A Study of C-CAR168 in the Treatment of Central Nervous System Autoimmune Diseases Refractory to Standard Therapy

January 13, 2026 updated by: Xiangjun Chen, Huashan Hospital

An Exploratory Clinical Study of Anti-CD20/B-cell Maturation Antigen(BCMA) Chimeric Antigen Receptor Autologous T Cell Product (C-CAR168) in the Treatment of Central Nervous System Autoimmune Diseases Refractory to Standard Therapy

This is an investigator-initiated, single-center, open-label study of C-CAR168, an autologous bi-specific CAR-T therapy targeting CD20 and BCMA, for the treatment of adult patients with central nervous system autoimmune diseases refractory to standard therapy

Study Overview

Status

Status

Indicates the current recruitment status or the expanded access status.
Not yet recruiting

Conditions

Conditions

The disease, disorder, syndrome, illness, or injury that is being studied. On ClinicalTrials.gov, conditions may also include other health-related issues, such as lifespan, quality of life, and health risks.

Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.

Study Type

Study Type

Describes the nature of a clinical study. Study types include interventional studies (also called clinical trials), observational studies (including patient registries), and expanded access.
Interventional

Enrollment (Estimated)

Enrollment

The number of participants in a clinical study. The "anticipated" enrollment is the target number of participants that the researchers need for the study.
15

Phase

Phase

The stage of a clinical trial studying a drug or biological product, based on definitions developed by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The phase is based on the study's objective, the number of participants, and other characteristics. There are five phases: Early Phase 1 (formerly listed as Phase 0), Phase 1, Phase 2, Phase 3, and Phase 4. Not Applicable is used to describe trials without FDA-defined phases, including trials of devices or behavioral interventions.
  • Phase 1

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Contact

Study Contact

The name and contact information for the person who can answer enrollment questions for a clinical study. Each location where the study is being conducted may also have a specific contact, who may be better able to answer those questions.

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

The key requirements that people who want to participate in a clinical study must meet or the characteristics they must have. Eligibility criteria consist of both inclusion criteria (which are required for a person to participate in the study) and exclusion criteria (which prevent a person from participating). Types of eligibility criteria include whether a study accepts healthy volunteers, has age or age group requirements, or is limited by sex.

Ages Eligible for Study

  • Adult
  • Older Adult

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • 18 to 70 years old at the time of signing the Informed Consent Form (ICF).
  • Diagnosed as Multiple Sclerosis (MS)/Neuromyelitis Optica Spectrum Disorders (NMOSD)/Autoimmune Encephalitis(AiE)/Stiff Person Spectrum Disorder(SPSD) according to recognized diagnostic criteria for at least 6 months.
  • Prior treatment failure with standard therapy.
  • Adequate bone marrow, coagulation, cardiopulmonary, liver and renal function.

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Hepatitis B Virus (HBV), Hepatitis C Virus (HCV), Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV), Treponema Pallidum (TP) positive, Cytomegalovirus (CMV) DNA positive, Epstein-Barr Virus (EBV) DNA positive.
  • Uncontrolled active infection.
  • Live vaccine injection within 4 weeks prior to signing the ICF.
  • Major organ transplantation history or bone marrow/hematopoietic stem cell transplantation history.
  • Severe cardiovascular diseases within the past 6 months prior to screening.
  • A history of ≥ Grade 2 bleeding within 4 weeks prior to screening, or requiring long-term anticoagulants treatment.
  • Inadequate washing time for previous treatment.
  • Previously treated with CAR-T cell products or genetically modified T cell therapies.
  • Pregnant or lactating women.
  • Severe central nervous system diseases or pathological changes.
  • Malignancy history within 5 years prior to signing the ICF.
  • Any contraindication to lumbar puncture.

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

  • Primary Purpose: Treatment
  • Allocation: N/A
  • Interventional Model: Sequential Assignment
  • Masking: None (Open Label)

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm

Participant Group / Arm

A group or subgroup of participants in a clinical trial that receives a specific intervention/treatment, or no intervention, according to the trial's protocol.
Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.
Experimental: C-CAR168
Autologous C-CAR168 administered by intravenous (IV) infusion
Biological: CD20/BCMA-directed CAR-T cells
Autologous 2nd generation CD20/BCMA-directed CAR-T cells, single infusion intravenously
Other Names:
  • C-CAR168

