Bristol Myers Squibb tests therapy in autoimmune diseases by Andrea Lobo, PhD | October 28, 2025

A CAR T-cell therapy being developed by Bristol Myers Squibb eased skin thickness and improved lung function in people with systemic sclerosis (SSc), early trial data showed.

These initial results for the treatment, BMS-986353, come from the Phase 1 Breakfree-1 clinical trial (NCT05869955), which is testing the therapy’s tolerability, preliminary efficacy, and pharmacological profile in several autoimmune diseases. Breakfree-1 is currently recruiting at several sites in the U.S.

The results are being reported at the American College of Rheumatology (ACR) Convergence 2025, being held Oct. 24-29 in Chicago, in a presentation titled “Efficacy and Safety of BMS-986353, a CD19-Directed Chimeric Antigen Receptor T Cell Therapy Manufactured Using a Next-Generation Process: Updated Data From a Phase 1 Trial in Patients With Systemic Sclerosis.”

“While early, these data demonstrate our focus and steady advancement toward introducing the potential of treatment-free remission, which just a few years ago was not thought to be possible for patients with severe autoimmune disorders,” Lynelle B. Hoch, president of the cell therapy organization at Bristol Myers Squibb, said in a company press release.
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SSc is caused by an overactive immune system that results in inflammation and accumulation of scar tissue in the skin and connective tissues, which support and hold organs together. Immune B-cells produce antibodies to help the body fight off diseases, but may also produce self-reactive antibodies that drive autoimmune disease.

Mouse study shows the tiny natural particles reduced inflammation by Margarida Maia, PhD | October 21, 2025

Milk-derived extracellular vesicles — very small, natural particles from cow’s milk — were shown to safely reduce inflammation and scarring in a mouse model of systemic sclerosis (SSc).

Because these vesicles carry molecules that can protect and help tissue repair itself, they “have attracted much attention due to their high yield, easy availability, and high content, which endows them with great potential for clinical applications,” the researchers wrote.

The study, “Blockade of TGF-[beta]1/Smad3 signaling pathway by bovine milk-derived extracellular vesicles ameliorates skin fibrosis in systemic sclerosis mice,” was published in Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications by scientists in China.
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Scleroderma occurs when the immune system prompts the body to make an excess of collagen that thickens and hardens the skin and internal organs. In scleroderma, the connective tissue becomes stiffened and swollen.

Analysis: Protein markers and disease duration strongly predict MMF response
by Margarida Maia, PhD | October 14, 2025

In people with diffuse cutaneous systemic sclerosis (dcSSc), certain skin features, including levels of specific molecules and cells, depend on disease duration, a study finds.

These features, combined with disease duration, allowed researchers to predict patients’ response to mycophenolate mofetil (MMF), an immunosuppressive therapy commonly used for dcSSc.

These findings suggest “skin biopsies may be useful for refining prognosis and guiding patient management decisions,” the researchers wrote.

​The study, “Skin biopsies enhance prediction of clinical trajectory in diffuse cutaneous systemic sclerosis,” was published in Arthritis & Rheumatology.

More than a third of patients saw progressive lung disease, study found by Margarida Maia, PhD | October 7, 2025

​More than a third of adults with systemic sclerosis (SSc) who develop interstitial lung disease (ILD) see their condition progress, and those who reported increasing shortness of breath in the past month had a higher risk of death — even if their breathing tests have not declined — an Australian study finds.

“This study has highlighted the prognostic importance of patient-reported symptoms in the evaluation of SSc-ILD,” the researchers wrote in “The prognostic importance of worsening dyspnoea in systemic sclerosis related interstitial lung disease,” which was published in Seminars in Arthritis and Rheumatism.
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In SSc, the immune system mistakenly attacks its own tissues, leading to the formation of fibrotic (scar) tissue. When this occurs in the lungs, it can appear as ILD, where the lung tissue becomes inflamed and stiff. This makes it harder for air to move in and out of the lungs, making it difficult to breathe.

Researchers say they could serve as biomarkers, preventive strategy targets
by Margarida Maia, PhD | September 30, 2025

​Researchers in China have identified five genes — COL1A2, COL3A1, COL15A1, THY-1, and CCL19 — that may play a key role in lung complications associated with systemic sclerosis (SSc), according to a study.

Using bioinformatics analyses of patient tissue samples, the team found that these genes were consistently overactive and linked to processes such as cell migration, biological adhesion, and collagen biosynthesis, which contribute to tissue scarring and increased blood pressure in the lungs.

Researchers suggest that these genes could serve as potential markers for early diagnosis and as targets for preventive or therapeutic strategies against SSc-associated lung disease.
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The study, “Identification and validation of key genes commonly expressed and upregulated in systemic sclerosis-associated lung diseases through integrated analysis,” was published in Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications.

Living with a chronic illness is like fighting a war by Tomisa Starr | September 24, 2025

​When I was diagnosed with scleroderma, I cried. I wondered, “What is going to become of me?” I didn’t feel brave. I felt helpless and afraid.

