A woman in Manchester has become the first person in the UK to receive an innovative CAR-T (Chimeric Antigen Receptor T-cell) therapy for severe lupus, offering hope for a potential cure for the debilitating autoimmune condition. The international Phase 1 CARLYSE study, led by University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (UCLH) and UCL and sponsored by Autolus, is evaluating the therapy's ability to reduce or even eliminate the need for lifelong medication for patients with severe lupus.
Lupus, or systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), affects approximately 69,000 people in the UK and occurs when the body's immune system attacks healthy tissues and organs. Current treatments involve drugs to relieve symptoms and reduce organ damage, but these can have unwanted side effects and may eventually stop working. The causes of lupus are not fully understood, and there is currently no cure.
CAR-T Therapy: A New Hope for Lupus Treatment
The CARLYSE study is the first in the UK to assess the potential of CAR-T therapy to treat a disease other than cancer. The therapy involves modifying a patient's own T cells to target and kill B cells, which are believed to play a key role in the development of lupus. This approach has shown promise in treating blood cancers, and researchers are hopeful that it can be replicated in autoimmune diseases.
"We are delighted to be the first to deliver this fantastic research in the UK, which we hope will revolutionise treatment for patients with high-risk lupus, that could potentially lead to a cure for the disease," said Professor Ben Parker, Consultant Rheumatologist at the Kellgren Centre for Rheumatology and study lead at the MRI.
Early Results Show Promise
Katherine, a 32-year-old patient diagnosed with lupus in 2021, was the first person in the UK to receive the CAR-T lupus therapy. After several drugs failed to ease her symptoms, she was invited to participate in the CAR-T therapy research. Approximately six weeks after receiving the therapy, Katherine reported feeling more energy and experiencing no joint swelling.
"Even though I wasn’t expecting to feel this better so quickly, I do feel I have more energy and I have had no joint swelling. I’m feeling hopeful for the future," Katherine said.
AUTO1/obe-cel: A 'Low Toxicity' CAR-T Therapeutic
The CAR-T therapeutic used in the CARLYSE trial is AUTO1/obe-cel, a 'low toxicity' CAR-T therapy innovated by UCL. In early-phase trials of patients with blood cancers, AUTO1/obe-cel was well-tolerated and resulted in durable remissions in substantial numbers of patients. Researchers are hopeful that it will have a similarly transformational impact in patients suffering from refractory lupus.
"It is fantastic to be involved in the wider development of the UCL-innovated, ‘low toxicity’ CAR-T therapeutic AUTO1/obe-cel for patients with refractory lupus," said UCLH Consultant Haematologist and UCL Cancer Institute researcher Claire Roddie.
A Collaborative Effort
The delivery of this novel treatment has been a collaborative effort across multiple specialities, involving rheumatology, haematology, cancer services, and Manchester CRF’s experimental Phase 1 clinical trial expertise. The trial aims to recruit 12 people worldwide, with regular checks and a 15-year follow-up study to understand the long-term effects of the treatment.
"This ground-breaking new therapy marks a significant milestone in our research into lupus and offers real hope to our patients in Manchester and beyond," added Professor Parker.
