Are CAR-T cell therapies currently being used to treat Multiple Sclerosis according to recent reviews?
CAR-T cell therapy is a type of treatment that uses a patient's own immune cells, called T cells, which are modified in a lab to recognize and attack specific targets. In multiple sclerosis (MS), the goal is to target and eliminate the B cells and plasma cells that drive the immune attack on the nervous system. While CAR-T therapy is already approved for certain blood cancers, it is not yet approved for MS. However, recent clinical trials are actively testing CAR-T cells in people with MS, and early results suggest the approach is safe and may reduce disease activity.
What the research says
A 2023 review in The Lancet explains that B-cell-depleting antibodies like rituximab often fail to eliminate all autoreactive B cells in autoimmune diseases, but CAR-T cells targeting the CD19 antigen have induced complete remission in lupus and dermatomyositis, and this strategy is being explored for MS 9. A 2025 phase 1 trial treated five patients with progressive MS using anti-BCMA CAR-T cells, which target a protein on plasma cells. The treatment was safe (only mild cytokine release syndrome) and led to depletion of plasma cells in the central nervous system, reduced microglial activation, and prolonged CAR-T cell activity in the cerebrospinal fluid 10. A systematic review from 2024 identified ongoing clinical trials: an anti-BCMA CAR-T trial in neuromyelitis optica showed safety in 12 patients, and case reports of two people with progressive MS treated with anti-CD19 CAR-T cells also showed a manageable safety profile. Recruitment has started for two larger MS studies 11. A narrative review on cell therapies for autoimmune diseases notes that CAR-T and CAR-Treg (regulatory T cell) therapies hold substantial promise for MS, but challenges remain, including high costs, long manufacturing times, and risks of off-target effects 1.
What to ask your doctor
- Are there any ongoing clinical trials for CAR-T therapy in MS that I might be eligible for?
- What are the known risks and side effects of CAR-T therapy based on early MS studies?
- How does CAR-T therapy differ from current B-cell-depleting treatments like rituximab or ocrelizumab?
- Is CAR-T therapy being studied for my type of MS (relapsing or progressive)?
- What are the main barriers to CAR-T becoming a standard MS treatment?
This question is drawn from common patient questions about Oncology and answered using cited medical research. We do not provide individualized advice.