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Scleroderma, DiffusePhase 2NCT06655896

Phase 2 Study Evaluating Rapcabtagene Autoleucel in Participants With Diffuse Cutaneous Systemic Sclerosis

A Phase 2 study testing rapcabtagene autoleucel and rituximab in people with Scleroderma, Diffuse, run by Novartis Pharmaceuticals at 93 sites in 22 countries.

Active, not recruiting

Under way, not looking for participants. Everyone needed has enrolled. The study is still running.

Official record
Search all trials

Trial summary

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the efficacy, safety and tolerability of rapcabtagene autoleucel (administered once following lymphodepletion) in participants with severe refractory diffuse cutaneous systemic sclerosis relative to rituximab. Read more about this study

Who is it for?
Ages 18 to 70 years
Conditions the study is for
Scleroderma, Diffuse
What is being tested?
rapcabtagene autoleucel and rituximab
Type of treatment
Injection or infusion
Could I receive a placebo?
No, everyone receives an active treatment
How many people
96 participants
Where
93 sitesin 22 countries
Study dates
29 Oct 2024to 30 Aug 2032
Phase
Phase 2
Are there results?
Not yet: the study is under way

Key requirements

Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.

  • Ages 18 to 70 years
  • All sexes
  • No healthy volunteers
  • Adult, Older adult

Who may be able to join

  • Participant must fulfill the 2013 American College of Rheumatology/ European League Against Rheumatism classification criteria for systemic sclerosis and meet the diffuse cutaneous SSc (dcSSc) subset classification according to LeRoy.
  • Disease onset from the first non-Raynaud symptoms attributable to SSc (e.g., puffy hands, scleroderma, digital ulcers, arthralgia, dyspnea) within 7 years prior to the Screening visit.
  • Severe, progressive systemic sclerosis disease defined by at least one of the following:
  • Progressive systemic sclerosis-associated interstitial lung disease
  • Severe, progressive systemic sclerosis skin disease
  • Clinically significant systemic sclerosis-associated cardiac involvement at Screening
  • All recommended vaccinations received according to institutional, local or global guidelines for immuno-compromised patients.

Who cannot join

  • Any condition during Screening that could prevent a complete washout of medications as required per protocol or could otherwise make the participant ineligible for anti-CD19 CAR-T therapy and further participation in the study, as judged by the Investigator.
  • Participants with history of hypersensitivity to excipients in rapcabtagene autoleucel or to rituximab.
  • Any participant for whom treatment with rituximab is clinically inappropriate in the opinion of the investigator.
  • Any medical conditions that are not related to SSc that, in the opinion of the Investigator, would jeopardize the ability of the participant to tolerate lymphodepletion and anti-CD19 CAR-T cell therapy.
  • Rheumatic disease other than dcSSc, (except secondary Sjogren's syndrome or scleroderma myopathy),including limited cutaneous systemic sclerosis (lcSSc) or sine scleroderma at Screening.
  • Participants with pre-existing pulmonary hypertension.
Show all 10Show fewer
  • Significant renal pathology at Screening.
  • Participants with uncontrolled stage II hypertension at Screening.
  • Vaccination with live attenuated vaccines within 6 weeks prior to randomization.
  • Other protocol-defined inclusion/exclusion criteria may apply.

Trial locations and contacts

93 sites in 22 countries.

