Study schema1

Key inclusion criteria2

Patients with an SLE diagnosis fulfilling the 2019 EULAR/ACR classification

  • Presence of anti-dsDNA, anti-histone, anti-chromatin, anti-Ro (anti-SS-A), anti-La (anti-SS-B), or anti-Sm antibodies at screening 
  • Active disease at screening, with recent ≥1 major organ system with a BILAG A score 
  • Inadequate response to glucocorticoids and other therapies

Key exclusion criteria2

Patients diagnosed with drug-induced SLE or other systemic autoimmune diseases 

  • Present or recent clinically significant CNS pathology within 12 months
Please see ClinicalTrials.gov for more detailed inclusion/exclusion criteria.

Breakfree-1 is a Phase 1, multicenter, open-label study of CC-97540 (BMS-986353), CD19-targeted NEX-T™ CAR T cells, in participants with severe, refractory autoimmune diseases2

Primary endpoints2

  • Safety (eg, TEAEs, SAEs, dose-limiting toxicities) 
  • Recommended Phase 2 dose

Select secondary endpoints2

  • Proportion of patients achieving definition of remission in SLE (DORIS) remission at Week 24 
  • Proportion of patients achieving Lupus Low Disease Activity State (LLDAS) at Week 24 
  • Change in proteinuria measured by UPCR at Week 24

Find a study site today

ACR=American College of Rheumatology; BILAG=British Isles Lupus Assessment Group; CAR=chimeric antigen receptor; CNS=central nervous system; DM=dermatomyositis; EULAR=European League Against Rheumatism; SAE=serious adverse event; TEAE=treatment-emergent adverse event; UPCR=urine protein-creatinine ratio.

References:

  1. Müller F, Patel K, Reshef R, et al. Tolerability, efficacy, pharmacokinetics, and pharmacodynamics of BMS-986353 (CC-97540), a CD-19 directed chimeric antigen receptor T cell therapy manufactured using a next-generation process, for severe, refractory autoimmune diseases: updated data from ongoing phase 1, multicenter, open-label studies [Abstract 2088]. Presented at: 66th American Society of Hematology (ASH) Annual Meeting; December 7-10, 2024; San Diego, CA.
  2. Clinicaltrials.gov. NCT05869955. Accessed March 12, 2025.