My scleroderma symptoms didn’t come all at once. Shortness of breath and fatigue — symptoms of interstitial lung disease (ILD) — came on slowly. These can delay an ILD diagnosis because they are vague and can have many causes. For example, I have pulmonary arterial hypertension as well as scleroderma, and difficulty breathing and fatigue can also be caused by a scleroderma renal crisis. In my case, however, the symptoms are caused by scleroderma’s direct effect on my lungs. 
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I also have gastrointestinal symptoms, such as heartburn and bloating, that are very bad and my reflux is unbelievably painful. Whenever I have reflux, my throat hurts so badly that it feels like I’ve been scalded. Drinking water helps thin out the mucus and acid, but it still hurts. I take medications to control my stomach acid.

Changes in protein signatures a potential therapeutic target by Steve Bryson, PhD | September 16, 2025

Increasing levels of self-reactive antibodies in the bloodstream after the start of treatment are associated with the progression of systemic sclerosis (SSc), according to recent research.

“We hypothesize that rising antibody [levels] during treatment may reflect ongoing immune activation, insufficient therapeutic response, or impending flare, whereas decreasing [levels] may signal immune modulation and treatment efficacy,” researchers wrote.

Moreover, changes in protein signatures related to the metabolism of fat-like lipids and oxidative stress, a type of cellular damage, may drive SSc progression, “highlighting novel biomarkers and therapeutic targets for personalized SSc management,” they added.
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The biomarker study, “Longitudinal Autoantibody and Proteomic Profiles Uncover Biomarkers and Mechanisms of Disease Progression in Systemic Sclerosis,” was published in Arthritis & Rheumatology.

Researchers enrolled 285 people with SSc to study gut bacteria, lung disease
by Andrea Lobo, PhD | September 9, 2025

​The presence and severity of interstitial lung disease in people with systemic sclerosis (SSc) are associated with a specific combination of bacteria in the gut, a study suggests.

“These species or their metabolic products may influence ILD [disease processes] and represent novel treatment targets,” the study’s researchers wrote. The study, “International Investigation of the Gut-Lung Axis in Systemic Sclerosis-Interstitial Lung Disease,” was published in Arthritis Care & Research.

​SSc, or scleroderma, is caused by an overactive immune system that leads to inflammation and the accumulation of scar tissue, or fibrosis, in the skin and internal organs. When fibrosis occurs in the lungs, it can lead to ILD, causing damage to the air sacs and making breathing difficult.

While people with SSc may have an imbalance in the gut microbial community, or intestinal dysbiosis, no studies have explored its relationship with SSc-ILD, leading researchers to study 285 scleroderma patients, who did or didn’t have ILD, from seven SSc centers on five continents. The participants had a mean age of 54.7 and a disease duration of 9.8 years. Most were women (83.5%) and 62.5% had ILD. Those with ILD were more likely to use proton-pump inhibitors (88% vs. 69%), which reduce stomach acid production, and immunomodulatory therapies (73% vs. 50%).

Patients rarely discuss sexual issues with their doctors, however by Marisa Wexler, MS | September 2, 2025

​Sexual dysfunction is common among people with systemic scleroderma, but is rarely discussed between patients and their doctors, a new study shows.

In the study, “Sexual dysfunction and perceptions of rheumatologist engagement on this issue in patients with systemic sclerosis,” the researchers said the reasons for this can be “due in part to low comfort level, time restraints, and uncertainty related to the role of the rheumatologist in this health domain.” The study was published in the Journal of Scleroderma and Related Disorders.

Systemic scleroderma, or systemic sclerosis (SSc), is marked by scar tissue accumulating in various organs and can result in a range of symptoms that may cause problems during sexual intimacy. The disease leads to impaired blood flow to the genitals, which can result in erectile dysfunction or vaginal dryness. Other symptoms, like impaired hand mobility or incontinence, can also pose obstacles during sex.

Studies that assess sexual dysfunction in SSc have traditionally used standard questionnaires such as the Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI) for women or the International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF) for men. These indexes, which are designed for the general population, may not capture the nuanced ways in which SSc can affect sexual expression, however.
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Scientists in the U.S. developed the Sexual Function in SSc Questionnaire to create a more disease-specific measure of sexual dysfunction in SSc. The new questionnaire was administered to 41 people with SSc. Of them, 26 (63%) reported some form of sexual dysfunction, a rate consistent with those in prior studies. Specific issues related to sex included a lack of desire, pain, lack of lubrication, trouble climaxing, erectile dysfunction, fatigue, and recurrent vaginal infections.

Findings may benefit prevention, diagnosis, and prognosis of disease by Marisa Wexler, MS | August 26, 2025

Infection with Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), the virus that causes mononucleosis, may increase the risk of developing systemic sclerosis (SSc), according to a new analysis of genetic data.

Findings also indicate that SSc is less likely to develop in people who’ve been infected with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) or SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19.

“These findings may benefit the prevention, diagnosis, and prognosis of SSc,” the investigators wrote.
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The study, “Mendelian randomization unveils genetic causal relationships between viral infections and systemic sclerosis,” was published in Scientific Reports.