ClinicalTrials.gov record NCT07729995
BAFF CAR-T Cells (LMY-922) for Treatment of Refractory Autoimmune Disease
A Phase 1 Study of Allogeneic (γ/δ) BAFF CAR-T Cells (LMY-922) for Treatment of Refractory Autoimmune Disease
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AI-written from the registry record, not the study's own wording. May contain errors or omissions. Check the registry text on this page and the original record ↗ before acting on it.
This is a Phase 1, open-label study of LMY-922 (allogeneic BAFF CAR‑T cells) in people with refractory RA, SLE, DM, or SSc. Part A uses a 3+3 dose-escalation to find a recommended Phase 2 dose. Parts B and C will later assess use without lymphodepletion and a fractionated dosing schedule.
What it is studying. The study tests the safety and tolerability of different doses and schedules of LMY-922, seeks the recommended Phase 2 dose, and looks for initial signs of activity against the listed autoimmune diseases.
What the researchers hope to learn. Primary scientific goals are to evaluate safety, record treatment-emergent adverse events, identify dose-limiting toxicities, and determine a recommended Phase 2 dose of LMY-922. Secondary goals include collecting early measures of disease response in RA, SLE, DM, and SSc using standard disease activity scores.
What this study is about
The study's own summary, as published on ClinicalTrials.gov. Underlined terms have a short explanation.
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.
Interventions being studied
Being studied in this trial does not mean the treatment or procedure is approved or available for this condition.
- Biological
- LMY-922
Eligibility
The criteria exactly as listed on ClinicalTrials.gov. Only the study team can say whether they apply to you.
Inclusion criteria
- Participants must meet all the following inclusion criteria to be eligible for enrollment:
- Male or female 16-75 years of age, inclusive.
- For participants with:
- a. Rheumatoid Arthritis:
- i. Meets criteria for seropositive, adult-onset RA as defined by the 2010 American College of Rheumatology (ACR)/European League Against Rheumatism (EULAR) classification criteria, or seropositive (rheumatoid factor positive) polyarticular juvenile arthritis as defined by the International League of Associations for Rheumatology (ILAR) classification criteria for at least 3 months prior to screening
- ii. Disease Activity Score DAS28-ESR>3.2 at screening.
- iii. At least one swollen joint with Power Doppler activity of at least grade 1 or B-mode activity of at least grade 2 at screening.
- iv. Inadequate response to at least one csDMARD and at least two tsDMARD/bDMARDs with two different mechanisms of action.
- v. Rheumatoid factor or ACPA positivity (cut off 20 mU/ml) at screening.
- b. Systemic Lupus Erythematosus:
- i. Meets European League Against Rheumatism/American College of Rheumatology (EULAR/ACR) Classification Criteria for Systemic Lupus Erythematosus prior to screening
- ii. Participant must be positive for at least one of the following at screening: Anti-dsDNA (above the upper limit of normal [ULN]); or anti-Sm (above the ULN); or anti-chromatin
- iii. An inadequate response to at least two immunomodulatory agents (cyclophosphamide, azathioprine, tacrolimus, cyclosporine, mycophenolate mofetil) and one biologic agent (e.g., belimumab, anifrolumab)
- iv. Diagnosed with active SLE based on at least one of the following: 1. Active non-renal SLE with SLEDAI score ≥6 at screening; 2. Biopsy proven lupus nephritis (LN) with a urine protein creatinine ratio of ≥1 mg/mg on a first morning void. A biopsy must be performed in the 6 months prior to the screening showing active LN class III or IV, with or without class V, in accordance with the 2018 International Society of Nephrology/Renal Pathology Society classification.
- c. Dermatomyositis:
- i. Meets 2017 EULAR/ACR Classification Criteria for Adult and Juvenile Idiopathic Inflammatory Myopathies for definite or probable diagnosis of DM or juvenile DM at least 6 months before screening.
- ii. Positivity for at least one myositis-specific antibody (aminoacyl tRNA synthetases, Mi2, MDA5, SAE, SRP, ARS, HMGCR, MJ, TIF1gamma)
- iii. Active DM as defined by at least one of the following: Active skin disease as defined by a CDASI-A score of at least 14, or active muscle disease as defined as Manual Muscle Testing (MMT-8) score <142/150 and creatine kinase, aldolase, LDH, AST, or ALT ≥2×ULN (if deemed due to muscle inflammation by investigator) and MRI evidence of active myositis within last 3 months.
- iv. Failure of at least 2 standard-of-care therapies, including csDMARDs + corticosteroids and bDMARD or IVIG
- v. Inadequate response to intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) and at least two immunomodulator agents: cyclophosphamide, azathioprine, tacrolimus, cyclosporine, mycophenolate mofetil and one biologic agent (e.g., rituximab, belimumab).
- d. Systemic Sclerosis:
- i. Per 2013 ACR/EULAR classification criteria and all of the following: 1. Disease duration of ≤ 3 years (time from the first non-Raynaud phenomenon manifestation); 2. mRSS > 10 at screening with early disease or rapid progression, or mRSS ≥ 15 with disease duration ≥ 18 month.; 3. Positivity for at least one SSc-specific parameter (Scl70, RNA polymerase, Th/To, RP11/12, U3RNP autoantibodies); 4. Failure of treatment with at least 2 standard-of-care therapies, including ≥2 csDMARDs (including mycophenolate or cyclophosphamide) and ≥1 bDMARD (including rituximab); 5. Diffuse SSc with or without interstitial lung disease (ILD)
- Stable doses of corticosteroids for at least 4 weeks and other immunosuppressives for 8 weeks.
- Adequate organ function as defined by each of the following:
- Creatinine clearance more than or equal to 45 ml/min calculated per the 2021 CKD-EPI Creatinine Equation
- Participants must have adequate cardiac function as defined as left ventricular ejection fraction ≥ 45% on the most recent echocardiogram and no clinically significant arrhythmias, pericardial effusion, valvular, or ischemic heart disease.
- Adequate pulmonary function with pulse oximetry ≥92% on room air.
- Total Bilirubin < 1.5× the institutional upper limit of normal (except in participants with Gilbert's syndrome).
- ALT (SGPT) and AST (SGOT) < 1.5× the institutional upper limit of normal (except for participants with active myositis).
- Hemoglobin ≥ 8.5 g/dL, and no red blood cell transfusion within 60 days before the laboratory test.
- Platelets ≥ 100,000/μL, no transfusion support within 7 days before the laboratory test, and no associated bleeding.
- Absolute neutrophil count ≥1000.
- Participants (or legal guardians) must have the ability to understand and the willingness to sign a written informed consent document.
- For women of childbearing potential: agreement to remain abstinent (refrain from heterosexual intercourse) or use a contraceptive method with a failure rate of < 1% per year during the treatment period and for at least 1 year after the BAFF CAR-T cell infusion.
- A woman is considered to be of childbearing potential if she is postmenarcheal, has not reached a postmenopausal state (< 12 continuous months of amenorrhea with no identified cause other than menopause), and has not undergone surgical sterilization (removal of ovaries and/or uterus).
- Examples of contraceptive methods with a failure rate of < 1% per year include bilateral tubal ligation, male sterilization, hormonal contraceptives that inhibit ovulation, hormone-releasing intrauterine devices, and copper intrauterine devices. The reliability of sexual abstinence should be evaluated in relation to the duration of the clinical trial and the preferred and usual lifestyle of the patient. Periodic abstinence (e.g., calendar, ovulation, symptothermal, or postovulation methods) and withdrawal are not acceptable methods of contraception.