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Primary Outcome Measures

In a clinical study's protocol, the planned outcome measure that is the most important for evaluating the effect of an intervention/treatment. Most clinical studies have one primary outcome measure, but some have more than one.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Incidence and severity of Adverse Events [Safety and Tolerability]
Time Frame: Throughout the first 3 months follow up period completion
Incidence and severity of adverse events (AE) and serious adverse events (SAE) within three months following infusion
Throughout the first 3 months follow up period completion
The subsequent recommended dose of C-CAR168 in patients with central nervous system autoimmune diseases refractory to standard therapy
Time Frame: Throughout the first 24 months follow up period completion
Based on the assessment of overall safety profile
Throughout the first 24 months follow up period completion

Secondary Outcome Measures

Secondary Outcome Measures

In a clinical study's protocol, a planned outcome measure that is not as important as the primary outcome measure for evaluating the effect of an intervention but is still of interest. Most clinical studies have more than one secondary outcome measure.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Incidence and severity of adverse events (AE)
Time Frame: Throughout the first 24 months follow up period completion
Incidence and severity of adverse events (AE) and serious adverse events (SAE) during the study
Throughout the first 24 months follow up period completion
MS: No Evidence of Disease Activity-3 (NEDA-3)
Time Frame: Throughout the first 24 months follow up period completion
Proportion of participants achieving NEDA-3 at 6 months post-infusion and during the study period
Throughout the first 24 months follow up period completion
MS and NMOSD: MRI
Time Frame: Throughout the first 24 months follow up period completion
Number of T1 gadolinium-enhancing lesions and new or enlarging T2 lesions, as well as their change from baseline, at 6 months and 24 months post-infusion. Change from baseline in total T2 lesion volume, gray matter volume (GMV), white matter volume (WMV), and brain volume (BV), as well as annualized-brain volume loss (a-BVL), at 6 months and 24 months post-infusion
Throughout the first 24 months follow up period completion
MS, NMOSD and AiE: Annualized Relapse Rate (ARR)
Time Frame: Throughout the first 24 months follow up period completion
ARR at 6 months and 24 months post-infusion
Throughout the first 24 months follow up period completion
Pharmacokinetics (PK): Maximal plasma concentration (Cmax)
Time Frame: Throughout the first 24 months follow up period completion
Cmax of C-CAR168 in peripheral blood
Throughout the first 24 months follow up period completion
PK: Time to reach the maximal plasma concentration (Tmax)
Time Frame: Throughout the first 24 months follow up period completion
Tmax of C-CAR168 in peripheral blood
Throughout the first 24 months follow up period completion
PK: Duration in peripheral blood (Tlast)
Time Frame: Throughout the first 24 months follow up period completion
Tlast of C-CAR168 in peripheral blood
Throughout the first 24 months follow up period completion
PK: Area under curve (AUC)
Time Frame: Throughout the first 24 months follow up period completion
AUC of C-CAR168 in peripheral blood
Throughout the first 24 months follow up period completion
Pharmacodynamics (PD): Depletion of peripheral blood B cells, plasma cells, and CD20dim T cells
Time Frame: Throughout the first 24 months follow up period completion
Throughout the first 24 months follow up period completion
PD: Decline of serum immunoglobulin
Time Frame: Throughout the first 24 months follow up period completion
Throughout the first 24 months follow up period completion
MS and NMOSD: Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS)
Time Frame: Throughout the first 24 months follow up period completion
Change from baseline in EDSS at 6 months and 24 months post-infusion. EDSS and its associated functional system (FS) score provide a system for quantifying disability and monitoring changes in the level of disability over time. EDSS consists of 7 FS (visual FS, brainstem FS, pyramidal FS, cerebellar FS, sensory FS, bowel and bladder FS, and cerebral FS) which are used to derive EDSS score ranging from 0 (normal neurological exam) to 10 (death).
Throughout the first 24 months follow up period completion
Autoimmune Encephalitis (AiE): Clinical Assessment Scale in Autoimmune Encephalitis (CASE)
Time Frame: Throughout the first 24 months follow up period completion
Change from baseline in CASE at 6 months and 24 months post-infusion. The Clinical Assessment Scale in Autoimmune Encephalitis (CASE) has a score range from 0 to 27, and higher scores indicate a worse clinical outcome.
Throughout the first 24 months follow up period completion
Stiff-Person Syndrome (SPS): Distribution of Stiffness Index (DSI)
Time Frame: Throughout the first 24 months follow up period completion
Change from baseline in DSI at 6 months and 24 months post-infusion. Distribution of Stiffness Index (DSI) is a validated indicator or stiffness. Scores range from 0 to 6 and reflect the extent of stiffness. Higher scores indicate a worse outcome.
Throughout the first 24 months follow up period completion
SPS: Heightened Sensitivity Score (HSS)
Time Frame: Throughout the first 24 months follow up period completion
Change from baseline in HSS at 6 months and 24 months post-infusion. Heightened Sensitivity Score (HSS) measures changes in the frequency of spasms. Scores range from 0 to 7. Higher scores indicate a worse outcome.
Throughout the first 24 months follow up period completion

