New drug aims to calm dangerous immune storms in Still's and lupus patients

NCT ID NCT05001737

Completed Disease control Sponsor: Swedish Orphan Biovitrum Source: ClinicalTrials.gov ↗

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

Summary

This study tested a drug called emapalumab in 33 children and adults with macrophage activation syndrome (MAS), a life-threatening immune overreaction, linked to Still's disease or lupus. The goal was to see if the drug could safely control the condition and reduce the need for high-dose steroids. Participants received emapalumab by IV, and researchers measured how many achieved a complete response by week 8.

What this could mean

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

Active substance: emapalumab (a drug given by IV infusion that blocks a protein called interferon gamma)
What this could lead to: If it works, this could offer a new treatment option for people with severe immune overreaction (MAS) linked to Still's disease or lupus, potentially reducing the need for high-dose steroids.
What could go wrong: This is a small, single-arm study (no placebo group), so results are preliminary. The drug may not work for everyone, and side effects like infections are possible since it suppresses the immune system.

This is an AI summary of the original study and may miss details. Read our disclaimer.

Get updates

Get notified about this study

Our safety recommendation!

By submitting, you agree to our Terms of use

Conditions

The condition(s) this trial relates to.

adult-onset Still disease juvenile idiopathic arthritis macrophage activation syndrome secondary hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis systemic lupus erythematosus systemic-onset juvenile idiopathic arthritis

As listed by the trial registrant

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

AOSD MACROPHAGE ACTIVATION SYNDROME MAS SECONDARY HEMOPHAGOCYTIC LYMPHOHISTIOCYTOSIS SJIA STILL DISEASE SYSTEMIC LUPUS ERYTHEMATOSUS

Contacts and locations

Locations

Akron Children's Hospital

Akron, Ohio, 44308, United States
Alberta Children's Hospital

Calgary, Canada
Beijing Children's Hospital

Beijing, China
Beijing Friendship Hospital

Beijing, China
Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Sainte-Justine

Montreal, Canada
Centre Hospitalier de l'Université de Montréal

Montreal, Canada
Charité Universitätsmedizin

Berlin, Germany
Children's Healthcare of Atlanta

Atlanta, Georgia, 30329, United States
Children's Hospital of Fudan University

Shanghai, China
Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center

Cincinnati, Ohio, 45229, United States
Fakultní nemocnice Olomouc

Olomouc, Czechia
Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico

Milan, Italy
Great Ormond Street Hospital

London, United Kingdom
Hospital Sant Joan de Déu

Barcelona, Spain
Hospital Universitari i Politècnic La Fe

Valencia, Spain
Hospital Universitario

La Paz, Spain
Hospital Universitario La Paz

La Paz, Spain
Hospital for sick children

Toronto, Canada
Hôpital Claude Huriez

Lille, France
Hôpital De La Conception

Marseille, France
Hôpital Necker-Enfants Malades

Paris, France
Hôpital Universitaire Pitié Salpêtrière

Paris, France
IRCCS - Materno-Infantile Burlo Garofolo

Trieste, Italy
IRCCS G. Gaslini

Genova, Italy
Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust

London, United Kingdom
Nationwide Children's Hospital, Abigail Wexner Research Institute

Columbus, Ohio, 43205, United States
Ortopedyczno - Rehabilitacyjny Szpital Kliniczny im. Wiktora Degi Uniwersytetu Medycznego im. Karola Marcinkowskiego w Poznaniu

Poznan, Poland
Osaka Medical and Pharmaceutical University Hospital

Takatsuki, Japan
Ospedale Pediatrico Bambino Gesù

Roma, Italy
St. Marianna University School of Medicine Hospital

Kawasaki, Japan
Szpital Specjalistyczny im. J. Dietla w Krakowie

Krakow, Poland
Tokyo Medical and Dental University Hospital

Tokyo, Japan
UAB Hospital

Birmingham, Alabama, 35233, United States
UCLA Health

Los Angeles, California, 90095, United States
UMC Utrecht

Utrecht, Netherlands
UPMC Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, 15213, United States
Universitair Ziekenhuis Leuven

Leuven, Belgium
University of Calgary

Calgary, Canada
University of Florida

Gainesville, Florida, 32610, United States
University of Minnesota Masonic Children's Hospital

Minneapolis, Minnesota, 55455, United States
Universitätsklinikum Heidelberg

Heidelberg, Germany
Vseobecna Fakultni Nemocnice v Praze

Prague, Czechia
Wojewódzki Specjalistyczny Szpital Dziecięcy im. św. Ludwika w Krakowie

Krakow, Poland
Yokohama City University Hospital

Yokohama, Japan

More trials for these conditions

Other studies related to the condition(s) this trial covers.