CAR T: HOPE FOR CANCER PATIENTS WORLDWIDE

CAR-T therapy for systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) in China has seen groundbreaking progress, particularly in treating refractory cases and pediatric patients. Here are the key advancements:

Clinical Trial Milestones

  • Pediatric Breakthrough: The Children’s Hospital of Zhejiang University School of Medicine reported the world’s first CAR-T application for childhood-onset SLE in March 2024, treating 20 children with refractory SLE. All patients achieved drug-free remission, discontinuing steroids and biologics.
  • Adult Refractory SLE: Trials targeting CD19 (e.g., Relma-cel) demonstrated sustained remission in adults, with 91.67% of patients stopping conventional immunosuppressants. SLE Disease Activity Index (SLEDAI) scores dropped to 0–1 post-treatment.
  • Beijing GoBroad Hospital is among the leading institutions now offering a CAR-T program for SLE, building on these clinical advances to provide cutting-edge care for both pediatric and adult patients.

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Opening Ceremony of the Center for Hematology and Rheumatology Immunology at GoBroad Hospital, Beijing

Therapeutic Targets and Mechanisms

  • CD19 CAR-T: Dominates clinical efforts, effectively depleting autoreactive B cells. Trials show rapid B-cell clearance (median 4 days) and durable remission even after B-cell reconstitution.
  • BCMA CAR-T: Emerging as a complementary approach, targeting plasma cells to reduce pathogenic autoantibodies.

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Safety and Efficacy

  • Mild Side Effects: Most trials reported low-grade cytokine release syndrome (CRS) (Grade 1-2) and no neurotoxicity (ICANS).
  • Durability: Patients maintained remission for 14–24 months post-treatment, with normalized complement levels and reduced anti-dsDNA antibodies.

Industry and Innovation

  • China’s Leadership: 50% of global CAR-T pipeline assets for SLE/LN are developed in China, with 18 active trials. Companies like JW Therapeutics presented positive Phase I data for Relma-cel at EULAR 2024.
  • Cost Reduction Efforts: Research into universal ("off-the-shelf") CAR-T aims to lower production costs and improve accessibility.

China’s aggressive investment in CAR-T for SLE positions it as a global leader, offering hope for patients with severe, treatment-resistant disease.


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Publication date: May 2025
Sources:
clinicaltrialsarena.com
pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
cartcellschina.com
mednexus.org
en.zjuch.cn
frontiersin.org
the-innovation.org
pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov