CAR T therapy shows promise for autoimmune diseases like MS

CAR T cell therapy, originally approved in 2017 for blood cancers, is now being tested in hundreds of clinical trials for autoimmune diseases. At the University of Nebraska Medical Center, Jan Janisch-Hanzlik became the first patient to receive the experimental treatment for multiple sclerosis. The therapy works by extracting a patient's T cells, engineering them with a chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) that targets B cells, and reinfusing them. In autoimmunity, misguided B cells produce antibodies that attack the body's own tissues. By wiping out these B cells, doctors hope to "reset" the immune system to a pre-disease state.

Despite its promise, CAR T carries risks—including severe inflammation (cytokine release syndrome) and uncertainty about long-term benefits and side effects. Janisch-Hanzlik, a former nurse, volunteered not only for herself but also for her grandchildren, who are genetically predisposed to MS. The success of this trial could transform treatment for millions with autoimmune conditions, offering a potential one-time therapy instead of lifelong medication.