- For men: agreement to remain abstinent (refrain from heterosexual intercourse) or use contraceptive measures, and agreement to refrain from donating sperm, as defined below: With female partners of childbearing potential, men must remain abstinent or use a condom plus an additional contraceptive method that together result in a failure rate of < 1% per year during the treatment period and for at least 1 year after the BAFF CART cell infusion. Men must refrain from donating sperm during this same period. With pregnant female partners, men must remain abstinent or use a condom during the treatment period and for at least 1 year after the BAFF CAR-T cell infusion to avoid potential embryonal or fetal exposure.
- The reliability of sexual abstinence should be evaluated in relation to the duration of the clinical trial and the preferred and usual lifestyle of the patient. Periodic abstinence (e.g., calendar, ovulation, symptothermal, or postovulation methods) and withdrawal are not acceptable methods of contraception.
- Body weight of at least 55kg for participants treated at Dose Level 3 (450 × 10\^6 BAFF+ CAR cells) and at least 37kg for all other dose levels.
- Participants must be vaccinated per institutional guidelines at least four weeks prior to lymphodepletion.
Exclusion criteria
- The presence of any of the following will exclude a participant from study enrollment:
- Significant disease-related complications
- a. For Systemic Lupus Erythematosus participants:
- i. Features of severe neuropsychiatric lupus, including seizures, psychosis, stroke, lupus cerebritis or lupus meningitis. Prior history of severe neuropsychiatric lupus with active features should be discussed with the medical monitor
- ii. Active secondary hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (sHLH)/macrophage activation syndrome (MAS)
- iii. History of antiphospholipid syndrome diagnosed by ACR/EULAR criteria (isolated obstetric antiphospholipid syndrome is allowed) b. For Dermatomyositis participants: i. Overlap myositis/connective tissue disease (except for overlap with Sjögren's syndrome) ii. Participants with other types of myositis or myopathies: polymyositis, paraneoplastic myositis, inclusion body myositis, metabolic or drug induced myopathy, dystrophies
- c. For Systemic Sclerosis participants:
- i. Anticentromere antibody seropositivity
- ii. SSc mimics (eg, scleromyxedema, eosinophilic fasciitis)
- iii. Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) as determined by right heart catheterization or on PAH approved medications for PAH. It is acceptable to use PDFE-5 inhibitors for Raynaud's and digital ulcers
- Active thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP)/microthrombotic vasculopathy (TMA)
- Current or prior malignancy, unless the malignancy was treated with curative intent and the participant has no known active malignant disease present for ≥ 5 years prior to enrollment.
- Symptomatic congestive heart failure.
- Renal failure requiring regular dialysis.
- Uncontrolled pulmonary disease.
- Ongoing infection, whether controlled or uncontrolled.
- Cardiovascular disorders including unstable angina pectoris, clinically significant cardiac arrhythmias, myocardial infarction or stroke (including transient ischemic attack, or other ischemic event) within 6 months prior to registration.
- Active infection requiring intravenous systemic treatment.
- HIV seropositivity.
- Pregnant or breastfeeding women are excluded from this study (breastfeeding should be discontinued), because there is an unknown, but potential risk for adverse events in fetuses and nursing infants secondary to treatment of the mother with LMY-922 and lymphodepleting chemotherapy. Women of childbearing potential must have a negative serum pregnancy test
- Serologic status reflecting active hepatitis B or C infection. Participants that are positive for hepatitis B core antibody, hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg), or hepatitis C antibody must have a negative polymerase chain reaction (PCR) prior to enrollment. (PCR positive participants will be excluded.)
- Participants with history of clinically relevant CNS pathology such as uncontrolled epilepsy, paresis, aphasia, uncontrolled cerebrovascular disease, severe brain injuries, dementia, and Parkinson's disease.
- Participants with uncontrolled intercurrent illness including, but not limited to symptomatic congestive heart failure, unstable angina pectoris, cardiac arrhythmia, pulmonary abnormalities, or psychiatric illness/social situations that would limit compliance with study requirements.
- Participants receiving a live vaccine within 2 weeks prior to screening.
- Concurrent use of high dose systemic steroids and/or immunosuppressive therapies.
