Khanna, Dinesh

Objective This study aims to identify factors associated with patient global assessment (PtGA) and physician global assessment (PhGA) and discordance between them in systemic sclerosis (SSc). Methods Data from adults with early SSc (<5 years) from the Collaborative National Quality and Efficacy Registry were included. PtGA and PhGA (0–10 scale), clinical evaluations, and patient‐reported outcomes (PROs) were collected every six months. Multivariable mixed‐effects linear regression identified factors associated with PtGA and PhGA using (1) clinical variables and (2) clinical variables plus PROs. Relative weight analysis (RWA) determined the relative importance of each variable. Discordance (≥2 points between PtGA and PhGA) was assessed using multinomial mixed‐effects logistic regression. Results Among 956 patients (83% women, 33% limited disease), mean PtGA and PhGA at enrollment were 4.2 (SD 2.6) and 3.4 (SD 2.0), respectively ( P < 0.001). RWA of clinical variables identified modified Rodnan skin score (mRSS) and New York Heart Association (NYHA) functional class as most influential for both global assessments. After including PROs, PtGA was most influenced by measures of pain, skin symptoms, and physical function. Discordance occurred in 53% of patients (35% PtGA worse, 18% PhGA worse). Worse PtGA was associated with higher overall pain and discomfort. Worse PhGA was associated with higher mRSS, worse NYHA class, higher pain interference, and lower diffusing capacity of the lung. Conclusion Discordance between PtGA and PhGA occurs commonly, highlighting the need for comprehensive symptom management and measurement of disease burden in this complex disease. In SSc, differences in PtGA and PhGA reflect dissimilar weighting of data elements.

Abstract Introduction: Autologous CD19 CART therapies have been utilized across a wide range of B cell driven autoimmune diseases (AD), including systemic lupus erythematous (SLE), idiopathic inflammatory myopathies (IIM), systemic sclerosis (SSc), & myasthenia gravis (MG). To date, a number of autologous CD19-CART therapies have delivered durable drug free responses in AD patients. However, the safety profile of autologous CD19-CART therapies across different AD has yet to be fully explored. This is especially true for CRS & ICANS. Here, we provide novel insight into the mechanism underlying the safety profile of resecabtagene autoleucel (rese-cel) an autologous CD19 41BBz CART therapy across four separate Phase I/II clinical trials in SLE, IIM, SSc, & MG. Objectives: The primary objective of each trial is safety & tolerability of rese-cel at Day 29. Key secondary objectives include changes in clinical scores & use of immunomodulatory agents. Key translational assessments include CART cell pharmacokinetics (PK), impact on peripheral B cell populations (pharmacodynamics), & serum cytokine levels. Methods: 19 Patients (data cutoff: 6/2/2025 SLE; 5/6/2025 IIM, SSc, and MG), with active disease refractory to standard of care have been treated across 4 Phase I/II clinical trials in SLE (8 patients; NCT06121297), IIM (8 patients; NCT06154252), SSc (2 patients; NCT06328777), & MG (1 patient; NCT06359041). All patients were treated with a single weight-based infusion of rese-cel at a dose of 1 x 106 cells/kg following lymphodepletion (flu 25 mg/m2/d on Days -5, -4, & -3, & cy 1,000 mg/m2/d on Day -3). All non-glucocorticoid immunomodulatory agents were stopped prior to lymphodepletion. Glucocorticoids were tapered post-infusion. Patients were not given prophylactic tocilizumab pre-infusion. Translational assessments were determined as follows: CART PK was evaluated by flow cytometry & dPCR; B-cell enumeration & phenotyping were evaluated by flow cytometry; & serum cytokines were evaluated via immunoassay. Results: Across all indications (19 patients), 7 episodes of CRS were observed (7/19). 6 of 7 patients experienced a Grade 1 CRS, & 1 patient had a Grade 2 CRS. 2 patients developed ICANS; 1 patient had a Grade 4 (previously presented at ACR Convergence 2024), & the other patient had a Grade 3. Both ICANS events were rapidly resolved without sequelae using standard therapy. These CRS and ICANS events differed across indications. In IIM, 4 of 8 patients experienced Grade 1 CRS and no patients experienced ICANs. In SLE, 2 patients experienced Grade 1 CRS and one developed Grade 4 ICANs. In SSC, 1 of 2 patients experienced Grade 2 CRS & the other experienced Grade 3 ICANS. In MG, no CRS or ICANS was observed. Rese-cel infusion products were ~ 66% transduced, with a mean CD4:CD8 ratio of 6. Post-infusion, peak CART expansion was observed on day 12 & the mean peak expansion was 89 cells/µL (SD +/- 214). B cells were rapidly depleted from peripheral blood post-infusion, with nadir occurring at 13 days & repopulation beginning at 62 days post-infusion on average. Re-emergent B cells were largely of the CD24+CD38+ transitional naïve phenotype. Commensurate with B cell depletion, serum BAFF induction was observed, with a mean fold induction of 16 & mean peak level of 56,404 pg/µL (SD: +/- 45,547). Serum cytokines associated with CRS & ICANS; IFNg, IL6, & IL8 reached peak elevation on days 10, 9, & 10 respectively post-infusion. The mean peak elevation for IFNg, IL6, & IL8 were 232 pg/ µL (SD: +/- 320), 44 pg/ µL (SD: +/- 60), & 80 pg/ µL (SD +/- 73), respectively. Conclusion: Rese-cel appears to be well tolerated in autoimmune patients with rates of CRS & ICANS of 37% & 11% across all autoimmune indications, respectively (SLE patients had a 25% CRS rate & 12.5% ICANS rate, IIM patients had a 50% CRS rate & 0% ICANS rate, SSC patients had a 50% CRS & 50% ICANS rate, & MG patients had a 0% CRS & ICANS rate). Notably, the frequency & severity of CRS appears to be low, with no CRS in 63% of patients (12/19) & most CRS events (6/7) being Grade 1. The lower frequency & severity of both CRS & ICANS events are likely correlated with the relatively modest induction of serum IFNg, IL6, & IL8 found in autoimmune patients post rese-cel weight-adjusted dose infusion. High BAFF levels reflect deep systemic B cell depletion. Together, these data support further support late-stage clinical development of rese-cel in autoimmune disease.

