Lupus Research Alliance and Genentech Fund CAR-T Cell Therapy Studies for Lupus Remission
Event summary
- Lupus Research Alliance (LRA) and Genentech launched the Lupus Research Alliance-Genentech Award on Immune Resetting Therapies for Lupus (LGA-IRT) on May 26, 2026.
- Three research projects received $150,000 per year for up to two years to study CAR-T cell therapy for lupus.
- CAR-T cell therapy has shown promising results in inducing long-lasting remission in severe lupus patients.
- Researchers aim to understand why some patients relapse and how to extend the benefits of CAR-T cell therapy.
The big picture
The collaboration between LRA and Genentech highlights the growing interest in repurposing CAR-T cell therapy, originally successful in oncology, for autoimmune diseases like lupus. This initiative could pave the way for more targeted and durable treatments, addressing a significant unmet need in the lupus community. The $150,000 annual funding for each project underscores the commitment to advancing this promising therapeutic approach.
What we're watching
- Therapy Durability
- How the research will determine the long-term effectiveness of CAR-T cell therapy in lupus patients.
- Immune System Reset
- Whether the studies will uncover the mechanisms behind the immune system reset caused by CAR-T cell therapy.
- Treatment Accessibility
- The pace at which these findings could lead to more accessible and safer immune-resetting therapies for lupus.
Related topics