The first patient has been dosed with an off-the-shelf CAR T cell therapy for multiple sclerosis (MS) as part of a phase I clinical trial. The treatment, called azercabtagene zapreleucel (or, azer-cel), is the first example of a CAR T therapy for MS.
Azer-cel was given to 32 progressive MS patients at University of Nebraska Medicine’s Fred & Pamela Buffet Cancer Center as part of the clinical trial.
Unlike conventional, autologous CAR T, the “off-the-shelf” therapy takes T cells from healthy donors rather than the patients themselves. Those allogenic T cells are then genetically engineered to target the errant immune cells that drive autoimmunity in MS.
Rana Zabad, Director of Nebraska Medicine’s Multiple Sclerosis Program and Principal investigator on the trial, said: “This is a completely novel concept in MS therapy.”
She continued: “We’ve never used allogeneic CAR T-cell therapy to target the immune cells responsible for driving inflammation and damage in the central nervous system. This trial is about pushing boundaries carefully and thoughtfully to explore what could be possible.”
A report by the University of Nebraska Medical Centre outlines the experience of Jan Janisch-Hanzlik, the first person in the world to receive this kind of treatment.
She said: “I feel blessed that Dr. Zabad chose me for this treatment. I’m not just excited for me I’m excited for the whole MS community including the physicians and the patients because it’s really going to help all of us in the long run.”
A video produced by University of Nebraska Medicine
Janisch-Hanzlik was first given the therapy on 9 June 2025; she was discharged a week later and has since received initial follow-up. Matt Lunning, a CAR T specialist, oversaw her treatment.
He commented: “A year ago, we provided the first allogeneic CAR T-cell therapy to a patient with lupus, and she has seen excellent results. We’re hopeful Jan will have a similar experience.”