93 sites in 22 countries

United States13 sites
  • Michigan Med University of Michigan

    Ann Arbor, Michigan, 48109-5271

  • Boston Medical Center

    Boston, Massachusetts, 02118

  • Northwestern University

    Chicago, Illinois, 60611

  • James Cancer Hospital

    Columbus, Ohio, 43210

  • University Of Iowa

    Iowa City, Iowa, 52242

  • UCLA

    Los Angeles, California, 90095

  • University of Minnesota

    Minneapolis, Minnesota, 55455

  • Oregon Health Sciences University

    Portland, Oregon, 97239

  • LDS Hospital

    Salt Lake City, Utah, 84143

  • UCSF

    San Francisco, California, 94115

  • Sutter Health Network

    San Pablo, California, 94806

  • Avera Cancer

    Sioux Falls, South Dakota, 57105

  • FL Medical Clinic Orlando Health

    Zephyrhills, Florida, 33542

Other trials in United States

Italy12 sites
  • Novartis Investigative Site

    Ancona, AN, 60020

  • Novartis Investigative Site

    Bergamo, BG, 24127

  • Novartis Investigative Site

    Brescia, BS, 25123

  • Novartis Investigative Site

    Genova, GE, 16132

  • Novartis Investigative Site

    Milan, MI, 20122

  • Novartis Investigative Site

    Milan, MI, 20132

  • Novartis Investigative Site

    Pavia, PV, 27100

  • Novartis Investigative Site

    Perugia, PG, 06129

  • Novartis Investigative Site

    Pescara, PE, 65124

  • Novartis Investigative Site

    Pisa, PI, 56126

  • Novartis Investigative Site

    Roma, RM, 00168

  • Novartis Investigative Site

    Udine, UD, 33100

Other trials in Italy

Spain11 sites
  • Novartis Investigative Site

    Barcelona, 08035

  • Novartis Investigative Site

    Barcelona, 08041

  • Novartis Investigative Site

    Córdoba, 14004

  • Novartis Investigative Site

    Madrid, 28009

  • Novartis Investigative Site

    Madrid, 28041

  • Novartis Investigative Site

    Málaga, 29010

  • Novartis Investigative Site

    Pamplona, Navarre, 31008

  • Novartis Investigative Site

    Salamanca, 37007

  • Novartis Investigative Site

    Santander, Cantabria, 39008

  • Novartis Investigative Site

    Santiago Compostela, A Coruna, 15706

  • Novartis Investigative Site

    Valencia, 46026

Other trials in Spain

Germany10 sites
  • Novartis Investigative Site

    Berlin, 13353

  • Novartis Investigative Site

    Freiburg im Breisgau, Baden-Wurttemberg, 79106

  • Novartis Investigative Site

    Göttingen, Lower Saxony, 37075

  • Novartis Investigative Site

    Halle, Saxony-Anhalt, 06120

  • Novartis Investigative Site

    Jena, Thuringia, 07740

  • Novartis Investigative Site

    Leipzig, Saxony, 04103

  • Novartis Investigative Site

    Lübeck, 23538

  • Novartis Investigative Site

    Mainz, 55131

  • Novartis Investigative Site

    Nuremberg, 90419

  • Novartis Investigative Site

    Ulm, 89081

Other trials in Germany

France8 sites
  • Novartis Investigative Site

    Bordeaux, 33076

  • Novartis Investigative Site

    Dijon, 21000

  • Novartis Investigative Site

    Lille, 59037

  • Novartis Investigative Site

    Lyon, 69003

  • Novartis Investigative Site

    Montpellier, 34295

  • Novartis Investigative Site

    Paris, 75014

  • Novartis Investigative Site

    Rennes, 35033

  • Novartis Investigative Site

    Strasbourg, 67091

Other trials in France

Japan7 sites
  • Novartis Investigative Site

    Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, 1138603

  • Novartis Investigative Site

    Fukuoka, 8128582

  • Novartis Investigative Site

    Ishikawa, 9208641

  • Novartis Investigative Site

    Kyoto, 6068507

  • Novartis Investigative Site

    Sapporo, Hokkaido, 0608648

  • Novartis Investigative Site

    Sendai, Miyagi, 9808574

  • Novartis Investigative Site

    Suita, Osaka, 5650871

Other trials in Japan

Brazil5 sites
  • Novartis Investigative Site

    Barretos, São Paulo, 14784-400

  • Novartis Investigative Site

    Curitiba, Paraná, 80030-110

  • Novartis Investigative Site

    Salvador, Estado de Bahia, 41253-190

  • Novartis Investigative Site

    São Paulo, São Paulo, 01232-010

  • Novartis Investigative Site

    São Paulo, São Paulo, 01308-050

Other trials in Brazil

Austria3 sites
  • Novartis Investigative Site

    Graz, 8036

  • Novartis Investigative Site

    Vienna, 1090

  • Novartis Investigative Site

    Vienna, 1140

Other trials in Austria

Israel3 sites
  • Novartis Investigative Site

    Haifa, 3109601

  • Novartis Investigative Site

    Ramat Gan, 5265601

  • Novartis Investigative Site

    Tel Aviv, 6423906

Other trials in Israel

South Korea3 sites
  • Novartis Investigative Site

