Can a common arthritis drug tame CAR-T's dangerous side effects?
NCT ID NCT04150913
First seen Jun 27, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026
Summary
This phase 2 trial tested whether adding the drug anakinra (Kineret) to standard CAR-T cell therapy could prevent nerve toxicity in 15 people with relapsed or refractory non-Hodgkin lymphoma. Participants received anakinra injections for a week alongside their CAR-T infusion. The goal was to reduce severe side effects like confusion or seizures without harming the cancer-fighting power of the treatment.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only — not medical advice or a prediction.
- Active substance
- Anakinra (Kineret) and axicabtagene ciloleucel (CAR-T cells)
- What this could lead to
- If it works, this could reduce serious nerve side effects from CAR-T therapy, making the treatment safer for lymphoma patients.
- What could go wrong
- This is a small, early-phase trial with only 15 participants, so results may not apply broadly. The drug may not reduce neurotoxicity as hoped.
This is an AI summary of the original study and may miss details. Read our disclaimer.
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Conditions
The condition(s) this trial relates to.
As listed by the trial registrant
The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.
Contacts and locations
Locations
-
Dana Farber Cancer Institute
Boston, Massachusetts, 02215, United States
-
Massachusetts General Hospital
Boston, Massachusetts, 02115, United States
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