Cancer drug repurposed to fight rare skin disease in small safety trial

NCT ID NCT03222492

First seen Jun 27, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026

Summary

This early-phase study tested whether a drug used for lymphoma, brentuximab vedotin, is safe for people with a severe form of scleroderma (diffuse cutaneous systemic sclerosis). The drug targets overactive immune cells that may drive the disease. Only 17 people took part, and the main goal was to check for serious side effects. This is a first step—not a cure—to see if the approach is worth studying further.

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This is a summary of the original study . Summaries may miss details or leave out important information. Before applying or accepting participation, make sure you have read and understood the full study. Curemydisease.com takes no responsibility whatsoever for anything missed, misunderstood, or acted upon as a result of our summary — we know it does not capture everything.

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Conditions

The condition(s) this trial relates to.

diffuse cutaneous systemic sclerosis diffuse scleroderma scleroderma

As listed by the trial registrant

The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.

Contacts and locations

Locations

  • Duke University Medical Center: Division of Rheumatology and Immunology

    Durham, North Carolina, 27710, United States

  • Georgetown University Medical Center: Division of Rheumatology

    Washington D.C., District of Columbia, 20057, United States

  • Hospital for Special Surgery, New York: Division of Rheumatology

    New York, New York, 10021, United States

  • Medical University of South Carolina: Division of Rheumatology & Immunology

    Charleston, South Carolina, 29425, United States

  • UCLA Medical Center: Division of Rheumatology

    Los Angeles, California, 90095, United States

  • University of Michigan Health System: Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Rheumatology

    Ann Arbor, Michigan, 48109, United States

  • University of Pittsburgh Medical Center: Division of Rheumatology and Clinical

    Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, 15217, United States

  • University of Texas Houston Medical School: Division of Rheumatology and Clinical Immunogenetics

    Houston, Texas, 77030, United States