CC312 for relapsed or treatment‑resistant lupus, inflammatory myopathies, and systemic sclerosis

Exploratory Clinical Study on the Safety and Preliminary Efficacy of CC312 in the Treatment of Relapsed/Refractory Autoimmune Diseases

This early-phase test will try CC312 to see if it is safe and may help adults aged 18–65 with relapsed or treatment‑resistant systemic lupus erythematosus, idiopathic inflammatory myopathies, or systemic sclerosis.

Quick facts

• Phase: EARLY_PHASE1
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 6 (estimated)
• Ages: 18 Years to 65 Years
• Sex: All
• Sponsor: CytoCares Inc (industry)
• Drugs / interventions: rituximab, belimumab, tofacitinib, CAR-T, methotrexate, cyclophosphamide, prednisone
• Locations: 1 site (Deyang, Sichuan)
• Trial ID: NCT07193810 on ClinicalTrials.gov

What this trial studies

This open-label, investigator-initiated, multiple ascending dose early-phase 1 trial gives escalating doses of CC312 to adults with relapsed or refractory autoimmune diseases to characterize safety, tolerability, pharmacokinetics, and preliminary signs of efficacy. Participants receive planned dose cohorts with close safety monitoring and PK sampling. The trial enrolls adults aged 18–65 with diagnoses of SLE, IIM, or SSc who have had inadequate responses or relapse after standard therapies. Outcomes will inform dose selection and feasibility for later-stage trials.

Who should consider this trial

Good fit: Adults aged 18–65 with relapsed or treatment‑resistant systemic lupus erythematosus (meeting 2019 EULAR/ACR criteria) or with idiopathic inflammatory myopathies or systemic sclerosis who have had inadequate responses to standard therapies and can consent are ideal candidates.

Not a fit: Patients who are well controlled on current treatments, are outside the 18–65 age range, or who have comorbidities or exclusion criteria for early-phase immunomodulatory studies are unlikely to benefit from this trial.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, CC312 could become a new treatment option for adults with relapsed or refractory autoimmune diseases who have limited responses to current therapies.

How similar studies have performed: This is an early-phase, investigator-initiated multiple ascending dose trial of CC312 with limited prior clinical data on CC312 in these autoimmune conditions.

Eligibility criteria

Inclusion Criteria:

* Fully understand the trial's purpose, nature, methodology, and potential adverse reactions, voluntarily participate as a subject, and sign the informed consent form.
* Aged 18-65 years (inclusive, based on the date of signing the informed consent form), regardless of gender.
* For Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE):

  1. Diagnosed with SLE according to the 2019 EULAR/ACR classification criteria；
  2. Meet at least one of the following: positive antinuclear antibody (ANA) and/or anti-dsDNA antibody and/or anti-Sm antibody at screening；
  3. Had an inadequate response or relapse after standard therapy, defined as any of the following (alone or combined): glucocorticoids, antimalarials (hydroxychloroquine), immunosuppressants (including mycophenolate mofetil, cyclophosphamide, leflunomide, methotrexate, tacrolimus, cyclosporine, azathioprine), or biologics (rituximab, belimumab, telitacicept). Each regimen must have been administered for ≥3 months, and the subject must have received ≥2 immunosuppressants and/or biologics；
  4. At screening, meet SLEDAI-2000 ≥7 and have at least one BILAG A or two BILAG B organ domain scores；
  5. Prior to the first dose, subjects must have received glucocorticoids and/or antimalarials and/or immunosuppressants for ≥12 weeks, with stable doses for ≥30 days；
  6. If receiving oral glucocorticoids (e.g., prednisone), the dose must be ≤40 mg/day at screening and during the screening period；
  7. If using glucocorticoids alone, the dose must be ≥7.5 mg/day prednisone (or equivalent).
* For Idiopathic Inflammatory Myopathy (IIM):

  1. Diagnosed with possible or definite IIM per the 2017 EULAR/ACR classification criteria (≥5.5 points without biopsy; ≥6.7 points with biopsy) ；
  2. Have at least one positive myositis-specific autoantibody (MSA) , myositis-associated autoantibody (MAA), or ANA at or prior to screening；
  3. Had an inadequate response or relapse after conventional therapy, defined as glucocorticoids (prednisone \>1 mg/kg/day or equivalent) and ≥1 immunomodulatory drug (immunosuppressants: azathioprine, mycophenolate mofetil, cyclophosphamide, methotrexate, leflunomide, tacrolimus, cyclosporine; biologics: rituximab, belimumab; small molecules: tofacitinib), each for ≥3 months；
  4. Have active IIM at screening, defined as meeting ≥3 of MMT-8 total score ≤141/150 with ≥20% strength loss in affected muscles; Physician global activity ≥2; Patient global activity ≥2; myositis disease activity assessment tool (MDAAT) ≥2; ≥2 muscle enzymes elevated, with one ≥1.5× upper limit of normal (ULN); health assessment questionnaire (HAQ) ≥0.25；
  5. Prior to the first dose, subjects must have received glucocorticoids and/or immunosuppressants for ≥12 weeks, with stable glucocorticoid doses for ≥30 days and immunosuppressant doses for ≥60 days. Glucocorticoid dose must be ≤60 mg/day prednisone during screening；
  6. If a subject is receiving oral glucocorticoids alone, the dose should be at least 7.5 mg/day of prednisone (or an equivalent dose of other glucocorticoids).
* For Systemic Sclerosis (SSc):

