UK Pioneers CAR T Cell Therapy for Multiple Sclerosis: Single-Dose ‘Immune Reset’ Targets Autoimmune Disease

A patient in the UK has become the first person to receive CAR T cell therapy (obecabtagene autoleucel, or obe-cel) in a clinical trial designed to test whether this personalized, one-time treatment can slow or potentially halt the progression of multiple sclerosis (MS).

The pioneering treatment was administered at University College London Hospitals (UCLH) in October 2025 to Emily Henders (37), a patient with MS who has experienced relapsing symptoms despite current effective medications.

The Science Behind the ‘Immune Reset’

The CAR T cell therapy being tested, obe-cel, was originally invented by scientists at the UCL Cancer Institute, led by Dr. Martin Pule, and has proven highly effective in treating blood cancers like acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). Researchers are now “repurposing” this technology for autoimmune conditions, including MS and lupus.

MS Mechanism: MS is an autoimmune condition where the body’s immune system mistakenly attacks the myelin sheath (the protective coating around nerves) in the brain and spinal cord. B cells are thought to be the primary immune cells that drive this destructive autoimmune attack.
CAR T Mechanism: The therapy involves collecting the patient’s own T cells (another type of immune cell) and genetically modifying them in a lab. These modified T cells are equipped with a Chimeric Antigen Receptor (CAR) that specifically recognizes and targets the CD19 protein found on the surface of B cells.
The Goal: Once infused back into the patient, these CAR T cells seek out and eliminate the B cells. This effectively acts as an ‘immune system reset’ aimed at achieving long-term remission with a single, one-time treatment, potentially freeing patients from long-term drug regimens.

The AUTO1-MS1 Clinical Trial

The trial, named AUTO1-MS1 (also referred to as BOBCAT in public records), is a Phase 1 clinical study.

Primary Goal: To assess the feasibility and safety of obe-cel in people with MS.
Target Patients: The trial is recruiting a small cohort (up to 18 patients globally) of UK patients aged 18 to 60 with relapsing or progressive forms of MS who are not responding well to existing, best-available medications and whose disability is worsening.
Leadership: The principal investigator is Dr. Wallace Brownlee, a consultant neurologist at UCLH and UCL.

Dr. Claire Roddie, a UCL Cancer Institute researcher, highlighted the ultimate goal: “to achieve long periods of disease remission with a single, one-time CAR T treatment.”

Significance for MS Patients

There are over 150,000 people living with MS in the UK, and while treatments have improved, none fully halt relapses or the long-term, progressive decline of the illness.

The use of obe-cel is particularly notable because it is a second-generation CAR T therapy that has shown reduced immune toxicity and longer persistence in blood cancer patients—advantages that are critical when applying this powerful technology to non-cancer conditions.