- Steroid dose must be able to be weaned to 0.5 mg/kg/day or equivalent prior to CAR-T cell infusion.
- Immunosuppressive medications must be able to be stopped at least 5 halflives prior to CAR-T cell infusion.
- Treatment with rituximab or other B cell depleting agent within 6 months of planned CAR-T cell infusion, or treatment with agents such as etanercept, adalimumab, anakinra, infliximab, certolizumab pegol, belimumab, golimumab, abatacept, or tocilizumab within 4 weeks or 5 half-lives (whichever is shorter) prior to planned CAR-T cell infusion.
- Participants with IgG levels < 600mg/dL.
Study description and what participation involves
The study's detailed description, as published on ClinicalTrials.gov.
Detailed description from the registry
LMY-922 is an allogeneic CAR-T cell therapy consisting of allogeneic cluster of differentiation 4 (CD4) positive and cluster of differentiation 8 (CD8) positive human T cells that are genetically engineered using the non-viral transposon system to express the BAFF-ligand CAR-T that target BAFF receptor family members to eliminate pathological B cells. BAFF receptor family includes B-cell activating factor receptor (BR3), B-cell maturation antigen (BCMA) and transmembrane activator and calcium modulator and cyclophilin ligand interactor (TACI). These receptors are present on the B cells of patients with refractory autoimmune disease. The goal of LMY-922-001 phase 1 study is to find the recommended phase 2 dose of LMY-922 for treatment of patients with refractory autoimmune disease.
AI summaryWhat participation may involve, in plain languageShow ▾Hide ▴
AI-written from the registry record, not the study's own wording. May contain errors or omissions. Check the registry text on this page and the original record ↗ before acting on it.
Participants receive LMY-922 (BAFF CAR‑T) cell therapy as part of a dose‑finding study: some receive the study treatment as part of a 3+3 dose‑escalation design with up to four dose levels, and others may be evaluated with three equal, fractionated infusions given about 3 weeks apart. Some study parts evaluate the CAR‑T cells given after a lymphodepletion chemotherapy regimen and other parts evaluate the product without lymphodepletion. Participants will attend clinic visits for safety monitoring and disease‑activity assessments (including assessments around 3 and 6 months) and be followed for adverse events and outcomes for up to 24 months. The record does not provide further details about visit frequency, specific tests, or extra participant services.
How the study is structured. Phase 1 interventional study that is non-randomized and open-label (no masking). Part A is a standard 3+3 sequential dose-escalation with up to four dose levels of LMY-922. Part B will evaluate LMY-922 without lymphodepletion after Part A safety and dose parameters are established. Part C will evaluate a fractionated dosing schedule (three equal doses about 3 weeks apart) with or without lymphodepletion after prior safety and dose information are available.
Questions you could ask
These questions are suggestions for a conversation with the study team or your own clinician, not advice.
- This is an early-phase study, mainly about safety and dose. What is already known about this treatment?
- The registry says recruitment has not started. When is it expected to open, and can I register interest now?
- The listed sites are in United States. Is any of them reachable for me, and does the study help with travel?
- Which of the eligibility criteria would need to be checked with tests before I could join?
More on dermatomyositis
This trial is also listed on this website under polymyositis.
Important dates
- Study start
- October 2026 (estimated)
- Primary completion
- March 2030 (estimated)
- Study completion
- March 2030 (estimated)
- Target enrollment
- 94 participants (estimated)
- Last updated on registry
- Jul 28, 2026
- Data verified
- Oct 10, 2026
Sponsor and research team
The lead sponsor funds and oversees the trial. A pharmaceutical or biotech company sponsor typically means the study is testing that company's drug or device; a hospital, university, or government agency usually indicates investigator-initiated or publicly funded research.
- Lead sponsor
- Luminary Therapeutics
Central study contact
If you're interested in participating, the central contact can answer general questions about the study — including eligibility requirements and how to find a recruiting site near you. Actual eligibility is determined by the site's medical team.
