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NCT Number: NCT07746453

Universal STAR-T Cell Injection in Autoimmune Kidney Diseases

This is an investigator initiated, single-arm, open-label, dose-escalation study to explore the preliminary efficacy, safety, tolerability, pharmacokinetic (PK) and pharmacodynamic (PD) characteristics of the universal STAR-T cell injection which is a CD19 and BCMA bispecific CAR-T cells in patients with autoimmune kidney diseases. Approximately 10-24 adult participants diagnosed as IgA nephropathy and primary membranous nephropathy will be enrolled. Three dose levels (1.5 E6 STAR-T cells/kg, 3.0 E6 STAR-T cells/kg and 4.5 E6 STAR-T cells/kg) will be established in this study, and the universal STAR-T cell will be administered as a single intravenous infusion. A recommended dose will be selected for subsequent dose-expansion studies to evaluate the safety and efficacy of universal STAR-T cell injection in participants with autoimmune kidney diseases based on the safety, PK results, and preliminary efficacy data. This study includes the screening period (D-28 to D-6), pre-clearance treatment and observation period (D-5 to D-1), cell infusion and main study endpoint observation period (D0 to W12 after infusion), and extended follow-up period (W12 to W104).

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Key information

Age range

18 year–65 year

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

Primary location

Guangdong Provincial People's Hospital.

Guangdong, Guangzhou, China

Location contact

Xueqing Yu

CONTACT

[email protected]

020-83827812 ext. 61420

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: No

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

Inclusion criteria

  • Subjects must meet all the following inclusion criteria to be enrolled in this study:
  • Age 18-65 years (inclusive), gender (no gender restriction);
  • Previous diagnosis of IgA Nephropathy (IgAN) or Primary Membranous Nephropathy (PMN):
  • IgA Nephropathy (IgAN): Renal biopsy confirmed as IgAN, and meets any one of the following criteria:
  • Treatment-refractory IgAN: Previously received RAAS inhibitors or SGLT2 inhibitors or endothelin receptor antagonists (ERA) or mineralocorticoid receptor antagonists (MRA) for at least 12 weeks, and combined with/or sequentially added at least one immunosuppressant or biologic agent for ≥3 months, with 24-hour urinary protein ≥1.0 g or 24-hour urine protein/creatinine ratio (UPCR) ≥0.8 g/g;
  • eGFR decreased by ≥50% within the past 3 months, and acute kidney injury (AKI) is excluded;
  • Unable to tolerate conventional treatment, may be considered for enrollment after full evaluation by the investigator.
  • Primary Membranous Nephropathy (PMN): Renal biopsy confirmed as PMN, and anti-phospholipase A2 receptor antibody (anti-PLA2R) is positive, and meets any one of the following criteria for relapsed or refractory PMN:
  • Refractory PMN: Received hormone combined with cyclophosphamide or calcineurin inhibitor (CNI) or rituximab for ≥6 months, and meets any one of the following:(a) Anti-PLA2R persistently high titer >50 RU/mL;(b) Persistent 24-hour urinary protein >3.5 g/d, and reduction <50% during treatment;(c) Unable to tolerate the above immunosuppressive therapy, or discontinued due to severe adverse reactions;
  • Relapsed PMN: After achieving complete remission, 24-hour urinary protein re-increased to >3.5 g/d;
  • Function of vital organs meets the following requirements:

