May is Lupus Awareness Month!

May is Lupus Awareness Month! Help raise awareness to support early diagnosis and proper disease management for patients. With advocacy and awareness, more funding can go toward the research of new drugs and treatments to improve patient outcomes.

One treatment currently being tested is CAR-T therapy, in which researchers modify T-cells to attack B-cells that incorrectly produce antibodies that attack the body's own cells. This therapy is undergoing one of the first clinical trials in the US, where a young Colorado woman with lupus nephritis will be the first American to participate in this promising new therapy.

The therapy involves extracting T-cells from the patient's blood and genetically modifying them in the laboratory by inserting chimeric antigen receptors (CAR) genes to target B cells. These modified CAR-T cells are then infused back into the patient and target the B cells which trigger autoimmune responses. It is uncertain at this point how long the effect of this treatment will last. However, patients in Germany who have previously undergone the treatment have maintained favorable outcomes even after three years. 

The Autoimmune Registry will be hosting its own Clinical Trials Webinar this Friday at 12:00 pm ET to educate patients about the research and trial process. RSVP today to join in on the conversation!

To support the Autoimmune Registry, please share our information with others with autoimmune diseases. Donations are also greatly appreciated!