Clinical Research Directory

Mass Spectrometry-based Immune Profiling in Autoimmune Diseases

Based on mass spectrometry flow method, this study analyzed the typing of new T, B, NK and DC cell subsets in peripheral blood of common autoimmune diseases and their correlation with disease activity, aiming at establishing an early screening and diagnosis model of autoimmune diseases.

Controlling Hyperactive Immunity With Long-lived Lymphocytes

This study is a Phase 1/2, open-label clinical trial to test an experimental treatment called QEL-005 in adults with two autoimmune conditions: diffuse cutaneous systemic sclerosis (dcSSc) and difficult-to-treat rheumatoid arthritis (D2TRA). The main goals are to find out whether QEL-005 is safe, how well people tolerate it, and whether it may help reduce disease activity or improve symptoms. QEL-005 is made from a participant's own white blood cells (autologous cells). These cells are collected and then changed in a laboratory using genetic methods to create specialized immune cells called CAR-T regulatory cells that target a protein on B cells called CD19. These modified cells are then given back to the participant by intravenous (IV) infusion. To take part, eligible participants will first have a procedure called leukapheresis, where some of their white blood cells are removed from the blood. The study team will use these cells to manufacture QEL005. After QEL005 is ready, participants will receive an IV infusion of their modified cells, stay in hospital overnight for monitoring, and will then be followed closely in the clinic. Throughout the trial, participants will have regular safety checks, which may include blood tests, imaging scans, questionnaires about symptoms and daily functioning, and biopsies taken from involved tissues, to help understand how QEL005 is working in the body. Detailed follow up will be for 1 year after QEL-005 infusion, and there is long-term follow up for a total of 15 years, which is standard for cell therapies. The information from this Phase 1/2 study will help determine an appropriate dose and dosing schedule of QEL005 for future studies.

A Study to Assess the Efficacy and Safety of Efgartigimod PH20 SC in Adults With Systemic Sclerosis

The main purpose of this study is to evaluate the effect and safety of efgartigimod PH20 SC compared to placebo in adults with systemic sclerosis. The study consists of a screening period, a treatment period of up to 48 weeks and a safety follow-up period. After the screening period, eligible participants will be randomized in a 2:1 ratio to receive either efgartigimod PH20 SC or placebo. The total study duration can be up to approximately 15 months. More information can be found on: https://clinicaltrials.argenx.com/esscape

Efficacy of A Non-Invasive Botulinum Toxin Microneedle Pad for the Treatment of Secondary Raynaud's Phenomenon

Raynaud's Phenomenon (RP), a vasospastic disorder causing digital ischemia and potential tissue necrosis, is effectively treated with Botulinum Toxin Type A (BTX-A) in refractory cases. However, standard administration requires painful, invasive injections that risk infection and localized muscle weakness. To address these limitations, this randomized, placebo-controlled, parallel-group study evaluates a microneedle delivery system designed to reach the dermis while avoiding systemic circulation. By penetrating 70-80% of their height, these microneedles aim to improve hand function and symptom scores for adult systemic sclerosis patients through a more comfortable, portable, and less invasive method that increases delivery surface area while minimizing pain.

