Systemic SclerosisPhase 3Breakfree-SScNCT07335562
A Study to Compare the Efficacy and Safety of BMS-986353 (Zolacabtagene- Autoleucel / Zola-cel), CD19-CAR T Cells, Versus Standard of Care in Participants With Active Systemic Sclerosis
A Phase 3 study testing BMS-986353, Fludarabine and Cyclophosphamide in people with Systemic Sclerosis, run by Juno Therapeutics, Inc., a Bristol-Myers Squibb Company at 56 sites in 10 countries.
Trial summary
The purpose of this study is to compare the efficacy and safety of BMS-986353 versus standard of care in participants with active Systemic Sclerosis Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 16 years and older
- Conditions the study is for
- Systemic Sclerosis
- What is being tested?
- BMS-986353, Fludarabine and Cyclophosphamide
- Could I receive a placebo?
- No, everyone receives an active treatment
- How many people
- 92 participants
- Where
- 56 sitesin 10 countries
- Study dates
- 3 Feb 2027to 11 Nov 2030
- Phase
- Phase 3
- 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 16 years and older
- All sexes
- No healthy volunteers
- Child, Adult, Older adult
Who may be able to join
- Participants must fulfill the 2013 American College of Rheumatology (ACR) / European League Against Rheumatism (EULAR) classification criteria for Systemic Sclerosis (SSc), and additionally have the following:.
- Positive Antinuclear Antibodies (ANA) with nucleolar pattern and/or anti-Topoisomerase I (anti-Scl-70) antibodies.
- Confirmation of Interstitial Lung Disease (ILD) on centrally read High-Resolution Computed Tomography (HRCT) with ≥ 10% total lung involvement, with at least one of the following attributed to active SSc:.
- Arthritis.
- Myositis.
- Carditis.
Show all 9Show fewer
- Progressive skin disease.
- Elevated inflammatory markers.
- Participants must have a non-response or intolerance despite ≥ 6 months of treatment with at least one immunomodulatory drug. Non-response is defined as a patient, who in the opinion of the investigator, is not adequately controlled/treated and requires treatment escalation.
Who cannot join
- Participants must not have a requirement for supplemental oxygen therapy and/or Diffusing Capacity of the Lungs for Carbon Monoxide (DLCO) ≤ 40% (Hemoglobin (Hgb) corrected) at screening.
- Participants must not have moderate to severe Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension (PAH) requiring PAH-specific combination treatment
- Participants must not have pulmonary comorbidity including chronic obstructive pulmonary disease or asthma requiring daily oral corticosteroids, cigarette smoking (including e-cigarettes) within 3 months before screening or unwilling to avoid smoking throughout the study, and/or clinically significant abnormalities on HRCT not attributable to SSc assessed by the central reader at screening.
- Participants must not have gastrointestinal (GI) dysmotility requiring Total Parenteral Nutrition (TPN).
- Participants must not have current gangrene of a digit
- Other protocol-defined Inclusion/Exclusion criteria apply.
Trial locations and contacts
56 sites in 10 countries. Contact the study team or a site near you to ask about taking part.
BMS Clinical Trials Contact Center www.BMSClinicalTrials.com contact
First line of the email MUST contain NCT # and Site #. contact
56 sites in 10 countries
United States17 sites
Local Institution - 0034
Ann Arbor, Michigan, 48109
Site 0034
Emory University School of Medicine
Atlanta, Georgia, 30322
Arezou Khosroshahi, Site 0014, 404-778-6638
University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus
Aurora, Colorado, 80045
Melissa Griffith, Site 0092, 720-848-7700
Local Institution - 0002
Charleston, South Carolina, 29425
Site 0002