Other Outcome Measures

Other Outcome Measures

For clinical trials, a planned measurement described in the protocol that is used to determine the effect of an intervention/treatment on participants. For observational studies, a measurement or observation that is used to describe patterns of diseases or traits, or associations with exposures, risk factors, or treatment. Types of outcome measures include primary outcome measure and secondary outcome measure.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Serum cytokines changes
Time Frame: Throughout the first 24 months follow up period completion
Detection of serum cytokines changes over time by flow cytometry
Throughout the first 24 months follow up period completion
Soluble BCMA changes in peripheral blood
Time Frame: Throughout the first 24 months follow up period completion
Detection of soluble BCMA changes in peripheral blood by Enzyme Linked ImmunoSorbent Assay (ELISA)
Throughout the first 24 months follow up period completion
Changes in CSF CAR DNA copy number and CAR-T cells
Time Frame: Throughout the first 24 months follow up period completion
Detection of changes in CSF CAR DNA copy number and CAR-T cells by quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) and flow cytometry
Throughout the first 24 months follow up period completion

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

Sponsor

The organization or person who initiates the study and who has authority and control over the study.
Huashan Hospital

Collaborators

Collaborators

An organization other than the sponsor that provides support for a clinical study. This support may include activities related to funding, design, implementation, data analysis, or reporting.
Shanghai AbelZeta Ltd.

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start (Estimated)

Study Start

The actual date on which the first participant was enrolled in a clinical study. The "anticipated" study start date is the date that the researchers think will be the study start date.
February 1, 2026

Primary Completion (Estimated)

Primary Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention to collect final data for the primary outcome measure. Whether the clinical study ended according to the protocol or was terminated does not affect this date. For clinical studies with more than one primary outcome measure with different completion dates, this term refers to the date on which data collection is completed for all the primary outcome measures. The "anticipated" primary completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the primary completion date for the study.
June 1, 2027

Study Completion (Estimated)

Study Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention/treatment to collect final data for the primary outcome measures, secondary outcome measures, and adverse events (that is, the last participant's last visit). The "anticipated" study completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the study completion date.
February 1, 2029

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

First Submitted

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submitted a study record to ClinicalTrials.gov. There is typically a delay of a few days between the first submitted date and the record's availability on ClinicalTrials.gov (the first posted date).
January 6, 2026

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submits a study record that is consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. The sponsor or investigator may need to revise and submit a study record one or more times before NLM's QC review criteria are met. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
January 6, 2026

First Posted (Estimated)

First Posted

The date on which the study record was first available on ClinicalTrials.gov after National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review has concluded. There is typically a delay of a few days between the date the study sponsor or investigator submitted the study record and the first posted date.
January 14, 2026

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

Last Update Posted

The most recent date on which changes to a study record were made available on ClinicalTrials.gov. There may be a delay between when the changes were submitted to ClinicalTrials.gov by the study's sponsor or investigator (the last update submitted date) and the last update posted date.
January 15, 2026

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator submitted changes to a study record that are consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
January 13, 2026

Last Verified

Last Verified

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator confirmed the information about a clinical study on ClinicalTrials.gov as accurate and current. If a study with a recruitment status of recruiting; not yet recruiting; or active, not recruiting has not been confirmed within the past 2 years, the study's recruitment status is shown as unknown.
December 1, 2025

More Information

Terms related to this study

Keywords

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

Other Study ID Numbers

Identifiers or ID numbers other than the NCT number that are assigned to a clinical study by the study's sponsor, funders, or others. These numbers may include unique identifiers from other trial registries and National Institutes of Health grant numbers.
  • KY2025-1015

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?

NO

Drug and device information, study documents

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product

No

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product

No

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

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Sponsors and Collaborators

Medical Conditions

Drug Interventions

Conditions

Rare Diseases

Drug Interventions

Dietary Supplements

Sponsor/Collaborators

Locations

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