Inaticabtagene autoleucel for refractory SLE-related immune thrombocytopenia

A Multi-center, Open-label, Single-arm Phase I Clinical Study to Evaluate the Safety and Tolerability of Inaticabtagene Autoleucel Injection in Treatment of Refractory Systemic Lupus Erythematosus-related Immune Thrombocytopenia

This study will test a personalized CAR‑T cell treatment (inaticabtagene autoleucel) to try to raise platelet counts in adults with SLE-related immune thrombocytopenia that has not responded to standard therapies.

Quick facts

• Phase: PHASE1
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 12 (estimated)
• Ages: 18 Years to 70 Years
• Sex: All
• Sponsor: Juventas Cell Therapy Ltd. (industry)
• Drugs / interventions: CAR-T, prednisone, Chemotherapy
• Locations: 1 site (Beijing, Beijing Municipality)
• Trial ID: NCT06826430 on ClinicalTrials.gov

What this trial studies

This is a single-arm, open-label, non-randomized phase I dose-escalation study designed to determine the safety and tolerability of inaticabtagene autoleucel and to identify a recommended Phase II dose. Participants undergo screening, cell collection and product preparation, lymphodepleting chemotherapy, infusion of the cell product, and scheduled follow-up including a survival follow-up period. The total planned observation period after infusion is two years. The primary focus is on safety endpoints and tolerability, with dosing escalated per protocol to define the Phase II recommended dose.

Who should consider this trial

Good fit: Adults aged 18–70 with a clinical diagnosis of refractory SLE-related immune thrombocytopenia, persistent platelet counts below 50×10^9/L, and prior failure of high‑dose steroids plus at least one immunosuppressant (including biologics) are the intended participants.

Not a fit: Patients who respond to standard therapies, who are outside the 18–70 age range, or who have medical contraindications to cellular therapy or cannot undergo the required pre‑treatment procedures may not benefit from this intervention.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, the treatment could provide a durable increase in platelet counts and reduce the need for ongoing high‑dose steroids or other immunosuppressants in people with refractory SLE-related immune thrombocytopenia.

How similar studies have performed: Related B‑cell–targeting CAR‑T approaches have shown promise in some refractory autoimmune conditions and case reports in severe SLE exist, but this specific agent and indication remain experimental and primarily untested in a controlled setting.

Eligibility criteria

Inclusion Criteria:

1. Age range: 18-70 years (including 18 and 70 years), regardless of gender.
2. Clinically diagnosed with Refractory Systemic Lupus Erythematosus-related Immune Thrombocytopenia according to the revised criteria of ACR in 1997 or EULAR/ACR in 2019. At least two consecutive blood routine tests showing platelet counts \<50×10\^9/L; Peripheral blood smear microscopy showed no significant abnormalities in the morphology of blood cells; The morphological characteristics of bone marrow cells are consistent with immune thrombocytopenia. Treated at least 1 course of MP shock therapy or high-dose steroids, combined with one or more immunosuppressive agents (including biologics) for at least 3 months but not achieving partial remission, or the efficacy cannot be maintained during the steroid reduction process.
3. During the study period, the use of corticosteroids at a dose not exceeding 10mg prednisone or its equivalent, all immunosuppressants (excluding hydroxychloroquine) should be discontinued.
4. Women of childbearing potential must have a negative blood pregnancy test 7 days prior to trial conditioning therapy; any male and female patients of childbearing potential must agree to use an effective method of contraception throughout the study and for at least 2 year following infusion of CAR-T cells. Childbearing potential is biologically capable of bearing a living baby and sexually active. Female patients who were not of childbearing potential (ie, met at least 1 of the following criteria):

   * Hysterectomy or oophorectomy, or
   * Medically confirmed ovarian failure, or medically confirmed postmenopausal (cessation of menses for at least 12 consecutive months in the absence of pathological or physiological causes).
5. Adequate organ function according to the following criteria:

   * Aspartate aminotransferase (AST) ≤ 3 times of upper limit of normal (ULN);
   * Alanine aminotransferase (ALT) ≤ 3 times ULN;
   * Total serum bilirubin ≤ 2 times ULN unless the patient has documented Gilbert's syndrome; patients with Gilbert's syndrome who have bilirubin ≤ 3.0 times ULN and direct bilirubin ≤ 1.5 times ULN may be included;
   * Serum creatinine ≤ 1.5 times ULN, or creatinine clearance ≥ 60 mL/min (Cockcroft and Gault formula), Patients with lupus nephritis may relax the conditions appropriately according to the judgment of the investigator;
   * Must have minimal pulmonary reserve and oxygen saturation \> 91% in a nonoxygenated state;
   * Lymphocyte count \> 0.4 × 109/L.

Exclusion Criteria:

1. Severe active central nervous system (CNS) lupus, including seizures, psychosis, cerebrovascular accidents, or CNS vasculitis requiring therapeutic intervention within 60 days after baseline.
2. Dialysis patients or creatinine clearance rate less than 30mL/min.
3. Pregnancy or breastfeeding.
4. Merge active infections (such as sepsis, bacteremia, mycosis, uncontrolled lung infections, and active tuberculosis).
5. Hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) and/or hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg) are positive; Hepatitis B e antibody (HBe Ab) and/or hepatitis B core antibody (HBcAb) are positive, and the number of HBV-DNA copies is greater than the measurable lower limit; Hepatitis C (HCV) antibody positive; positive for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) antibodies; positive for syphilis antibody (TP Ab);
6. Major surgery that was assessed as unsuitable by the investigators within 4 weeks before screening.
7. Patients with concurrent active malignancy within the past five years, those with a history of malignancy but cuired are eligible.
8. The patient's heart meets any of the following conditions:

   Left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) ≤ 45%; New York Heart Association (NYHA) Grade III or IV congestive heart failure or active heart disease; Severe arrhythmias that require treatment (excluding atrial fibrillation and paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia); QTcB interval ≥ 450ms for males and ≥ 470ms for females (QTcB=QT/RR1/2); Have had myocardial infarction, bypass or stent surgery within the 6 months prior to the study; Other heart diseases that have been determined by researchers to be unsuitable for inclusion;
9. Patients with clinically significant pleural effusion during screening.
10. Patients vaccinated with a live vaccine within 6 weeks prior to screening.
11. Patients with deep vein thrombosis within 6 months prior to screening, or a history of pulmonary embolism.
12. Patients with a life expectancy of less than 6 months.
13. Patients participating in any other interventional clinical study or receiving treatment of an active investigational drug within 3 months or 5 half-lives for launched drugs prior to Inaticabtagene Autoleucel Injection infusion.
14. Patients with a history of epilepsy, cerebral ischemia/hemorrhage, cerebellar diseases, or other active central nervous system disorders;
15. Patients with hypersensitivity reactions to the components of Inaticabtagene Autoleucel Injection.
16. Patients previously received CAR-T cell therapy.

Where this trial is running

Beijing, Beijing Municipality

• Peking Union Medical College Hospital — Beijing, Beijing Municipality, China (RECRUITING)

Study contacts

• Principal investigator: Mengtao Li, Dr. — Peking Union Medical College
• Study coordinator: Junyin Yu

Conditions: Autoimmune Thrombocytopenia