A Phase 1 clinical trial has shown that CAR-T cell therapy can induce remission lasting 36 to 52 weeks in patients with severe rheumatoid arthritis, according to ad-hoc-news.de. The treatment was tested on patients who had exhausted other therapeutic options.
The trial, known as COMPARE, involved patients who had not responded to standard treatments. Results reported by multiple outlets, including aerzteblatt.de and it boltwise, indicate that the therapy produced drug-free remission in three patients. These individuals had previously been considered refractory to existing treatments, according to de.martincid.com.
CAR-T cell therapy involves reprogramming a patient's own immune cells to target specific disease markers. While the approach has gained prominence in oncology, this trial represents an early application to autoimmune disease. The findings, covered by medlabportal.de, suggest the therapy can dampen the overactive immune response driving rheumatoid arthritis without the need for ongoing medication.
