Trending Now - Groundbreaking CAR-T Therapy Leads to Stunning Recovery in Woman With Three Autoimmune Diseases
WHO:
Nature - The woman is 47 years old and was treated by Fabian Müller, a haematologist at University Hospital Erlangen in Germany.
The Guardian - Prof. Fabian Müller led the treatment team, and Carl June, an immunologist at the University of Pennsylvania, commented on the case.
WHAT:
Nature - The woman had been bedridden for weeks due to pain and fatigue before receiving CAR-T therapy.
The Guardian - The woman had her last blood transfusion one week after receiving the CAR-T treatment.
The Guardian - Within two weeks of the therapy, the woman was strong enough to perform everyday activities.
The Guardian - The therapy resulted in a "world first" improvement in the woman's condition, as all three diseases responded positively.
ZME Science - Within twenty-five days after the treatment, the woman's hemoglobin levels had doubled, returning to normal.
Nature - The woman had three autoimmune diseases: autoimmune haemolytic anaemia, immune thrombocytopenia, and antiphospholipid syndrome.
Nature - She had previously received nine different treatments without improvement and required an average of one to three blood transfusions per day.
The Guardian - After receiving CAR-T therapy, the woman experienced a remarkable recovery and has been in treatment-free remission for 14 months.
The Guardian - The therapy involved engineering her T-cells to attack a protein called CD19 found on B-cells, leading to the destruction of rogue B-cells.
WHERE:
Nature - The treatment took place at University Hospital Erlangen in Germany.
The Guardian - The woman was driven for 3 hours in an ambulance to the clinic for treatment.
WHEN:
Nature - The woman was 47 years old when she met Müller and his colleagues.
The Guardian - The woman received the CAR-T therapy in 2025 and has been in remission since then, marking 14 months of improvement as of April 2026.
WHY:
Nature - The woman’s autoimmune diseases were caused by her B cells producing antibodies that attacked her own tissues, leading to life-threatening conditions.
The Guardian - Standard treatments had failed, leaving her with no options and requiring daily blood transfusions.
HOW:
Nature - The CAR-T therapy involved using two chemotherapy drugs alongside the engineered T cells to kill fast-dividing immune cells.
Nature - The CAR-T therapy involved isolating the woman’s T cells, engineering them to target B cells, and re-infusing them into her body.
The Guardian - The therapy was described as a reset of her immune system, with her B-cells returning to a healthy state months later.
(UPDATED April 10, 2026 23:12 UTC)
A woman who had been bedridden for weeks due to pain and fatigue experienced a remarkable turnaround after receiving CAR-T therapy, which involved using two chemotherapy drugs alongside engineered T cells to target fast-dividing immune cells. Within just two weeks of the treatment, she was strong enough to resume everyday activities, and within twenty-five days, her hemoglobin levels had doubled, returning to normal. This therapy marked a "world first" as all three of her diseases responded positively, showcasing a significant improvement in her condition.
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(UPDATED April 10, 2026 15:28 UTC)
A 47-year-old woman with three autoimmune diseases, including autoimmune hemolytic anemia, underwent CAR-T therapy at University Hospital Erlangen in Germany after nine previous treatments failed to improve her condition. Remarkably, she has been in treatment-free remission for 14 months following the therapy, which involved engineering her T-cells to target and destroy rogue B-cells. This innovative approach effectively reset her immune system, allowing her B-cells to return to a healthy state.