Experimental CAR T-Cell Treatment Sends Five Lupus Patients Into Remission After UCLH Trial, Raising Hope for a Future Cure
LONDON, UK — An experimental CAR T-cell therapy has put five people with lupus into remission after a small trial at University College London Hospital. The results are being described as a major step forward for a disease that affects about 1.5 million Americans.
Researchers say the treatment could eventually offer a path away from the long-term cycle of autoimmune illness, though more study is still needed before any cure can be confirmed.
Small UCLH study focused on lupus nephritis
Nine patients were treated for lupus nephritis, a serious lupus-related condition that can cause fatigue, inflammation, joint pain and organ failure. The group included six patients who received a lower dose of the therapy and three who received a higher dose.
Five of the six people given the lower dose went into remission within three months, and that response lasted through the study’s 11-month follow-up period. The higher-dose patients are still being monitored.
How CAR T-cell therapy works
CAR T-cell therapy uses a patient’s own white blood cells, which are removed from the blood and genetically reprogrammed to attack disease. The approach has already transformed some cancer treatments, and scientists have been studying whether it can be adapted for autoimmune disorders.
In lupus, the immune system mistakenly attacks healthy tissue instead of protecting it. That can damage organs such as the kidneys, which is what made the trial group especially high risk.
One patient says remission changed daily life
Among the patients who improved was Katie Tinkler, who said her lungs, heart and kidneys had all been deteriorating before treatment. Since recovering, she has gone Alpine skiing for the first time and danced at her daughter’s wedding.
She told The Guardian that the difference between life two years ago and now is striking, calling the change lifechanging and saying she feels blessed.
Researchers say larger studies will determine next steps
Professor Karl Peggs, director of UCLH’s biomedical research center, called the findings “truly groundbreaking” and said they offer fresh hope for people living with lupus. He added that, if larger studies confirm the results, a cure may no longer be out of reach.
Researchers caution that the trial was small, and they say more evidence will be needed before CAR T-cell therapy can be considered a standard lupus treatment.
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