Objective Mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) can stabilize or improve lung function in systemic sclerosis–related interstitial lung disease (SSc‐ILD). We hypothesized that combining MMF with pirfenidone (PFD) would produce a significantly more rapid and/or greater improvement in lung function. Methods A randomized (1:1), double‐blind, placebo (PLA)‐controlled phase 2 trial was conducted in SSc‐ILD in which patients received PFD or PLA (801 mg three times daily) along with MMF (1,500 mg twice daily) for 18 months. The primary outcome was change in percent predicted forced vital capacity (FVC‐%). Linear mixed‐effects models assessed treatment differences in a modified intention‐to‐treat population. Results Only fifty‐one of 150 intended subjects (34%) were randomized (MMF+PLA, n = 24; MMF+PFD, n = 27). The FVC‐% improved from baseline to 18 months by 2.24 ± 1.35 (least‐squares mean [LSM] ± SEM) in the MMF+PLA group and 2.09 ± 1.28 in the MMF+PFD group (LSM treatment difference −0.14; P = 0.93). Median time to achieve a ≥3% improvement in FVC‐% was numerically faster in the MMF+PFD versus MMF+PLA group (12.3 vs 17.8 months, respectively), but the difference was not significant ( P = 0.33). For secondary outcomes, only the change over 18 months in the Patient‐Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System 29‐item physical function score, favoring MMF+PFD, reached statistical significance ( P = 0.04). Although other related patient‐reported outcomes (PROs) numerically favored the MMF+PFD group, as did quantitative high‐resolution computed tomography measures of ILD, the differences between groups did not reach statistical significance. Early withdrawals from study medication and adverse events of special interest were numerically greater with MMF+PFD (n = 8 vs 2 and n = 20 vs 7, respectively). Conclusion In this underpowered study, there was no statistically significant treatment difference in overall change in FVC‐% between groups. MMF+PFD was not as well tolerated as MMF+PLA.

Objective Raynaud phenomenon (RP) is often the initial clinical manifestation of systemic sclerosis (SSc), but some patients develop other manifestations first. To help elucidate the diversity of SSc presentation in its early stages, we describe the initial clinical manifestations and antinuclear antibody (ANA) profiles of patients in two early SSc cohorts. Methods All patient data in the Genetics vs Environment in Scleroderma Outcomes Study (GENISOS) and Collaborative National Quality and Efficacy Registry (CONQUER) cohorts were reviewed. Both studies enrolled patients within five years of the first non‐RP symptom. Results In GENISOS and CONQUER, respectively, 194 (44.2%) of 439 and 292 (31.1%) of 938 patients had a non‐RP initial symptom, most commonly puffy fingers/hands. Black patients had a non‐RP symptom before RP more commonly than patients in other race and ethnicity categories. Non‐RP first patients were more likely than RP first patients to have diffuse cutaneous involvement and joint contractures at enrollment and had a higher prevalence of RNA polymerase III antibody positivity. Conclusion In two large US cohorts, >30% of patients began to manifest SSc with puffy fingers/hands or other symptoms, without the “warning sign” of RP as their initial symptom. These patients presented with more severe skin and musculoskeletal disease on average, highlighting the importance of early recognition. The most common autoantibody associated with this presentation was RNA polymerase III. These results should be considered in efforts to recognize SSc in its earliest stages. Puffy fingers/hands, even in the absence of RP, should prompt consideration of early SSc and testing for ANA and SSc‐associated autoantibodies, including RNA polymerase III.

Background and Objectives: Interstitial lung disease (ILD) is a common manifestation of connective tissue disease (CTD). (a) Pulmonary rehabilitation (PR) can be utilised to improve dyspnoea and quality of life in patients with chronic lung conditions, including both obstructive and restrictive lung diseases. (b) This study aims to determine if PR can be a useful therapy to improve functional capacity and self-reported measures of dyspnoea in patients with CTD-ILD. Methods: Patients with a diagnosis of CTD-ILD at a tertiary centre were prospectively enrolled to receive PR in this study. The primary outcome was a change in the 6-minute walk test (6MWT) between baseline and 8 weeks after PR. The secondary outcome measures included pulmonary function tests (PFTs) and Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS→) Dyspnoea, St George’s Respiratory Questionnaire (SGRQ), and Leicester Cough Questionnaire (LCQ), which were collected before and at 8 weeks after PR. P < .05 was considered statistically significant. Results: Twenty-one patients were included in the data analysis. The baseline characteristics are shown in Table 1 . Following PR, there was a statistically significant improvement in the 6MWT ( Figure 1 ). Improvement in scores was observed in LCQ and the symptom domain of the SGRQ. Trends towards improvement were noted in PROMIS → Dyspnoea scores. Conclusion: In CTD-ILD patients, an 8-week course of PR led to improvements in functional capacity (6MWT) and certain quality of life domains (LCQ and symptom domain of SGRQ). Future studies are required to determine the longer-term benefit of PR in CTD-ILD patients and if these improvements are sustained.