    Seoul, Seoul, 06351

  • Novartis Investigative Site

    Seoul, 04763

  • Novartis Investigative Site

    Seoul, 06591

Other trials in South Korea

Switzerland3 sites
  • Novartis Investigative Site

    Geneva, 1211

  • Novartis Investigative Site

    Lausanne, 1011

  • Novartis Investigative Site

    Zurich, 8091

Other trials in Switzerland

Argentina2 sites
  • Novartis Investigative Site

    CABA, C1181ACH

  • Novartis Investigative Site

    Córdoba, Córdoba Province, X5016KEH

Other trials in Argentina

Australia2 sites
  • Novartis Investigative Site

    Camperdown, New South Wales, 2050

  • Novartis Investigative Site

    Darlinghurst, New South Wales, 2010

Other trials in Australia

Czechia2 sites
  • Novartis Investigative Site

    Olomouc, 779 00

  • Novartis Investigative Site

    Prague, 128 00

Other trials in Czechia

Hungary2 sites
  • Novartis Investigative Site

    Budapest, 1083

  • Novartis Investigative Site

    Debrecen, Hajdu Bihar Megye, 4032

Other trials in Hungary

Belgium1 site
  • Novartis Investigative Site

    Ghent, 9000

Other trials in Belgium

Denmark1 site
  • Novartis Investigative Site

    Aarhus N, 8200

Other trials in Denmark

Mexico1 site
  • Novartis Investigative Site

    Monterrey, Nuevo León, 64460

Other trials in Mexico

Netherlands1 site
  • Novartis Investigative Site

    Utrecht, 3584 CX

Other trials in Netherlands

Singapore1 site
  • Novartis Investigative Site

    Singapore, 169608

Other trials in Singapore

Taiwan1 site
  • Novartis Investigative Site

    Taichung, 407219

Other trials in Taiwan

United Kingdom1 site
  • Novartis Investigative Site

    Sheffield, South Yorkshire, S10 2JF

Other trials in United Kingdom

About this study

Official title: A Phase II, Multi-part, Randomized, Open-label, Assessor-blinded, Active-controlled, Multicenter Study to Evaluate the Efficacy and Safety of Rapcabtagene Autoleucel Versus Rituximab Treatment in Participants With Severe Refractory Diffuse Cutaneous Systemic Sclerosis

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the efficacy, safety and tolerability of rapcabtagene autoleucel (administered once following lymphodepletion) in participants with severe refractory diffuse cutaneous systemic sclerosis relative to rituximab.

Read the detailed description

This is a phase 2, multi-part, five-year, randomized, open-label, assessor-blinded, multicenter study to evaluate the efficacy and safety of rapcabtagene autoleucel versus rituximab in participants with severe refractory diffuse cutaneous systemic sclerosis (dcSSc). This study comprises two cohorts:

  • A Lead-in Cohort enrolling participants to receive rapcabtagene autoleucel.
  • A Randomized Cohort enrolling participants to receive rapcabtagene autoleucel or rituximab. Participants in the rituximab arm whose disease is not fully controlled may receive rapcabtagene autoleucel treatment once the participant is confirmed to be eligible per protocol.

After end of study, participants who received rapcabtagene autoleucel infusion will enter a long-term follow-up (LTFU) period after rapcabtagene autoleucel infusion. This LTFU will be described in a separate study protocol.

Being tested
rapcabtagene autoleucel, rituximab
Keywords
Diffuse cutaneous systemic sclerosis (dcSSc), Scleroderma, Diffuse, revised Composite Response Index in Systemic Sclerosis (rCRISS), modified Rodnan skin score (mRSS), forced vital capacity (FVC)
Medical subject headings
Scleroderma, Diffuse

What participants receive

What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.

  • rapcabtagene autoleucelBiological

    single infusion of rapcabtagene autoleucel after lymphodepleting therapy with fludarabine (adjusted based on renal impairment) and cyclophosphamide daily for 3 days.

  • rituximabBiological

    rituximab intravenous infusion (i.v.) as per protocol

Study groups in NCT06655896
Study groupRoleWhat they receive
rapcabtagene autoleucel armExperimentalrapcabtagene autoleucel
Receives: Biological: rapcabtagene autoleucel
rituximab armActive comparatorrituximab
Receives: Biological: rituximab

What is being measured

The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.

  1. Achievement of a treatment response as per the Revised Composite Response Index in Systemic Sclerosis 50 (rCRISS50) definition at Week 52.

    To demonstrate the superiority of rapcabtagene autoleucel as a single infusion compared to rituximab, with respect to the proportion of participants achieving a Revised Composite Response Index in Systemic Sclerosis 50 (rCRISS50) response at Week 52.

