Testing a new immune cell treatment for severe autoimmune diseases

Plain-English translation of NCT07473154 on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗ · Source last updated October 2026 · Translation generated September 2026 · How we translate trials

What is this trial?

This is an early-stage trial testing , a new type of cell therapy designed to calm an overactive immune system in people with severe systemic sclerosis or difficult-to-treat rheumatoid arthritis. The medication is made from your own blood cells, which are collected, modified in a laboratory to target problem immune cells, and then given back to you as a single infusion. Researchers want to see if this personalized approach is safe and whether it can reduce disease activity and symptoms.

Current treatments don't work well enough for everyone with these serious autoimmune diseases, and some patients' conditions are resistant to standard therapies. This trial is exploring whether a new approach—using your own immune cells as medicine—could offer hope for patients who have limited options.

Do you qualify?

You likely qualify if…

you are at least 18 years old
you have been diagnosed with diffuse cutaneous systemic sclerosis (with specific skin involvement and lung changes) or difficult-to-treat rheumatoid arthritis that hasn't responded to other treatments
you have adequate heart, liver, and kidney function based on recent blood tests
you are willing to commit to 15 years of follow-up visits and monitoring
you are able and willing to use effective contraception during and after the study

You likely don't qualify if…

you have an active or chronic infection, or a history of serious infections like tuberculosis, hepatitis B or C, or HIV
you have had cancer in the past 5 years
you have received a previous cell therapy or certain experimental B-cell therapies in the past year
you have had an organ transplant or bone marrow transplant
you are taking certain medications that cannot be safely stopped, or you are taking investigational agents from another trial

What participation looks like

First, you'll have a procedure to collect immune cells from your blood (called leukapheresis). These cells are then sent to a laboratory to be modified and grown. Once ready, you'll receive a single infusion of the treatment into your vein. After that, you'll have frequent clinic visits over the first year with blood tests, imaging, physical exams, and questionnaires to check for safety and how well the treatment is working. You'll then continue with annual check-ups and monitoring for 15 years total, which is standard for cell therapy trials.

Testing a new immune cell treatment for severe autoimmune diseases

What is this trial?

Do you qualify?

What participation looks like

Trial locations(10 sites)