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Rotherham man takes part in "gamechanger" MS treatment trial
BBC • • health
Key Points:
- Numan Unees, diagnosed with multiple sclerosis (MS) six years ago and unable to walk unaided, is the first patient in Sheffield and seventh globally to receive an experimental CAR T cell immunotherapy originally developed for cancer treatment.
- CAR T cell therapy involves modifying a patient's T cells to target and destroy the immune cells causing nerve damage in MS, aiming to reset the immune system and potentially halt disease progression.
- The ongoing global trial, including four UK centers, is recruiting patients aged 18 to 60 with progressive MS who have not responded well to current treatments, with the initial phase focused on assessing safety.
- Experts describe the therapy as a potential "gamechanger" that could stop disability progression by eliminating disease-causing cells and offering a one-time immune system reset for MS patients.
- With around 150,000 people living with MS in the UK, mostly diagnosed in their 30s and 40s, this innovative treatment offers new hope for those with worsening symptoms and limited options.