Local Institution - 0139
Chicago, Illinois, 60611
Site 0139
Cleveland Clinic
Cleveland, Ohio, 44195
Soumya Chatterjee, Site 0122
Local Institution - 0074
Dallas, Texas, 75390
Site 0074
Colorado Blood Cancer Institute
Denver, Colorado, 80218
Richard Nash, Site 0001, 303-981-2305
Local Institution - 0144
Houston, Texas, 77030
Site 0144
Local Institution - 0069
Miami, Florida, 33136
Site 0069
Local Institution - 0142
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 19104
Site 0142
Local Institution - 0143
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, 15224
Site 0143
Local Institution - 0037
Rochester, Minnesota, 55905
Site 0037
Local Institution - 0035
Scottsdale, Arizona, 85259
Site 0035
Local Institution - 0008
Seattle, Washington, 98109
Site 0008
Local Institution - 0082
Summit, New Jersey, 07901
Site 0082
Local Institution - 0084
Worcester, Massachusetts, 01655
Site 0084
Germany7 sites
Local Institution - 0046
Berlin, 10117
Site 0046
Local Institution - 0016
Cologne, 50937
Site 0016
Local Institution - 0028
Erlangen, 91054
Site 0028
Local Institution - 0042
Leipzig, 04103
Site 0042
Local Institution - 0032
München, 80336
Site 0032
Local Institution - 0033
Tübingen, 72076
Local Institution - 0038
Würzburg, 97080
Site 0038
Japan7 sites
Local Institution - 0117
Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, 1138603
Site 0117
Local Institution - 0123
Fukuoka, 812-8582
Site 0123
Local Institution - 0136
Maebashi, 371-8511
Site 0136
Local Institution - 0118
Okayama, 700-8558
Site 0118
Local Institution - 0026
Sapporo, Hokkaido, 0608648
Site 0026
Local Institution - 0137
Suita, Osaka, 565-0871
Site 0137
Local Institution - 0132
Yokohama, Kanagawa, 236-0004
Site 0132
France6 sites
Local Institution - 0049
Bordeaux, 33076
Site 0049
Local Institution - 0012
Bron, 69500
Site 0012
Local Institution - 0052
Paris, 75679
Site 0052
Local Institution - 0141
Rennes, 35033
Site 0141
Local Institution - 0031
Strasbourg, Alsace, 67098
Site 0031
Local Institution - 0061
Toulouse, Haute-Garonne, 31059
Site 0061
Italy4 sites
Local Institution - 0004
Milan, Milano, 20162
Site 0004
Local Institution - 0106
Milan, 20132
Site 0106
Local Institution - 0108
Pisa, Tuscany, 56126
Site 0108
Local Institution - 0103
Rome, Lazio, 00168
Site 0103
Spain4 sites
Local Institution - 0129
A Coruña, A Coruña [La Coruña], 15006
Site 0129
Local Institution - 0138
Barcelona, Catalunya [Cataluña], 08041
Site 0138
Local Institution - 0060
Barcelona, 08907
Site 0060
Local Institution - 0009
Málaga, 29011
Site 0009
United Kingdom4 sites
Local Institution - 0063
Leeds, North Yorkshire, LS7 4SA
Site 0063
Local Institution - 0140
London, London, City of, NW1 2PG
Site 0140
Local Institution - 0059
London, NW3 2QG
Site 0059
Local Institution - 0091
Sheffield, S10 2JF
Site 0091
Switzerland3 sites
Local Institution - 0047
Basel, 4031
Site 0047
Local Institution - 0068
Bern, 3010
Site 0068
Local Institution - 0078
Zurich, 8091
Site 0078
Belgium2 sites
Local Institution - 0057
Leuven, Vlaams-Brabant, 3000
Site 0057
Local Institution - 0080
Liège, 4000
Site 0080
Canada2 sites
Local Institution - 0104
Halifax, Nova Scotia, B3H2Y9
Local Institution - 0088
Sherbrooke, Quebec, J1H 5N4
Site 0088
About this study
Official title: A Phase 3, Randomized, Open-label, Multicenter Study to Compare the Efficacy and Safety of BMS-986353, CD19-targeted NEX-T CAR T Cells, Versus Standard of Care in Participants With Active Systemic Sclerosis (Breakfree-SSc)
The purpose of this study is to compare the efficacy and safety of BMS-986353 versus standard of care in participants with active Systemic Sclerosis
Read the detailed description
Participants in Arm B may receive BMS-986353 following confirmation of progression on standard of care.
