CD19 chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapy seems feasible, safe, and efficacious for patients with different autoimmune diseases, according to a study published in the Feb. 22 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine.

Patients were followed for a median of 15 months. The mean duration of B-cell aplasia was 112 ± 47 days. The researchers found that all patients with SLE had DORIS remission, all patients with idiopathic inflammatory myositis had an ACR-EULAR major clinical response, and a reduction in the score on the EUSTAR activity index was seen for all patients with systemic sclerosis. In all patients, immunosuppressive therapy was completely stopped. In 10 patients, grade 1 cytokine release syndrome occurred.

“Even though it is premature to judge whether these patients are indeed cured from their autoimmune disease, CD19 CAR T-cells at least appear to be able to achieve sustained disease- and drug-free remission,” the authors write.