Clinical trial Recruiting at 1 site Phase 1 Interventional Ages 18 to 75

GNC-038 tetra-specific antibody injection for adults with moderate-to-severe systemic lupus erythematosus

Official title: A Randomized Controlled Phase I Clinical Study to Evaluate the Efficacy, Safety, Tolerability, and Pharmacokinetics/Pharmacodynamics of GNC-038 Tetra-specific Antibody Injection in Systemic Lupus Erythematosus

Run by Sichuan Baili Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. · NCT06857214 · Data updated 2026-11-12

This study will test whether GNC-038, a tetra-specific antibody injection, is safe and can reduce disease activity in adults with moderate-to-severe systemic lupus erythematosus.

More Systemic Lupus Erythematosus trials

Quick facts

PhasePhase 1
Study typeInterventional
Ages18 Years to 75 Years
SexAll
Enrollment84 (estimated)
SponsorSichuan Baili Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd.
Industry-sponsored
Drugs / interventionsCAR-T, belimumab
Locations1 site (Shanghai, Shanghai Municipality)
StatusRecruiting
StartedJune 4, 2025
Main results expectedDecember 2027
Study endsDecember 2027
Registry record updatedJuly 10, 2026
Trial IDNCT06857214 on ClinicalTrials.gov

Is this trial a fit for you?

Likely a good fit

Adults 18–75 years old with moderate-to-severe SLE (SLEDAI-2K >7), positive ANA or elevated anti-dsDNA, detectable peripheral CD19+ B cells, a stable standard-of-care regimen for ≥30 days, and life expectancy >6 months are the intended participants.

Probably not a fit

Patients with mild SLE, absent peripheral CD19+ B cells, significant organ dysfunction, pregnancy, or those outside the 18–75 age range are unlikely to benefit from this early-phase study.

A plain-English reading of the study's rules. Only the study team can confirm whether you qualify.

What this trial studies

This phase I program starts with a phase Ia single-arm dose-escalation portion and proceeds to a randomized, placebo-controlled phase Ib. The trial will collect safety, pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic (PK/PD), and preliminary efficacy data in patients with measurable disease activity and autoantibody positivity. Phase Ia will identify tolerated dose ranges and characterize PK/PD, and phase Ib will compare active dosing against placebo while participants remain on stable background standard-of-care therapy. The study is being conducted at Renji Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, GNC-038 could provide a new targeted therapy that lowers lupus activity and reduces flares for patients who do not respond fully to current treatments.

How similar studies have gone: B-cell–targeted therapies such as rituximab and belimumab have benefited some SLE patients, but tetra-specific antibodies like GNC-038 are a novel approach that has not yet been proven in humans.

Who can join: the full rules

Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria:

1. Subjects can understand the informed consent form, voluntarily participate in and sign the informed consent form;
2. No gender limit;
3. Age: ≥18 years old and ≤75 years old;
4. Life expectancy greater than 6 months;
5. SLE was diagnosed according to the 2019 EULAR/ACR revised criteria;
6. Patients with moderate to severe systemic lupus erythematosus, SLEDAI-2K score \&gt at screening; 7 points;
7. A stable standard-of-care regimen was maintained for at least 30 days before the first dose;
8. ANA ≥ 1:80 or anti-dsdna antibody higher than the upper limit of normal range (ULN) as determined by central laboratory at screening;
9. The presence of CD19+ B cells in the peripheral blood of the patient;
10. The organ function level before the first administration met the requirements;
11. Female subjects of childbearing potential or male subjects with a fertile partner must use highly effective contraception from 7 days before the first dose until 24 weeks after the termination of treatment and should commit not to donate eggs (eggs, oocytes)/sperm for assisted reproduction for 1 year after the last study treatment. Female subjects of childbearing potential must have a negative serum/urine pregnancy test within 7 days before the first dose;
12. Participants were able and willing to comply with protocol-specified visits, treatment plans, laboratory tests, and other study-related procedures.

Exclusion Criteria:

1. Severe lupus nephritis within 8 weeks before screening;
2. She had uncontrolled lupus crisis within 8 weeks before screening and was not suitable for the study as assessed by the investigator;
3. Active encephalopathy or psychosis within 6 months before screening;
4. Primary diagnosis of different autoimmune or inflammatory diseases;
5. B cell-depleting therapy within 6 months before initiation of GNC-038 treatment;
6. Received CAR-T therapy within 6 months before GNC-038 treatment;
7. Cytokine-targeting biologic agents used within 12 weeks before dose administration;
8. Use of anti-tumor necrosis factor drugs within 8 weeks before administration;
9. Use of any JAK inhibitor within 2 weeks before dosing;
10. Receipt of any investigational drug within 28 days before dose or within 5 half-lives of the investigational drug;
11. Major organ transplantation history or hematopoietic stem cell/bone marrow transplantation;
12. Presence of: 1) active hepatitis B at screening; 2) hepatitis C or HIV infection; 3) syphilis infection;
13. A history of any cardiovascular disease described in the protocol within 6 months before screening;
14. Poorly controlled hypertension (systolic blood pressure ≥160 mmHg or diastolic blood pressure ≥100 mmHg);
15. Prolonged QT interval at rest (QTcf \> 450 msec in men or \> 470 msec in women);
16. A history of ≥ grade 2 bleeding within 30 days before screening or the need for long-term continuous anticoagulant therapy;
17. Patients with a history of allergy to recombinant humanized antibodies or to any of the excipients of GNC-038;
18. Women who are pregnant or breastfeeding;
19. Have a history or evidence of suicidal thoughts within 6 months before signing ICF, which is considered by the researcher to be a significant risk of suicide;
20. Diagnosed with malignant tumor within 5 years before signing ICF;
21. Other situations of poor compliance, unwillingness or inability to comply with the study protocol as judged by the investigator;
22. History of splenectomy;
23. Investigators considered a history of alcohol or drug abuse in the 12 months before screening;
24. Any active infection requiring systemic antibiotic treatment within 2 weeks before or during screening;
25. A history of severe and/or disseminated viral infection;
26. Active M. tuberculosis infection may be present.

Where it's running

  • Renji Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine
    Shanghai, Shanghai Municipality, China
    Recruiting

Study contacts

Similar studies

Other studies for the same condition or treatment. Recruiting studies are listed first.

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How to take part

  1. Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
  2. Check the official listing on ClinicalTrials.gov for the latest contact details and recruitment status.
  3. Contact the study coordinator or principal investigator to ask for pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.
Last reviewed 2026-11-14 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.