- Conditions
- Systemic Sclerosis
- Being tested
- BMS-986353, Fludarabine, Cyclophosphamide, Tocilizumab, Rituximab
- Medical subject headings
- Scleroderma, Systemic
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
BMS-986353Drug
Also called CC-97540
Specified dose on specified days
FludarabineDrug
Specified dose on specified days
CyclophosphamideDrug
Specified dose on specified days
TocilizumabDrug
Specified dose on specified days
RituximabDrug
Specified dose on specified days
NintedanibDrug
Specified dose on specified days
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| Arm A: BMS-986353 | Experimental | Not described Receives: Drug: BMS-986353; Drug: Fludarabine; Drug: Cyclophosphamide |
| Arm B: Standard of Care | Experimental | Not described Receives: Drug: Tocilizumab; Drug: Rituximab; Drug: Nintedanib |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
The absolute change from baseline in Forced Vital Capacity (FVC) in mL
Measured: At 12 months
Secondary outcomes (15)
The absolute change from baseline in Modified Rodnan Skin Score (mRSS)
Measured: At month 12
The absolute change from baseline in Quantitative Interstitial Lung Disease-Whole Lung (QILD-WL) score
Measured: Up to month 36
Time to progression, defined as the time from randomization to progressive disease
Measured: Approximately 54 months
The change from baseline in Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS)-Fatigue
Measured: Up to month 36
The change from baseline in Scleroderma Clinical Index (ScleroID)
Measured: Up to month 36
The change from baseline in Scleroderma Health Assessment Questionnaire - Disability Index (SHAQ-DI)
Measured: Up to month 36
The change from baseline in PROMIS-29
Measured: Up to month 36
The change from baseline in St. George's Respiratory Questionnaire (SGRQ)
Measured: Up to month 36
The change from baseline in EuroQol 5 Dimensions 5 Level (EQ-5D-5L) visual analog scale
Measured: Up to month 36
The change from baseline in EQ-5D-5L Utility Index
Measured: Up to month 36
The absolute change from baseline in FVC in mL
Measured: Up to month 36
The absolute change from baseline in FVC in mL/year
Measured: Up to month 36
The absolute change from baseline in Percent Predicted Forced Vital Capacity (ppFVC)
Measured: Up to month 36
The relative change from baseline in ppFVC
Measured: Up to month 36
The absolute change from baseline in diffusing capacity of the lung for carbon monoxide (DLCO)
Measured: Up to month 36
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted13 Jan 2026
- Study start3 Feb 2027 (estimated)
- Primary completion14 Nov 2028 (estimated)
- Study completion11 Nov 2030 (estimated)
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Other trials for Systemic SclerosisStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- More trials run by Juno Therapeutics, Inc., a Bristol-Myers Squibb CompanyThe sponsor's other registered studies.
- What the trial phases meanHow a treatment moves from first tests in people to approval.
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 3
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Enrolment
- 92 participants (estimated)
Sponsor and investigators
- Sponsor type
- Industry (pharma, biotech, devices)
- Collaborators
- Celgene Corporation
- Responsible party
- Sponsor
- Investigators
- Bristol-Myers Squibb, Study director, Bristol-Myers Squibb
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07335562
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- CA061-1005
- Other IDs
- 2025-524337-11, U1111-1330-3381, 2025
- Acronym
- Breakfree-SSc
- Status last verified
- Sep 2026
- First submitted
- 9 Jan 2026
- Last updated
- 18 Sep 2026
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- Yes
- FDA-regulated drug
- Yes
- FDA-regulated device
- No
- Individual data sharing
- Yes: BMS will provide access to individual anonymized participant data upon request from qualified researchers, and subject to certain criteria. Additional information regarding Bristol Myer Squibb's data sharing policy and process can be found at https://www.bms.com/researchers-and-partners/clinical-trials-and-research.html
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 18 Sep 2026. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- A Phase 3, Randomized, Open-label, Multicenter Study to Compare the Efficacy and Safety of BMS-986353, CD19-targeted NEX-T CAR T Cells, Versus Standard of Care in Participants With Active Systemic Sclerosis (Breakfree-SSc)
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07335562
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- Breakfree-SSc / CA061-1005
- Conditions
- Systemic Sclerosis
- Phase
- Phase 3
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Not yet recruiting
- Enrolment
- 92 participants (estimated)
- Lead sponsor
- Juno Therapeutics, Inc., a Bristol-Myers Squibb CompanyIndustry (pharma, biotech, devices)
- Collaborators
- Celgene Corporation
- Study start
- 3 Feb 2027 (estimated)
- Primary completion
- 14 Nov 2028 (estimated)
- Study completion
- 11 Nov 2030 (estimated)
- First posted
- 13 Jan 2026 (actual)
- Results
- Not posted in the source record
Clinical summary
The research question as the sponsor registered it. This describes what the study plans to test, not what it found.
The purpose of this study is to compare the efficacy and safety of BMS-986353 versus standard of care in participants with active Systemic Sclerosis
Detailed description
Participants in Arm B may receive BMS-986353 following confirmation of progression on standard of care.
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Number of arms
- 2
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| Arm A: BMS-986353 | Experimental | Drug: BMS-986353, Drug: Fludarabine, Drug: Cyclophosphamide |
| Arm B: Standard of Care | Experimental | Drug: Tocilizumab, Drug: Rituximab, Drug: Nintedanib |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 16 years and older
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Not accepted
- Age groups
- Child, Adult, Older adult
Key inclusion criteria (9 listed)
- Participants must fulfill the 2013 American College of Rheumatology (ACR) / European League Against Rheumatism (EULAR) classification criteria for Systemic Sclerosis (SSc), and additionally have the following:.
- Positive Antinuclear Antibodies (ANA) with nucleolar pattern and/or anti-Topoisomerase I (anti-Scl-70) antibodies.
- Confirmation of Interstitial Lung Disease (ILD) on centrally read High-Resolution Computed Tomography (HRCT) with ≥ 10% total lung involvement, with at least one of the following attributed to active SSc:.
- Arthritis.