DERMATOMICS: Identifying Regulators of Skin Homeostasis

Diseases of the skin associated with chronic immune driven conditions, including scleroderma, lupus, dermatomyositis, psoriasis, and atopic dermatitis, significantly impact skin integrity, function, and overall quality of life. These conditions can lead to severe disfigurement, discomfort, and systemic complications, necessitating long-term medical intervention. The prevalence of these skin disorders is rising globally, driven by genetic, environmental, and immunological factors. Unravelling the mechanisms leading to skin manifestations may shed further insights in the overall mechanisms of disease. The DERMATOMICS study will focus on understanding systemic sclerosis (SSc) biology. Systemic Sclerosis (SSc) is a highly heterogeneous rare autoimmune fibrotic condition affecting the skin and internal organs. SSc is classified as a Connective Tissue Disease (CTD), a family of conditions including Systemic Lupus Erythematosus, Sjogren Syndrome and Inflammatory Myositis, all characterised by an autoimmune process affecting the connective tissue of most organs, communed by the presence of anti-nuclear antibodies (ANA). In SSc, patients are affected by a combination of tissue and vascular fibrosis, on the background of a chronic inflammatory process, leading to the highest per patient morbidity and mortality across CTDs. The main driver of mortality to date is interstitial lung disease (ILD), which is the consequence of the fibrotic involvement of the lungs, leading to a progressive loss of functional lung volumes, and ultimately, derangement of lung circulation, hypoxia, increased risk of hospitalisation for lower respiratory infections and death. Current treatments for CTDs include general immunosuppressive treatments, not necessarily targeted to the specific mechanisms underlying their presentation, focusing on reducing inflammation and managing symptoms rather than addressing the underlying causes. Many of these therapies have limited effectiveness or are burdened with significant side effects. Therefore, there is a critical need to develop a comprehensive understanding of the cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying these disorders to identify novel therapeutic targets. Several factors contribute to the risk and severity of SSc, including genetic predisposition, environmental triggers, immune system dysregulation, and lifestyle factors such as diet and smoking. The interactions between these factors are complex and not fully understood. By recruiting participants with SSc, we aim to obtain skin punch biopsies for detailed molecular and genetic analysis. To increase the informative value of our study we plan to implement an extreme phenotype approach and include participants with opposite degrees of severity. Our study aims to elucidate the relationships between the molecular biology of skin cells, skin structure, genetic factors ("DNA"), and environmental influences. The goal is to identify and validate novel therapeutic targets that can lead to more effective and personalised treatment options for SSc, and more broadly for CTDs and CTD-associated skin and lung disease. Modern single-cell technologies will be employed to dissect the cellular diversity within the skin. These advanced techniques have revolutionised our understanding of many tissues, but skin tissues remain underexplored, especially in the context of chronic skin diseases. Protocols for skin punch biopsy and single-cell profiling are well-established, allowing us to systematically analyse how genetic variations influence skin structure and function.

TENS in Scleroderma

The goal of this pilot study is to assess the acceptability of the transcutaneous electrical acustimulation (TEA) device in treating Scleroderma-related gastroparesis. The main objective is: To evaluate the acceptability of TEA as an intervention for alleviating symptoms of distension and bloating in individuals diagnosed with Scleroderma. Participants will be provided with the TEA devices that will be applied to the skin for a total of 45 minutes twice daily after meals. Participants will be asked to fill out both daily diaries and biweekly questionnaires to assess for improvement in the gastroparesis symptoms. Participants will also be asked to complete the daily diaries in addition weekly questionnaires during a 4 week post-treatment follow-up period.

Safety and Preliminary Efficacy of HN2302 in Patients With Autoimmune Diseases

This is an open-label, single-arm study designed to evaluate the safety and preliminary efficacy of HN2302 in patients with autoimmune diseases, including systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and systemic sclerosis (SSc).

A Phase II Study of TollB-001 Tablets in Systemic Sclerosis

The goal of this Phase II study is to evaluate the efficacy, safety, and pharmacokinetics (PK) of TollB-001 Tablets in adults aged 18 to 70 years (male or female) with systemic sclerosis (SSc).

AlloNK®, an Allogeneic Non-genetically Modified, Cord Blood-derived NK Cell Therapy, in Combination With Rituximab, Studied in Relapsing Forms of B-cell Dependent Rheumatologic Diseases.

A Basket Trial of Refractory Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA), Sjögren's Disease (SjD), Idiopathic Inflammatory Myopathies (IIMs) and Systemic Sclerosis (SSc) subjects to evaluate the safety and efficacy of AlloNK, a non-genetically modified allogeneic NK cell, in combination with rituximab.

