CAR T cell therapy, originally developed for cancer treatment, is showing promise in clinical trials for autoimmune diseases like multiple sclerosis. The treatment works by reprogramming a patient's immune cells to eliminate self-targeting cells, potentially resetting the immune system. While offering hope for patients like Janisch-Hanzlik who haven't responded to conventional treatments, the therapy comes with significant risks and uncertainties about long-term effectiveness and side effects.
Background
CAR T cell therapy is a form of immunotherapy that has shown remarkable success in treating certain blood cancers by engineering a patient's T cells to better recognize and attack cancer cells. The application of this technology to autoimmune diseases represents a significant expansion of its potential uses.
- Source
- Ars Technica
- Published
- May 17, 2026 at 07:00 PM
- Score
- 8.0 / 10