Engineered immune cells take on autoimmune disease

NCT ID NCT06544330

First seen Jun 26, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026 · Updated 1 time

Summary

This early-stage trial is testing a new treatment for people with severe lupus or scleroderma that hasn't responded to standard therapies. The treatment involves taking a patient's own immune cells, modifying them to target and destroy faulty immune cells, and giving them back along with a supporting drug. The main goal is to see if the treatment is safe and tolerable in 48 participants.

What this could mean

Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only — not medical advice or a prediction.

Active substance

A combination of two treatments: SYNCAR-001 (a patient's own immune cells modified to target and destroy faulty immune cells) and STK-009 (a drug that helps those modified cells survive and work longer).

What this could lead to

If it works, this could point toward a new way to control severe autoimmune diseases like lupus and scleroderma without lifelong medication.

What could go wrong

This is a very early (phase 1) and small trial (48 people) focused on safety. The treatment may cause serious side effects, and it is not yet known if it will effectively control the disease.

Disclaimer Read more

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.

lupus nephritis systemic lupus erythematosus systemic sclerosis

As listed by the trial registrant

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

Contacts and locations

Locations

  • Feinstein Institutes for Medical Research

    Manhasset, New York, 11030, United States

  • Hackensack University Medical Center

    Hackensack, New Jersey, 07601, United States

  • HonorHealth Research Institute

    Scottsdale, Arizona, 85258, United States

  • Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center

    Columbus, Ohio, 43210, United States

  • The Cleveland Clinic Foundation

    Cleveland, Ohio, 44195, United States