BAFF CAR-T Cells (LMY-922) for Treatment of Refractory Autoimmune Disease

Therapy with chimeric antigen receptor T (CAR-T) cells has demonstrated activity against refractory autoimmune disease, however not all disease responds or remains in response to CD19 targeted CAR-T cells. We posit that CAR-T cells expressing BAFF (BAFF CAR-T cells) can become another strategy to treat refractory autoimmune disease, even after relapse following other treatments. This phase 1 study will evaluate safe dose and provide initial signal of the activity of BAFF CAR-T cells against refractory autoimmune disease using a BAFF CAR-T cell manufacturing process with or without lymphodepletion regimen.

Tibulizumab Systemic Sclerosis Understanding and Response Evaluation (TibuSURE)

The study is a Phase 2, multi-center, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study to evaluate the effects of tibulizumab over 24 weeks (Period 1) in adult participants with systemic sclerosis, followed by an open-label extension period where all active participants will receive tibulizumab and will be evaluated for an additional 28 weeks (Period 2)

Safety and Immunogenicity of the Live Attenuated Tetravalent Butantan-Dengue Vaccine in Autoimmune Rheumatic Diseases

The goal of this clinical trial is to evaluate whether the live attenuated tetravalent Butantan-Dengue vaccine (Butantan-DV) is safe and capable of inducing an immune response in patients aged 12 to 59 years with autoimmune rheumatic diseases (ARDs) who are clinically stable and under low-grade or no immunosuppression, as well as in healthy volunteers matched by sex and age. The main questions it aims to answer are: Does the vaccine induce adequate seroconversion in patients with ARDs compared to healthy controls? What is the frequency and intensity of common adverse events after vaccination in ARDs patients? Does physical activity levels and nutritional status influence vaccine-induced immune response in patients with ARDs? Researchers will compare patients with ARDs to healthy controls to evaluate if the vaccine elicits similar immune responses and safety profiles. All participants will: * receive a single 0.5 mL dose of the Butantan-DV vaccine via subcutaneous injection; * undergo blood sample collection before and after vaccination (baseline, Day 42, and Day 400) to assess antibody and cellular responses; * attend follow-up visits on Days 7, 14, and 42 for safety monitoring and laboratory tests; * report any symptoms or adverse events using a standardized diary for 42 days; * be followed for up to one year for long-term safety and immunogenicity assessments. * wear a device for 14 consecutive days to assess current and habitual physical activity levels. * answer three non-consecutive 24-hour dietary recalls, including at least one weekend day to assess nutritional status. * collect blood samples one-year after vaccination to access immunogenicity and cellular response. Researcher will also perform subgroups analysis in: A viremia subgroup (50 patients and 50 healthy controls) will provide additional samples on Days 1, 7, 14, 28, 42, and-if viremia is detected-Day 68, to evaluate post-vaccination viremia and its duration. An immunogenicity subgroup (\~20% of participants, n=96) will undergo cellular immune response testing via flow cytometry to evaluate T-cell responses.

Systemic Sclerosis DIet for GastrointESTinal Symptoms

This research will evaluate the effect of diets on bloating/distention, assess changes in abdominal pain, and overall gastrointestinal symptom burden in Systemic Sclerosis. The researchers will do this by comparing outcomes of people assigned to 3 different diets. Following the research specifics of the diets will be available upon contact with the details listed below.

MTS109 in Patients With Refractory Autoimmune Diseases

This is the first-in-human trial of MTS109 (mRNA-LNP). The goal of this clinical trial is to evaluate the safety, tolerability of intravenous injection of MTS109 in moderate to severe autoimmune diseases.

Assessment of Nutritional Status in Rheumatic Diseases and Association to Disease Activity

The aim of the present work is to assess the nutritional status among different rheumatic diseases patients and to study its association with the corresponding diseases activity.