  1. Diagnosed with diffuse cutaneous SSc per the 2013 EULAR/ACR criteria ；
  2. Have positive ANA and/or SSc-related antibodies；
  3. Disease duration ≤5 years (from initial diagnosis)；
  4. Had an inadequate response or relapse after conventional therapy. Conventional therapy is defined as treatment with glucocorticoids plus any of the following immunomodulatory agents: cyclophosphamide, mycophenolate mofetil, methotrexate, leflunomide, azathioprine, tacrolimus, cyclosporine, and/or biologics (such as rituximab and belimumab), with a cumulative treatment duration of \>6 months；
  5. Modified Rodnan Skin Score (mRSS) ≥15 and ≤30 at screening with progression within 6 months；
  6. Prior to the first dose, subjects must have received glucocorticoids and/or immunosuppressants for ≥12 weeks, with stable glucocorticoid doses for ≥30 days and immunosuppressant doses for ≥60 days. The glucocorticoid dose during the screening period should not exceed 10 mg/day of prednisone (or an equivalent dose of other glucocorticoids).
* Females of childbearing potential must use highly effective contraception from screening until 6 months after the last dose, refrain from oocyte donation, and ensure male partners use effective contraception.
* Males of childbearing potential must use effective contraception from screening until 6 months after the last dose, with no plans for fertility or sperm donation, and ensure female partners use effective contraception.

Exclusion Criteria:

* Severe lupus nephritis within 8 weeks prior to screening (defined as urinary protein \>6 g/24 h, serum creatinine \>2.5 mg/dL or 221 μmol/L), requirement of prohibited medications for active nephritis per protocol, need for hemodialysis, or receipt of prednisone ≥100 mg/day (or equivalent glucocorticoids) for ≥14 days.
* Central nervous system disorders (including but not limited to epilepsy, psychosis, interstitial encephalopathy syndrome, cerebrovascular accident, encephalitis, or CNS vasculitis) within 8 weeks prior to screening.
* Other types of idiopathic inflammatory myopathies: inclusion body myositis, amyotrophic diabetes, or juvenile myositis; patients with severe muscle damage or permanent weakness/cardiac involvement due to non-IIM causes (e.g., stroke).
* SSc-related pulmonary hypertension requiring treatment; rapidly progressive SSc-related lower gastrointestinal (small/large intestine) involvement requiring parenteral nutrition; active gastric antral vascular ectasia; history of SSc-related renal crisis.
* History of major organ transplantation (e.g., heart, lung, kidney, liver) or hematopoietic stem cell/bone marrow transplantation.
* Other concurrent autoimmune diseases requiring systemic therapy.
* IgA deficiency (serum IgA level \<10 mg/dL).
* Abnormal laboratory findings at screening: Liver function: AST/ALT \>2× upper limit of normal (ULN) (except for IIM patients with elevated muscle enzymes); Hematology: hemoglobin \<85 g/L, white blood cell count \<2.5×10⁹/L, platelet count \<50×10⁹/L.
* Participation in any other clinical trial (including cell or gene therapy) within 4 weeks prior to screening or within 5 half-lives of the investigational product (whichever is longer).
* Received CAR-T therapy within 6 months prior to screening.
* Treatment with B-cell-depleting agents (e.g., rituximab, or therapies targeting CD19/CD20/BAFF) within 1 month prior to screening, unless B-cell levels returned to pre-treatment or normal ranges.
* Received non-standard anti-SLE therapies (e.g., Saphnelo) within 3 months or 5 half-lives of the drug (whichever is longer) prior to screening.
* Received live/attenuated vaccination within 4 weeks prior to screening or plans to receive such during the trial.
* Active severe infection requiring antibiotic treatment within 14 days prior to screening.
* History of Grade 3-4 allergic reaction (per CTCAE v5.0) to another monoclonal antibody, or known hypersensitivity to any component of CC312 (e.g., recombinant proteins, polysorbate 80). Patients with transient (≤24 h) Grade ≤3 reactions may be included after discussion with the investigator.
* Evidence of drug abuse, substance abuse, or alcohol addiction.
* Major surgery within 4 weeks or minor surgery within 2 weeks prior to screening; wounds must be fully healed (procedures like catheter placement are excluded).
* History of cardiovascular events within 6 months prior to screening: New York Heart Association (NYHA) Class III/IV heart failure, myocardial infarction, unstable angina, uncontrolled/symptomatic atrial arrhythmia, ventricular arrhythmia, or other clinically significant cardiac conditions.
* Any other severe underlying disease (e.g., active gastric ulcer, uncontrolled seizures, cerebrovascular events, GI bleeding, severe coagulation disorders), psychiatric disorder, or social circumstances that may interfere with trial conduct, compliance, or pose high risk per investigator's judgment.
* Concurrent malignancy diagnosed within \<5 years prior to screening.
* Pregnant or lactating women.
* Positive serology for Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) antibody, Hepatitis B Surface Antigen (HBsAg), Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) antibody, or Treponema pallidum (TP) antibody at screening.
* Active or latent tuberculosis at screening (positive TB-IGRA test).
* Any other condition deemed ineligible by the investigator.

Where this trial is running

Deyang, Sichuan

• Deyang People's Hospital — Deyang, Sichuan, China (RECRUITING)

Study contacts

• Study coordinator: CEO

Conditions: SLE - Systemic Lupus Erythematosus, IIM- Idiopathic Inflammatory Myopathies, SSc-Systemic Sclerosis