- Susan Prockop, MD 📞 617-355-3087 ✉ susan.prockop@childrens.harvard.edu
Participating sites (1)
- Boston Children's Hospital
Boston, Massachusetts, 02115 · United States
- Susan Prockop, MD · 617-355-3087 · susan.prockop@childrens.harvard.edu
Terms used on this page · explanations by MedicalUpdates.ai
- chimeric antigen receptor
- A treatment in which a person's own immune cells (T cells) are collected, modified in a laboratory to recognise a target, and returned to the body.
- refractory
- A condition that has not responded to a treatment. 'Relapsed' means it responded and then came back; 'refractory' means it did not respond in the first place.
- relapse
- A condition that improved with treatment and has since returned or worsened.
- inclusion criteria
- The conditions a person must meet to be considered for the study, for example a confirmed diagnosis, an age range or a test result.
- enrollment
- The number of participants a study plans to include, or has included. 'Estimated' means the planned number; 'actual' means the number who joined.
- prior to screening
- The checks done before enrolment to see whether a person qualifies, such as tests, scans or a review of medical history.
- upper limit of normal
- The highest value of a blood test that a laboratory considers normal. Criteria such as '≤ 3 × ULN' mean the result must be no more than three times that value.
- Biopsy proven
- Removal of a small piece of tissue so it can be examined under a microscope. 'Biopsy-proven' or 'histologically confirmed' means the diagnosis was confirmed by examining tissue under a microscope.
- MRI
- A scan that uses magnets and radio waves, not X-rays, to make detailed pictures of the inside of the body. Some implants and metal objects mean a person cannot have one.
- corticosteroids
- Steroid medicines, such as prednisone, that reduce inflammation. Studies often require a stable dose at entry or measure whether the study treatment allows the dose to be reduced.
- Creatinine clearance
- A measure of kidney function, calculated from a blood creatinine level together with age, weight and sex.
- echocardiogram
- An ultrasound scan of the heart. A transesophageal echocardiogram is done through a probe passed into the food pipe for a closer view.
- Absolute neutrophil count
- The number of neutrophils, a type of white blood cell that fights infection, in a blood sample. Studies often require it to be above a set level.
- written informed consent
- The process of explaining a study, including its risks and what participation involves, so that a person can decide freely whether to take part. Consent is usually documented in writing, and a participant can choose to leave the study later.
- women of childbearing potential
- Studies often ask participants who could become pregnant, or could father a child, to use contraception during the study and for a period afterwards, because the effect of the treatment on a pregnancy is unknown.
- adverse events
- Any unwanted medical problem that happens during a study, whether or not it was caused by the treatment. A 'serious' adverse event is one that meets specific criteria, such as causing death, being life-threatening, requiring or prolonging hospital admission, causing significant disability, or another medically important outcome.
- immunosuppressive
- A medicine that reduces the activity of the immune system. Studies of autoimmune conditions often require a stable dose, a prior failure, or a washout of such medicines.
- 5 half-lives
- The time it takes for the amount of a drug in the body to fall by half. 'Five half-lives' is often used as the point at which a previous drug has essentially left the body.
- Exclusion Criteria
- The conditions that rule a person out even if they meet the inclusion criteria, for example other illnesses, certain medicines or pregnancy.
- recommended phase 2 dose
- The dose chosen at the end of a phase 1 study for testing in later studies, based on safety and other measurements.
The study record on this page is reproduced from ClinicalTrials.gov, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine, where it was submitted by the study sponsor. MedicalUpdates.ai does not own this content, is not affiliated with or endorsed by ClinicalTrials.gov, NIH, or the U.S. Government, and does not verify the record. Plain-language notes, the glossary and the questions above are added by this website; text in the boxes marked "AI summary" was written by an AI model and may contain errors. Registry records change over time. Check the original record for the current version and discuss eligibility or participation with a qualified healthcare professional.
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