Personalized Online Occupational Therapy Intervention for Adults With Scleroderma

This pilot exploratory randomized controlled trial will evaluate the feasibility, acceptability, and safety of a personalized online occupational therapy intervention for adults with scleroderma in Spain. Participants will be individually randomized in a 1:1 ratio to either an online occupational therapy intervention added to usual care or usual care alone. The intervention consists of eight individual online occupational therapy sessions delivered over four weeks, with two sessions per week, plus individualized materials. The control group will continue with usual care during the intervention and follow-up period. Outcomes will be assessed at baseline, post-intervention, and four weeks after the end of the intervention. The primary outcome is feasibility, defined as the proportion of participants in the intervention group who complete at least six of the eight planned sessions. Secondary and exploratory outcomes include acceptability, adherence, safety, technical feasibility, functioning, quality of life, occupational balance, hand function, and individual goal attainment.

A Phase 1/2 Study of PRO-203 in Healthy Volunteers and Participants With Systemic Sclerosis.

A two-part study of PRO-203 administered subcutaneously in healthy adult volunteers and participants with Systemic Sclerosis (SSc).

Tissue Modeling in Systemic Sclerosis Using Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells (iPSCs)

The objective of the study is to establish an in vitro model using iPSCs to test the hypotheses developed. The primary objective is to generate, via the SAFE-IPS platform, 8 iPSC lines derived from blood samples taken from: * Two patients with severe/diffuse SSc with multi-organ involvement (with anti-SCl-70 autoantibodies) * Two of their healthy close relatives * Two patients with uncomplicated SSc with localized involvement (with non-SCl-70 autoantibodies) * Two of their healthy close relatives These 8 cell lines will be differentiated by several teams at the FHU REGENHAB into: * Immune cells (monocytes/macrophages, neutrophils, dendritic cells, B/T lymphocytes) * Mesenchymal stromal cells * Myocardial cells * Skin cells (fibroblasts) * Synovial cells * Bronchial cells * Endothelial cells This project aims to map cellular and tissue heterogeneity using iPSC lines obtained from patients with both severe and mild SSc, employing single-cell RNA-seq under various pathological conditions, with and without autologous (or even heterologous) autoimmune stimulation. For example, the percentages of different cell types comprising a tissue in these various situations will be calculated. Comparisons will be made with control groups using healthy iPSC lines by recruiting healthy subjects with the same genetic profile and gender as the patients.

US Zamto-cel Autoimmune Diseases

AID is a phase I multi-cohort study to assess the safety and tolerability of zamtocabtagene autoleucel (zamto-cel) in patients with refractory autoimmune diseases (SLE-Non renal, SLE-LN, SSc/dcSSc) after receiving standard therapy.

TL1A Inhibition in Systemic Sclerosis-Related Skin Fibrosis and Immunological Alterations: A Proof-of-Concept In Vitro Study (FIBROSTOP)

Systemic Sclerosis (SSc) is a rare autoimmune connective tissue disease characterized by microvascular injury, immune activation, and progressive fibrosis of the skin and internal organs. Diffuse cutaneous SSc (dcSSc), particularly in its early phase, is associated with aggressive fibrotic evolution and high morbidity. Despite advances in immunomodulatory therapy, no treatment has proven capable of consistently halting or reversing fibrosis, highlighting the need for new mechanistic targets. TL1A (TNF-like ligand 1A) is a cytokine of the TNF superfamily expressed by endothelial and immune cells, which interacts with death receptor 3 (DR3) to regulate immune activation, endothelial dysfunction, and tissue remodeling. Elevated TL1A levels have been observed in SSc patients and correlate with disease activity. TL1A has also been shown to promote lung fibrosis in preclinical models. The FIBROSTOP study is a proof-of-concept, in vitro, interventional study on biological samples aimed at elucidating the immunological and fibrotic mechanisms regulated by TL1A, and at assessing whether TL1A inhibition can reverse pathogenic processes in SSc. Ten (n=10) patients with early diffuse cutaneous SSc and ten (n=10) age- and sex-matched healthy controls will be enrolled at a single center (Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Campus Bio-Medico, Rome). Each participant will undergo a single visit (T0) involving peripheral blood sampling and skin biopsy. No follow-up visits are planned. The study pursues three co-primary objectives: (1) evaluating the role of TL1A and its inhibition in modulating T lymphocyte activity; (2) assessing the effects of TL1A and its inhibition on endothelial cell activation and function; (3) investigating the impact of TL1A and its inhibition on fibrotic remodeling in ex vivo SSc skin cultures using single-cell RNA sequencing. The findings may inform future targeted antifibrotic interventions in SSc and other fibrotic diseases.

