive method that together result in a failure rate of \< 1% per year during the treatment period and for at least 6 months after the CAR-T cell infusion. Men must refrain from donating sperm during this same period.
* With pregnant female partners, men must remain abstinent or use a condom during the treatment period and for at least 6 months after the CAR- T cell infusion to avoid potential embryonal or fetal exposure. The reliability of sexual abstinence should be evaluated in relation to the duration of the clinical trial and the preferred and usual lifestyle of the patient. Periodic abstinence (e.g., calendar, ovulation, symptothermal, or postovulation methods) and withdrawal are not acceptable methods of contraception.
* Patients receiving a live vaccines within the last two weeks.
* A minimum of 28 days must have elapsed between prior treatment with investigational agent(s) and the day of lymphocyte collection.
* Concurrent use of high dose systemic steroids and/or T cell directed immune suppression. Subjects must discontinue T cell targeted therapy \>3 weeks and wean prednisone dose to ≤10 mg/day prior to leukapheresis.
* Previous treatment with any gene or adoptive cell therapy products.
* Any serious, uncontrolled diseases (including, but not limit to, unstable angina pectoris, congestive heart failure, serious arrhythmia, HIV, seizure disorder, cerebrovascular disease, psychiatric disease), that may interfere with the patient's ability to tolerate the therapy or comply with assessments.
* Active malignancy, other than non-melanoma skin cancer or carcinoma in situ (e.g. cervix, bladder, breast). Patients with a prior or concurrent malignancy whose natural history or treatment does not have the potential to interfere with the safety or efficacy assessment of the investigational regimen are eligible for this trial (e.g. Low Gleason score prostate Cancer).

Where this trial is running

Columbus, Ohio

• Nationwide Children's — Columbus, Ohio, United States (RECRUITING)

Study contacts

• Study coordinator: Matthew A Spear, MD

Conditions: Systemic Lupus Erythematosus