articleNature MedicineJan 9, 2026HYBRID OA

BCMA-directed mRNA CAR T cell therapy for myasthenia gravis: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled phase 2b trial

University of South Florida · Istanbul University · +21 more institutions

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Abstract

Myasthenia gravis (MG) is driven by the secretion of autoantibodies from pathogenic B cell maturation antigen (BCMA)-expressing plasma cells. In this phase 2b randomized, controlled, double-blind trial, we evaluated Descartes-08, an autologous BCMA-directed mRNA chimeric antigen receptor T cell therapy, in patients with generalized MG (gMG). Patients (n = 26) were randomly allocated to receive once-weekly intravenous infusions of Descartes-08 (n = 15) or placebo (n = 11) over 6 weeks. The primary endpoint was a ≥5-point improvement in the MG Composite (MGC) score at month 3. Secondary endpoints included the mean change from baseline in MGC, MG Activities of Daily Living (MG-ADL) and Quantitative MG (QMG)…

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Authors

31

Topics & keywords

Keywords
  • Myasthenia gravis
  • Placebo
  • Autoantibody
  • Clinical endpoint
  • T cell
  • Population
  • Acetylcholine receptor
  • Antigen
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