Can a One-Time cell therapy silence lupus?
NCT ID NCT06513429
First seen Aug 31, 2026 · Last updated Sep 01, 2026 · Updated 1 time
Summary
This trial tests whether a single infusion of IM19 CAR-T cells can calm severe lupus that has not responded to standard treatments. Six adults with refractory systemic lupus erythematosus will receive the engineered immune cells, which are designed to target and reset the faulty immune response. Researchers will track disease activity and side effects for up to a year to see if the therapy can produce lasting improvement.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only, not medical advice or a prediction.
- Active substance
- IM19 CAR-T cells, a type of engineered immune cell therapy
- What this could lead to
- If it works, this could offer a one-time treatment that resets the immune system and puts severe lupus into long-term remission without daily medications.
- What could go wrong
- This is a very early, tiny study with only 6 participants, so results may not apply broadly. CAR-T therapy carries risks like cytokine release syndrome and infections, and the disease could still return.
This is an AI summary of the original study and may miss details. Read our disclaimer.
Study facts
What this study's own registry entry says, in plain language.
- Phase
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Not a phased trial
Phase numbers describe drug development. The registry uses this when they do not apply, as it does for trials of devices, procedures or behaviour changes, and for observational studies.
- Participants
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About 6 people
The number the study aims to enrol. It can still change while the study runs.
- Started
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Jul 2024
- Expected to finish
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Dec 2027
An estimate. End dates often move.
- Lead sponsor
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Other sponsor
The registry's catch-all category, for sponsors it does not file as a company, a government agency, or a research network.
Who can take part
This study's own entry requirements. Only the study team can say for certain whether you qualify.
- Ages
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18 to 65 years
- Sex
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Anyone
- Healthy volunteers
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Not accepted
This study is not open to healthy volunteers. The entry requirements below say who it is open to.
Show the full entry requirements Hide the full entry requirements
Copied word for word from the study's registry entry, so the wording is the study team's rather than ours.
Inclusion Criteria: * 1)The subject was diagnosed with systemic lupus erythematosus and met the classification criteria of EULAR/ACR 2019 SLE (see Annex 2) * 2\) Age ≥ 18 years old, ≤ 65 years old * 3\) Weight ≥ 40 kg * 4\) Meets the current clinical standards for refractory systemic lupus erythematosus: the disease remains active or relapses and progresses after systemic treatment using the current standard treatment regimen, including steroids (sufficient or shock therapy), immunosuppressants (cyclophosphamide or mycophenolate mofetil), and biologics (belizumab or Rituximab) * 5\) Currently, one or more of the following stable dose standard therapies are being used to treat SLE: steroids, antimalarial drugs, immunosuppressants. If the subject is receiving steroids, the following conditions must be met: at screening time and during screening period, the maximum dose of steroids is 30mg/day prednisone (or equivalent dose). Before screening, the dose of steroids should remain stable for ≥ 7 days. During the screening period, the dose of steroids adjustment should not exceed 5mg/day prednisone (or equivalent dose). If the subject is receiving treatment with antimalarial drugs and/or conventional immunosuppressants: the start time of drug treatment must be ≥ 12 weeks before screening. Maintain a stable dose of medication for at least 8 weeks before and during screening. Before the screening period, if biological agents (such as belizumab or Telitacicept) are used, they need to be discontinued for at least 4 weeks before screening. * 6\) Disease activity score (SLEDAI-2K) with a score of 10 or above (refer to Attachment 3) * 7\) Women of childbearing age who tested negative for blood pregnancy before the start of the trial and agreed to take effective contraceptive measures during the trial period until the last follow-up * 8\) Male participants whose partners have fertility agree to take effective contraceptive measures during the trial period until the last follow-up * 9\) Those who voluntarily participate in this experiment and sign an informed consent form. Exclusion Criteria: * 1\) After evaluation by researchers, it is determined that the subject has diseases that are not suitable for participation in this study, such as life-threatening conditions (e.g., catastrophic antiphospholipid syndrome, acute severe renal failure, acute severe central nervous system disease manifestations). * 2\) The research subject has a history of alcohol or drug abuse within the past 24 weeks. * 3\) The research subject has a history of malignant tumors other than B-cell lymphoma. * 4\) Major surgery (including joint surgery) was performed within 24 weeks prior to screening, or surgery is planned within 24 weeks after enrollment in the study. * 5\) The research subject has overlapping mixed connective tissue diseases and other syndromes that affect the judgment of disease activity. * 6\) The research subject has human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection, selective IgA deficiency, T-cell deficiency virus infection, chronic hepatitis B or C virus infection, or SARS-CoV-2 \[severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2\] infections. * 7\) The research subject has a known active tuberculosis (TB) infection or bacterial infection. * 8\) History of myocardial infarction, cardiac angioplasty or stent placement, unstable angina, active arrhythmia, or other clinically significant heart disease within 6 months prior to screening initiation. * 9\) History of symptomatic deep vein thrombosis or pulmonary embolism within 6 months prior to screening initiation. * 10\) The research subject's alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), or alkaline phosphatase (ALP) levels are ≥3×ULN, or bilirubin \>1.5×ULN, excluding laboratory test abnormalities due to SLE hepatitis. * 11\) The research subject has stage 4 chronic kidney failure, indicated by an estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) \<30 mL/min/1.73 m², or serum creatinine \>2.5 mg/dL. During the screening visit (V1), the research subject presents with any of the following significant hematological abnormalities: a. Hemoglobin \<7.0 g/dL b. CD4+ T lymphocytes \<200/mm³ c. Absolute neutrophil count \<500/mm³ d. CD4+ T lymphocytes \<500/mm³ with a neutrophil count \<1000/mm³ e. Platelets \<25,000/mm³. * 12\) Treatment with CD20 monoclonal antibodies was used within the past 6 months. * 13\) Conditions that the researcher considers unsuitable for inclusion in this clinical trial.
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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.
How to take part
Only the study team decides who joins. These are the ways to reach them.
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The places running it
1 site. The list below names each one and where it is.
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The official record
ClinicalTrials.gov lists the study team's own contact details, including names and phone numbers. We don't republish those.
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A doctor treating you
A doctor who knows your case can contact a study site on your behalf, and can tell you whether this study is worth pursuing at all.
Contacts and locations
Locations
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Peking Universitiy Third Hospital
RECRUITINGBeijing, Beijing Municipality, 100191, China
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