Using CAR T-cell therapy to treat severe lupus
Official title: Autologous CD19 Car T-Cell Therapy For Patients With Severe Refractory Systemic Lupus Erythematosus - A Pilot Study
Run by National University of Malaysia · NCT06710717 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is testing a new CAR T-cell therapy to see if it can help people with severe lupus who haven't found relief from other treatments.
Quick facts
| Phase | Phase 1 |
|---|---|
| Study type | Interventional |
| Ages | 18 Years to 65 Years |
| Sex | All |
| Enrollment | 5 (estimated) |
| Sponsor | National University of Malaysia Academic / other |
| Drugs / interventions | belimumab, anifrolumab, rituximab, obinutuzumab, chemotherapy, methotrexate, cyclophosphamide, Chimeric Antigen Receptor, CAR-T, CAR T |
| Locations | 1 site (Bandar Tun Razak, Kuala Lumpur) |
| Status | Recruiting |
| Started | January 3, 2025 |
| Main results expected | December 2, 2028 |
| Study ends | January 2, 2029 |
| Registry record updated | May 29, 2025 |
| Trial ID | NCT06710717 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
Is this trial a fit for you?
✓Likely a good fit
Ideal candidates for this study are adults aged 18 to 65 with severe, treatment-refractory systemic lupus erythematosus.
✕Probably not a fit
Patients with mild or well-controlled lupus, or those who have not exhausted standard treatment options, may not benefit from this study.
A plain-English reading of the study's rules. Only the study team can confirm whether you qualify.
What this trial studies
This pilot clinical study evaluates the effectiveness of autologous CD19 CAR T-cell therapy for patients with severe, treatment-refractory systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). The study aims to assess the safety, tolerability, and efficacy of this innovative treatment approach, which targets autoreactive B-cells responsible for the autoimmune response in SLE. Conducted in Malaysia, the study will involve five patients diagnosed with severe SLE who have not responded adequately to existing therapies. The outcomes will be measured through clinical remission rates, serologic remission, and improvements in quality of life.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this therapy could provide a new, effective treatment option for patients suffering from severe lupus who have not responded to conventional therapies.
How similar studies have gone: While CAR T-cell therapy has shown promise in other autoimmune conditions, this specific application for severe SLE is novel and has not been extensively tested in prior studies.
Who can join: the full rules
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria: \- Aged between ≥ 18 to ≤ 65 years Clinical Diagnosis of SLE according to the 2019 European League Against Rheumatism/American College of Rheumatology (EULAR/ACR) classification criteria (Fanouriakis et al., 2019) Positive anti-nuclear antibody (ANA) (titer ≥1:80 ), anti-dsDNA (≥30 IU/mL on enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay \[ELISA\]), or anti-Smith at screening or by documented medical history Active disease (defined by not being in remission according to DORIS criteria or in a low disease activity state \[LLDAS\]) (Franklyn et al., 2016, van Vollenhoven et al., 2021) With at least one active organ system involvement Persistent active disease with insufficient response to glucocorticoids and at least 2 of the following treatments for at least 3 months each: cyclophosphamide, mycophenolate mofetil or its derivatives, belimumab, azathioprine, anifrolumab, methotrexate, rituximab, obinutuzumab, cyclosporin, tacrolimus or voclosporin. Serum ALT \<5 times the normal value, serum bilirubin \<3 times the normal value, Left ventricular ejection fraction \>45% Life expectancy of more than 3 months Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status ≤2. Psychological, sociological or geographical conditions precluding compliance A female of childbearing age must have a negative pregnancy test and is on two effective contraception methods A male must use two effective contraception methods Exclusion Criteria: \- Active cancer or receiving cancer treatment Evidence of severe lung, FVC \<45% and/or DLCO (corrected for Hb) \<30% predicted, heart (NYHA class III/IV, arrhythmia, AV block, uncontrolled hypertension), liver failure or severe neurologic disorders. Pre-existing irreversible kidney damage and creatinine clearance below 30 ml/min ( to review) Severe pancytopenia HIV positivity. Active Hepatitis B, C infection. Septicemia. Pregnant/nursing female. Receiving stem cell transplant within 12 weeks of enrolment, chemotherapy or radiotherapy within 8 weeks of enrolment Active CNS involvement.
Where it's running
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University Kebangsaan Malaysia Medical Center
Bandar Tun Razak, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia Recruiting
Study contacts
- Study coordinator: S Fadilah Abdul Wahid, PhD
- Email: sfadilah@hctm.ukm.edu.my
- Phone: +60391456450
Similar studies
Other studies for the same condition or treatment. Recruiting studies are listed first.
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In Vivo CD19/CD20 CAR T-Cell Therapy for Relapsed or Refractory B-Cell Lymphoma
This early-phase trial tests a one-time in vivo CAR T-cell therapy (SL1617) for people with relapsed or refractory B-cell lymphoma to see if it is safe and tolerable.
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CD5 CAR T-cell therapy for relapsed or refractory T-cell lymphoma
This trial tries CD5 CAR T-cell therapy, using either the patient's own cells or donor cells, and may bridge to stem-cell transplant for people 14–70 with relapsed or refractory T-cell lymphoma.
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Glofitamab plus obinutuzumab for mantle cell lymphoma after CAR‑T
This trial tests whether the antibody drug glofitamab given with obinutuzumab can shrink or control mantle cell lymphoma that returned or didn't respond after CD19 CAR‑T therapy in adults.
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CD7 CAR T-Cell Therapy for T-Cell Lymphomas
This study is testing a new CAR T-cell therapy for people with T-cell lymphomas that haven't responded to regular treatments to see if it is safe and effective.
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Using golcadomide and rituximab to prepare patients for CAR T-cell therapy in aggressive B-cell lymphoma
This study is testing if a combination of golcadomide and rituximab can help patients with aggressive B-cell lymphoma get ready for CAR T-cell therapy.
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Loncastuximab tesirine plus rituximab as bridging therapy before CAR-T for relapsed or refractory large B‑cell lymphoma
This trial tries loncastuximab tesirine with rituximab as a bridge before commercial CD19 CAR‑T therapy for adults with relapsed or refractory large B‑cell lymphoma to see if it is safe and helps control disease before CAR‑T.
How to take part
- Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
- Check the official listing on ClinicalTrials.gov for the latest contact details and recruitment status.
- Contact the study coordinator or principal investigator to ask for pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.