A groundbreaking trial at the NHS has seen five lupus patients in England achieve remission after being treated with a pioneering gene therapy. The treatment, known as CAR T-cell therapy, involves genetically modifying the patient's immune cells to destroy disease-causing cells.
The therapy is already being used to revolutionise cancer treatment, but this is the first time it has been successfully used to treat lupus. The trial, led by University College London hospitals foundation trust (UCLH) and University College London (UCL), recruited nine patients with severe lupus who had not responded to any previous treatments.
Of the six patients who received a lower dose of CAR-T, five achieved remission within a few months, and tests showed significant improvements in their kidney function and other symptoms. The three patients who received a higher dose have only been followed up for three months, but doctors believe they too could achieve remission.
For one of the patients, Katie Tinkler, the treatment has been life-changing. She had suffered from severe lupus for over 30 years, causing her to develop kidney damage, lung and heart disease, and a tendency to develop blood clots. After undergoing the therapy, she is now in remission and has been able to resume activities she thought she would never be able to do again, including skiing and dancing at her daughter's wedding.