Autoimmune & Rheumatology Clinical Trials Update: Week 25, 2026

Published June 19, 2026 — 5 trials covered

By Victor Lafforgue, Founder of TrialsAlert. Blog posts are AI-drafted from ClinicalTrials.gov source data and reviewed by the editorial team. See our editorial policy for details.

Trial of Belimumab in Early Lupus

This Phase 4 trial is studying belimumab, a treatment designed to modify the immune system, in people with early-stage lupus. The goal is to see if starting belimumab earlier can better control lupus activity and possibly slow disease progression. Patients in the United States are currently being enrolled, and results are expected after two years.

A Trial in Healthy Adult Participants and Adults With Autoimmune Disease to Test How HBM7020 is Tolerated and Absorbed in the Body

This Phase 1 study is exploring the safety and how the body processes a drug called HBM7020 in adults with autoimmune diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis and lupus. By including both healthy adults and those with moderate to severe autoimmune conditions, the trial aims to understand if HBM7020 could become a new treatment that affects the immune system with fewer side effects. This study is not yet recruiting participants.

CD19-Directed Chimeric Antigen Receptor Autologous T Cells (CART19) for Lupus

This early phase trial is testing a novel cell therapy known as CART19 for children and young adults with systemic lupus erythematosus that is difficult to treat. The therapy uses modified immune cells to target lupus-related disease processes and may offer a new option for better disease control. Recruitment is open in the United States for patients with both kidney-related and other forms of lupus.

Study of Therapeutic Efficacy of Anti-CD19 CAR-T Cells in Children With Refractory Refractory AAV

This trial was designed to evaluate an immune cell therapy called anti-CD19 CAR-T cells in children with ANCA-associated vasculitis that has not responded to other treatments. Although the study is currently withdrawn and not enrolling, it represents an effort to find new options for children facing challenging forms of this autoimmune disease.

Mapping B-cell Biology Across the Cardiovascular Territories of Giant Cell Arteritis: Towards a New Therapeutic Approach (RituxiMAP GCA)

This study is using a special imaging technique to map B cells, a type of immune cell, in patients newly diagnosed with giant cell arteritis. The information gained may help develop treatments that target the disease more precisely and reduce the need for steroids, which have significant side effects. The trial is recruiting participants in the United Kingdom.

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