World-first lupus trial in the UK delivers life-changing CAR-T therapy

The UK has become the first country in the world to recruit patients into a new Phase II clinical trial for a groundbreaking systemic lupus erythematosus (lupus) treatment.

This global milestone is a result of a collaboration between Autolus, Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (CUH), and the NIHR. CUH is the first UK site to offer the pioneering, one-off CAR-T cell therapy to patients following a successful Phase I trial. The team achieved this global milestone by navigating complex regulatory and site set-up requirements faster than competing international sites in Greece and the USA.

This trial showcases streamlined study set-up and complex research delivery capability while strengthening the UK’s position as a global leader in advanced therapies.