COVID-19 Booster Vaccine in Autoimmune Disease Non-Responders

This is a randomized, multi-site, adaptive, open-label clinical trial comparing the immune response to different additional doses of COVID-19 vaccine in participants with autoimmune disease requiring IS medications. All study participants will have negative serologic or suboptimal responses (defined as a Roche Elecsys® Anti-SARS-CoV-2 S result ≤200 U/mL) or a low immune response (defined as a Roche Elecsys® Anti-SARS-CoV-2 S result \>200 U/ml and ≤2500 U/mL) to their previous doses of COVID-19 vaccine. The study will focus on 5 autoimmune diseases in adults: * Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE) * Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) * Multiple Sclerosis (MS) * Systemic Sclerosis (SSc), and * Pemphigus. This study will focus on 4 autoimmune diseases in pediatric participants: * Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE) * Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis (JIA) * Pediatric-Onset Multiple Sclerosis (POMS) * Juvenile Dermatomyositis (JDM)

A Study of BEN301 Injection in theTreatment of Autoimmune Diseases

The study aims to investigate the safety, tolerability, and preliminary clinical efficacy of BEN301 Injection in patients with autoimmune diseases. In patients with autoimmune diseases, Treg cells are typically deficient or dysfunctional. CAR-Treg cell therapy represents a promising strategy for the treatment of autoimmune diseases and may be applicable to a broad spectrum of autoimmune conditions. Preclinical studies have shown that BEN301 Injection not only effectively suppresses the aberrant activation of T and B cells in SLE models, but also significantly reduces total lgG secretion and the production of SLE-specific autoantibodies, particularly anti-double-stranded DNA (dsDNA) antibodies. Moreover, no significant treatment-related toxicities were observed. Treg cell therapy has already demonstrated favorable efficacy in multiple indications, including organ transplantation and autoimmune diseases, with a well-established safety and tolerability profile. Meanwhile, CAR-Treg cell therapy has been actively explored in various autoimmune conditions; several products have shown therapeutic potential, and some patients have already benefited from treatment. These findings highlight the promising prospects of CAR-Treg cell therapy in the management of autoimmune diseases.

A Phase 1 Study of FT819 in B-cell Mediated Autoimmune Disease

This is a phase 1 study designed to evaluate the safety, pharmacokinetics (PK), and anti-B-cell activity of FT819 following treatment with or without auxiliary medicinal product (AMP) in participants with moderate-to-severe active systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) with or without nephritis, antineutrophilic cytoplasmic antibody (ANCA)-associated vasculitis (AAV), idiopathic inflammatory myositis (IIM), and systemic sclerosis (SSc). The study will consist of a dose-escalation stage, followed by an expansion stage to further evaluate the safety and activity of FT819.

Phase 1 Study of HBI0101 CAR-T in Refractory B-Cell Autoimmune Diseases

A Phase 1 study of HBI0101 BCMA-CART in B-Cell Mediated Autoimmune Rheumatic Diseases. The goal of the study is evaluation of safety and identification of the maximum HBI0101 CART dose that may be administered safely to patients with B-cell mediated autoimmune disease.