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

NCT ID NCT03222492

Completed Symptom relief Sponsor: National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) Source: ClinicalTrials.gov ↗

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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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.

DCSSC DIFFUSE CUTANEOUS SYSTEMIC SCLEROSIS SCLERODERMA

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

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