Purpose

This is a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled phase 2 study to evaluate the efficacy, safety and tolerability of an autologous T-cells expressing a chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) directed to B-Cell maturation antigen (BCMA) in patients with autoantibody-mediated myositis, including antisynthetase syndrome (ASyS) and dermatomyositis (DM).

Condition

Eligibility

Eligible Ages
Over 18 Years
Eligible Sex
All
Accepts Healthy Volunteers
No

Inclusion Criteria

  • Confirmed diagnosis of one of the following: Dermatomyositis (DM): Probability score ≥55% on the 2017 EULAR/ACR (European Alliance of Associations of Rheumatology/ American College of Rheumatology) criteria for classification of dermatomyositis (corresponding to diagnosis of 'probable or definite' DM). OR Antisynthetase Syndrome (ASyS): Diagnosis based on ACR/EULAR Classification Criteria (1)." - Participants must have dermatomyositis or antisynthetase syndrome with muscle and/or skin involvement. - Refractory or intolerance to standard therapy. - Stable background immunosuppressive therapy for ≥8 weeks. - Adequate hematologic, renal, hepatic, and pulmonary function (SpO₂ ≥92% on room air). - Informed consent, compliance with visits, contraception, and vaccinations required.

Exclusion Criteria

  • Isolated interstitial lung disease (ILD) without muscle or skin involvement - Severe irreversible muscle damage or advanced weakness (e.g., wheelchair-bound). - Interstitial lung disease (ILD) requiring oxygen, severe pulmonary impairment (FVC ≤45%, DLCO ≤40%), or pulmonary hypertension. - Other inflammatory myopathies (PM, IMNM, IBM, cancer- or drug-induced myositis, overlap myositis except Sjögren's). - Other severe neuromuscular, cardiac, pulmonary, or systemic autoimmune diseases requiring immunosuppression. - Significant uncontrolled chronic illnesses or psychiatric conditions interfering with participation. - Pregnancy or lactation. - Recent use of prohibited immunosuppressants/biologics or investigational agents (per washout periods). - Live vaccination within 4 weeks. - History of primary immunodeficiency, organ or bone marrow transplant. - Active or uncontrolled infections: HBV, HCV, HIV, tuberculosis, or recurrent/severe infections.

Study Design

Phase
Phase 2
Study Type
Interventional
Allocation
Randomized
Intervention Model
Parallel Assignment
Primary Purpose
Treatment
Masking
Quadruple (Participant, Care Provider, Investigator, Outcomes Assessor)

Arm Groups

ArmDescriptionAssigned Intervention
Experimental
Decartes-08
  • Drug: Descartes-08
    Autologous T-cells expressing a chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) directed to B-Cell maturation antigen (BCMA)
Placebo Comparator
Placebo
  • Other: Placebo
    Plasma-Lyte

Recruiting Locations

Brigham and Women's Hospital
Boston, Massachusetts 02115

More Details

Status
Recruiting
Sponsor
Cartesian Therapeutics

Study Contact

Cartesian Therapeutics
617-231-8102
trials@cartesiantx.com

Notice

Study information shown on this site is derived from ClinicalTrials.gov (a public registry operated by the National Institutes of Health). The listing of studies provided is not certain to be all studies for which you might be eligible. Furthermore, study eligibility requirements can be difficult to understand and may change over time, so it is wise to speak with your medical care provider and individual research study teams when making decisions related to participation.