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C-CAR168: experimental CAR-T cells studied in progressive MS

Published by MyelinWatch:

Study sponsor
RenJi Hospital / CAR-AID; separate NCT07825389 sponsor AbelZeta
Funder
Shanghai AbelZeta Ltd for the case report

C-CAR168 · C-CAR168 uses a person's own T cells engineered to target CD20 and BCMA, markers on B cells and plasma cells. A separate US Phase 1b/2 study is planned to examine safety and whether it helps people with treatment-refractory progressive multiple sclerosis (MS), including secondary and primary progressive MS; it has no posted results.

What is the approach?

After collection and engineering, a person's T cells are infused to target CD20-positive B cells and BCMA-positive plasma cells. Whether this alters the course of MS remains uncertain.

Approach source: Frontiers in Immunology — C-CAR168 case report ↗

What is being studied

C-CAR168 uses a person's own T cells engineered to target CD20 and BCMA, markers on B cells and plasma cells. A separate US Phase 1b/2 study is planned to examine safety and whether it helps people with treatment-refractory progressive multiple sclerosis (MS), including secondary and primary progressive MS; it has no posted results.

Research stage

Results from studies in people are available

The study is not yet accepting participants.

What we know so far

A peer-reviewed CAR-AID case report describes two people with treatment-refractory secondary progressive MS after C-CAR168. Disability scores changed from 4.0 to 3.0 over 12 months and from 6.5 to 6.0 over 6 months; MRI and immune measures also changed. These two uncontrolled cases cannot show that C-CAR168 caused improvement. Mild adverse events, including grade 1 cytokine-release syndrome, were reported; long-term safety is unknown. The separate US Phase 1b/2 study NCT07825389 has no results posted.

What this means for patients today

C-CAR168 remains experimental. The published cases cannot establish whether it helps people, repairs myelin, or is safe in the long term. The US NCT07825389 study was listed as not yet accepting participants in its 13 October 2026 update; its estimated February 2027 start is a plan, not evidence it has begun. No Greek study site, treatment availability, or reimbursement is established.

Treatment or approach
C-CAR168 — experimental autologous CD20/BCMA-targeting CAR-T cells for progressive multiple sclerosis
How it is intended to work
Autologous anti-CD20/BCMA CAR-T cells
Where the study is running
Two listed NCT07825389 sites in the US and one CAR-AID site in Shanghai; no Greek site or access established
Source: Frontiers in Immunology — peer-reviewed original case report ↗Source: ClinicalTrials.gov — CAR-AID, NCT06249438 ↗ Source: ClinicalTrials.gov — separate US Phase 1b/2 study, NCT07825389 ↗
Published by MyelinWatch
Last substantive MyelinWatch update

Programme updates — newest research developments first

  1. Peer-reviewed case report in two treated people; limited follow-upResearch event/source date:

    C-CAR168: two uncontrolled CAR-AID cases in secondary progressive MS

    A case report published on 29 September 2026 describes two people with treatment-refractory secondary progressive multiple sclerosis (MS) who received C-CAR168 in CAR-AID. Disability scores changed from 4.0 to 3.0 at 12 months and from 6.5 to 6.0 at 6 months. The authors also report MRI and immune-marker changes and mild adverse events, including grade 1 cytokine-release syndrome. These are observations in two people without a comparison group.

    Source: Frontiers in Immunology — peer-reviewed original case report ↗Source: ClinicalTrials.gov — CAR-AID NCT06249438 ↗

  2. Registered early human study; not yet accepting participants in the 13 October 2026 registry updateResearch event/source date:

    C-CAR168: a US Phase 1b/2 study in progressive MS was registered

    ClinicalTrials.gov first posted NCT07825389 on 17 September 2026. The Phase 1b/2 study plans to assess C-CAR168 safety and whether it helps people with treatment-refractory progressive multiple sclerosis (MS), including secondary and primary progressive MS, not relapsing-remitting MS. Its registry lists an estimated 119 participants, two US sites and an estimated start in February 2027. The 13 October 2026 update lists it as not yet accepting participants, with no results posted. This is separate from the Chinese CAR-AID study that supplied the published two-person case report.

    Source: ClinicalTrials.gov / US National Library of Medicine — official clinical-trial registry ↗