Clincial tests on CAR-T cell treatment for autoimmune conditions commence at the University of Medicine Magdeburg
The University Medical Centre Magdeburg (UMMD) has embarked on a groundbreaking journey, initiating clinical trials for CAR-T cell therapy in the treatment of severe autoimmune diseases such as Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE) and Idiopathic Inflammatory Myopathy (IIM). This makes UMMD one of the first centers in Germany to conduct controlled trials on this innovative approach to treating autoimmune conditions.
About the Study and Therapy
CAR-T cell therapy is a pioneering treatment that utilises genetically modified T cells, engineered to specifically target and eliminate the disease-causing autoreactive immune cells responsible for autoimmune pathology. The clinical trials at UMMD are being conducted in collaboration with Helios Fachklinik Vogelsang-Gommern. This treatment builds on significant contributions from Prof. Dimitrios Mougiakakos, Director of the Clinic for Hematology, Oncology and Cell Therapy at UMMD.
Patient Eligibility
The initial patients treated include individuals with severe SLE and IIM, indicating a focus on patients with severe, treatment-resistant autoimmune diseases. Typically, such trials recruit patients with severe disease forms refractory to standard therapies. Patients undergo thorough screening at UMMD to assess their suitability for CAR-T cell therapy within the framework of the clinical trial.
As of the latest announcement in August 2025, these trials represent an early-stage, controlled clinical investigation, so participation is typically limited to patients who meet strict medical criteria and consent to experimental treatment protocols.
Contact Information
For those interested, contacting the Magdeburg University Medical Centre's Clinic for Hematology, Oncology and Cell Therapy or the study coordinators directly would provide specific information about patient eligibility, enrollment process, and trial logistics.
No specific patient age or additional eligibility details were provided in the summary. For further details, UMMD's official clinical trial information or direct contact with the study team is recommended.
A Leading-Edge Approach
This therapy is part of a leading-edge approach in Germany for autoimmune diseases, aiming to "reset" the immune system by selectively removing pathogenic immune cells. Prof. Dr. med. Eugen Feist, Head of Experimental Rheumatology at University Medicine Magdeburg, emphasises that CAR-T cell therapy could establish itself as a promising treatment option for refractory autoimmune diseases.
Prof. Dr. med. Dimitrios Mougiakakos, Director of the Clinic for Hematology, Oncology, and Cell Therapy at UMMD, has made significant contributions to the development of immune cell therapy for autoimmune diseases. Interested individuals can contact Dr. Mirjeta Berisha for CAR-T cell therapy studies at UMMD via email: [email protected] or [email protected], or phone: +49 391 67-13266.
The UMMD has ventured into uncharted therapeutic territory with globally recognised individualised treatment attempts for rare autoimmune diseases such as Myasthenia gravis or Immune thrombocytopenia (ITP). UMMD has established itself as an official study center for cellular immunotherapies.
The photo shows (from left to right) Prof. Dr. med. Eugen Feist, Prof. Dr. med. Dimitrios Mougiakakos, and Dr. med. Mirjeta Berisha.
- The clinical trials at UMMD for CAR-T cell therapy are focused on patients with severe autoimmune diseases, such as Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE) and Idiopathic Inflammatory Myopathy (IIM), who have not responded well to standard therapies.
- The University Medical Centre Magdeburg (UMMD) is collaborating with Helios Fachklinik Vogelsang-Gommern on these clinical trials, working to develop immune cell therapies for a range of autoimmune conditions, including chronic diseases and medical-conditions like autoimmune-disorders.
- This leading-edge approach to treating autoimmune diseases, represented by CAR-T cell therapy at UMMD, aims to "reset" the immune system by selectively removing pathogenic immune cells, which could potentially offer a promising treatment option for refractory autoimmune diseases.