- Myositis.
Key exclusion criteria (6 listed)
- Participants must not have a requirement for supplemental oxygen therapy and/or Diffusing Capacity of the Lungs for Carbon Monoxide (DLCO) ≤ 40% (Hemoglobin (Hgb) corrected) at screening.
- Participants must not have moderate to severe Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension (PAH) requiring PAH-specific combination treatment
- Participants must not have pulmonary comorbidity including chronic obstructive pulmonary disease or asthma requiring daily oral corticosteroids, cigarette smoking (including e-cigarettes) within 3 months before screening or unwilling to avoid smoking throughout the study, and/or clinically significant abnormalities on HRCT not attributable to SSc assessed by the central reader at screening.
- Participants must not have gastrointestinal (GI) dysmotility requiring Total Parenteral Nutrition (TPN).
- Participants must not have current gangrene of a digit
Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening; this overview does not establish that a patient qualifies. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Interventions
| Intervention | Type | Arms |
|---|---|---|
| BMS-986353Also: CC-97540Specified dose on specified days | Drug | Arm A: BMS-986353 |
| FludarabineSpecified dose on specified days | Drug | Arm A: BMS-986353 |
| CyclophosphamideSpecified dose on specified days | Drug | Arm A: BMS-986353 |
| TocilizumabSpecified dose on specified days | Drug | Arm B: Standard of Care |
| RituximabSpecified dose on specified days | Drug | Arm B: Standard of Care |
| NintedanibSpecified dose on specified days | Drug | Arm B: Standard of Care |
Primary outcome
The absolute change from baseline in Forced Vital Capacity (FVC) in mL
Time frame: At 12 months
15 secondary outcomes
The absolute change from baseline in Modified Rodnan Skin Score (mRSS)
Time frame: At month 12
The absolute change from baseline in Quantitative Interstitial Lung Disease-Whole Lung (QILD-WL) score
Time frame: Up to month 36
Time to progression, defined as the time from randomization to progressive disease
Time frame: Approximately 54 months
The change from baseline in Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS)-Fatigue
Time frame: Up to month 36
The change from baseline in Scleroderma Clinical Index (ScleroID)
Time frame: Up to month 36
The change from baseline in Scleroderma Health Assessment Questionnaire - Disability Index (SHAQ-DI)
Time frame: Up to month 36
The change from baseline in PROMIS-29
Time frame: Up to month 36
The change from baseline in St. George's Respiratory Questionnaire (SGRQ)
Time frame: Up to month 36
The change from baseline in EuroQol 5 Dimensions 5 Level (EQ-5D-5L) visual analog scale
Time frame: Up to month 36
The change from baseline in EQ-5D-5L Utility Index
Time frame: Up to month 36
The absolute change from baseline in FVC in mL
Time frame: Up to month 36
The absolute change from baseline in FVC in mL/year
Time frame: Up to month 36
The absolute change from baseline in Percent Predicted Forced Vital Capacity (ppFVC)
Time frame: Up to month 36
The relative change from baseline in ppFVC
Time frame: Up to month 36
The absolute change from baseline in diffusing capacity of the lung for carbon monoxide (DLCO)
Time frame: Up to month 36
Results and safety
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 18 Sep 2026.
- BMS Clinical Trial InformationLink provided by the sponsor.
- BMS Clinical Trial Patient RecruitingLink provided by the sponsor.
- Individual participant dataSharing planned: Yes. BMS will provide access to individual anonymized participant data upon request from qualified researchers, and subject to certain criteria. Additional information regarding Bristol Myer Squibb's data sharing policy and process can be found at https://www.bms.com/researchers-and-partners/clinical-trials-and-research.html
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Referral and contact
AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals. Contact the study team or a site listed below; they decide who can take part.
BMS Clinical Trials Contact Center www.BMSClinicalTrials.com contact
First line of the email MUST contain NCT # and Site #. contact
Bristol-Myers Squibb study director
Bristol-Myers Squibb
56 sites in 10 countries: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A Phase 3 study testing BMS-986353, Fludarabine and Cyclophosphamide in people with Systemic Sclerosis, run by Juno Therapeutics, Inc., a Bristol-Myers Squibb Company at 56 sites in 10 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 9 inclusion and 6 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: opening soon, as of the sponsor's last update on 18 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 56 sites in United States, Germany, Japan, France, Italy and 5 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 3 studies compare the treatment with the current standard treatment or a placebo in a large group, to confirm how well it works and watch for side effects.
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?
Contact BMS Clinical Trials Contact Center www.BMSClinicalTrials.com (855-907-3286, Clinical.Trials@bms.com), or a site near the patient. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
The absolute change from baseline in Forced Vital Capacity (FVC) in mL (time frame: At 12 months). 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 18 Sep 2026.