    This response is assessed across 5 assessment domains: (1) modified Rodnan Skin Score (mRSS), (2) Health Assessment Questionnaire Disability Index (HAQ-DI), (3) patient global assessment (PGA), (4) physician global assessment (PhGA) and (5) percent-predicted forced vital capacity (FVC%).

    Measured: Week 52

Secondary outcomes (4)
  1. Change from baseline in Forced Vital Capacity (FVC)% predicted at Week 52

    Change from baseline in FVC % predicted

    Measured: Baseline, Week 52

  2. Change from baseline in modified Rodnan Skin Score (mRSS) at Week 52.

    The modified Rodnan Skin Score (mRSS) is a clinical tool used to assess skin thickness in patients with systemic sclerosis (scleroderma). It involves palpating the skin and rating its thickness on a scale from 0 to 3 across 17 different body sites. The total score is the sum of the individual scores from all 17 sites, ranging from 0 (normal) to 51 (severe).

    Measured: Baseline, Week 52

  3. Change from baseline in Health Assessment Questionnaire Disability Index (HAQ-DI) at Week 52.

    The Health Assessment Questionnaire Disability Index (HAQ-DI) is a widely used tool to measure a patient's level of functional ability and disability. It consists of 20 questions that cover eight domains of daily living activities: dressing/grooming, arising, eating, walking, hygiene, reach, grip, and activities. Each question is rated on a scale from 0 (without difficulty) to 3 (unable to do).

    Measured: Baseline, Week 52

  4. Incidence and severity of Adverse Events (AEs) and Serious Adverse Events (SAEs)

    The distribution of adverse events will be done via the analysis of frequencies for Adverse Event (AEs) and Serious Adverse Event (SAEs) through the monitoring of relevant clinical and laboratory safety parameters.

    Measured: Up to end of study, assessed up to approximately 5 years

Timeline

From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.

  1. First posted24 Oct 2024
  2. Study start29 Oct 2024
  3. Primary completion30 Nov 2028 (estimated)
  4. Study completion30 Aug 2032 (estimated)

Resources

More details

For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.

Study design
Study type
Interventional
Phase
Phase 2
Primary purpose
Treatment
Allocation
Randomised
Intervention model
Parallel groups
Masking
Single blind
Who is masked
Outcomes assessor
Enrolment
96 participants (estimated)
IDs, dates and publications
ClinicalTrials.gov ID
NCT06655896
Sponsor's protocol ID
CYTB323K12201
Other IDs
2023-510380-34-00, 2023
Status last verified
Aug 2026
First submitted
22 Oct 2024
Last updated
2 Sep 2026
Results posted
No
Data monitoring committee
Yes
FDA-regulated drug
Yes
FDA-regulated device
No
Individual data sharing
Yes: Novartis is committed to sharing with qualified external researchers, access to patient-level data and supporting clinical documents from eligible studies. These requests are reviewed and approved by an independent review panel on the basis of scientific merit. All data provided is anonymized to respect the privacy of patients who have participated in the trial in line with applicable laws and regulations. This trial data availability is according to the criteria and process described on www.clinicalstudydatarequest.com.

Questions about this trial

What is this clinical trial studying?

A Phase 2 study testing rapcabtagene autoleucel and rituximab in people with Scleroderma, Diffuse, run by Novartis Pharmaceuticals at 93 sites in 22 countries.

The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.

Who may be eligible to take part?

The sponsor lists 7 inclusion and 10 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.

Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?

The record says: under way, not looking for participants, as of the sponsor's last update on 2 Sep 2026. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.

Where is the study taking place?

The record lists 93 sites in United States, Italy, Spain, Germany, France and 17 more countries. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.

What are the possible benefits and risks?

They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.

What does this phase mean?

Phase 2 studies give the treatment to a larger group to see whether it has the intended effect and to keep checking safety.

Not every study follows the same path, and some studies (observational studies, device studies) have no phase.

Are results available for this study?

This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.

How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?

The record lists no contact. The official record names the sponsor, who can be asked directly. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.

What does the primary outcome measure?

Achievement of a treatment response as per the Revised Composite Response Index in Systemic Sclerosis 50 (rCRISS50) definition at Week 52. (time frame: Week 52). It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.

Where can I read the original study information?
Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?

No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.

How often is this information updated?

AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 2 Sep 2026.

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