Doctors and researchers at the Abu Dhabi Stem Cells Centre (ADSCC) have successfully performed Chimeric Antigen Receptor T-Cell Therapy (CAR-T) for a patient with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) – a first in the Middle East.
CAR-T is an immunotherapy treatment and has emerged as a highly effective way to treat cancer. They strengthen the power of a patient’s immune system to attack tumors. Immune system-boosting drugs have shown the ability to shrink, and even eradicate, tumours in some people with advanced cancer.
ADSCC’s use of CAR-T marks a step forward in personalised treatment for autoimmune diseases and offers new hope to lupus patients, a condition that causes the immune system to attack healthy tissues, leading to inflammation, pain, and damage to organs like the skin, joints, lungs, heart, and kidneys.
Lupus has a global prevalence of 43.7 per 100,000 people and is notably common in the Middle East.
The five-week treatment was performed at Yas Clinic, which is operated by ADSCC and is the only FACT-accredited centre for cellular therapy processing in the UAE.
Clinical trials show that patients with severe, treatment-resistant lupus achieved complete remission and have remained symptom-free for years without additional medication. Three months after CAR-T therapy, the patient’s platelet count and haemoglobin levels are stable, and the symptoms have significantly decreased.
Professor Yendry Ventura, CEO of ADSCC and Principal Investigator of CAR-T Research Project, commented: “Since 2023, ADSCC has pioneered CAR-T therapy in the Middle East, expanding its use from blood cancers to complex autoimmune diseases like lupus.
“Our success in treating lupus here in Abu Dhabi is a major milestone, made possible by our commitment to translational research and clinical trials. We are advancing cancer and autoimmune treatments using genetically modified immune cells, delivering life-changing care, eliminating the need to travel abroad, and bringing hope to patients across the region.”
Several clinical trials using CAR-T therapy in SLE patients have shown significant clinical and laboratory improvements, with antibody levels declining and no flares or need for immunosuppressive medication after treatment. This indicates the state of drug-free remission and improved quality of life.
Dr Fatima Al Kaabi, the Executive Director of the Abu Dhabi Bone Marrow Transplant Programme at ADSCC, added: “This breakthrough in CAR-T therapy brings renewed hope to lupus patients and highlights our commitment to advancing personalised medicine with transformative treatments that improve patient health and well-being.
“This achievement strengthens the UAE’s position as a global leader in medical innovation and reflects the relentless efforts and expertise of our multidisciplinary team of rheumatologists, BMT experts, cellular scientists and others. We are proud to see the patient return to normal life, free from immunosuppressant medications.”
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