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  • Bone marrow function must satisfy:(a) Neutrophil count ≥1.0×10⁹/L (without colony-stimulating factor treatment within 2 weeks prior to testing, except for disease-induced neutropenia);(b) Hemoglobin ≥60 g/L;(c) Platelet count ≥30×10⁹/L;
  • Liver function:(a) ALT ≤3×ULN (elevations due to disease are excluded);(b) AST ≤3×ULN (elevations due to disease are excluded);(c) TBIL ≤1.5×ULN (elevations due to disease are excluded);
  • Kidney function: Estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) ≥30 mL/min/1.73 m² (calculated by CKD-EPI formula);
  • Coagulation function: International Normalized Ratio (INR) ≤1.5×ULN, Prothrombin Time (PT) ≤1.5×ULN;
  • Cardiac function: Hemodynamically stable; 4. Female subjects of childbearing potential and male subjects whose partners are of childbearing potential must agree to use medically accepted contraceptive measures or abstinence during the study and for 24 months after cell infusion; female subjects of childbearing potential must have a negative serum HCG test within 7 days prior to enrollment and must not be lactating: 5. Voluntarily participate in this clinical study and sign the informed consent form.

Exclusion criteria

  • Subjects who meet any of the following exclusion criteria will be excluded from this study:
  • Secondary IgAN, secondary membranous nephropathy;
  • Use of immunosuppressive agents with therapeutic effect on the disease within five half-lives prior to cell infusion, or biologics within 4 weeks;
  • History of severe drug allergy or allergic constitution;
  • Uncontrolled or requiring treatment fungal, bacterial, viral, or other infections;
  • Active tuberculosis at screening;
  • Cardiac insufficiency (NYHA functional class >II), unable to tolerate study lymphodepletion and cell reinfusion;
  • Subjects with congenital immunoglobulin deficiency;
  • History of malignant tumor within the past 5 years that has not yet resolved;
  • Positive for hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) and hepatitis B core antibody (HBcAb) with peripheral blood HBV DNA titer above the detection limit; positive for hepatitis C virus (HCV) antibody with peripheral blood HCV RNA positive; positive for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) antibody; positive for syphilis test;
  • Male and female subjects who plan to conceive during the study period or within 24 months after cell infusion;
  • Subjects whom the investigator deems otherwise unsuitable for inclusion in this study.

Treatment and study plan

Universal STAR-T Cell

Biological

There are three dose levels of STAR-T cells injection(1.5 E6 STAR-T cells/kg, 3.0 E6 STAR-T cells/kg and 4.5 E6 STAR-T cells/kg) .

Primary outcomes

  1. Type, severity, and frequency of adverse events (AEs)

    Time frame: AEs will be observed until 24 weeks after STAR-T cells injection and extended to 104 weeks.

    Characterization of treatment-emergent adverse events (TEAEs) graded by NCI-CTCAE v6.0, including laboratory abnormalities, vital sign changes, and infusion-related reactions.

  2. Incidence of Dose-Limiting Toxicities (DLTs).

    Time frame: Within 28 days after START-T cells infusion.

    To assess the safety and tolerability of STAR-T cells and determine the Maximum Tolerated Dose (MTD) or Recommended Phase 2 Dose (RP2D). DLTs are defined according to the NCI Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events (CTCAE) v6.0.

  3. Remission rates of IgAN at the week 12 and week 24

    Time frame: From enrollment to the end of treatment at 12 weeks and 24 weeks, respectively

    Remission include complete remission (CR) or partial remission (PR). (1) Complete remission (CR) is defined as 24-hour urine protein < 0.5 g, or a 24-hour urine protein-to-creatinine ratio (UPCR) < 0.5 g/g, accompanied by stable renal function which is defined as a decline in estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) of ≤ 15% from baseline. (2) Partial remission (PR) is defined as 24-hour urine protein or 24-hour UPCR not meeting the CR criteria, but demonstrating a reduction of ≥ 50% from baseline.

  4. Remission rates of PMN at the week 12 and week 24

    Time frame: From enrollment to the end of treatment at 12 weeks and 24 weeks, respectively

    Remission include complete remission (CR) or partial remission (PR). (1) Complete remission (CR) is defined as 24-hour urine protein < 0.5 g, or a 24-hour urine protein-to-creatinine ratio (UPCR) < 0.5 g/g, accompanied by stable serum creatinine (defined as a fluctuation of ≤ 15% from baseline), and a serum albumin (ALB) level > 3.5 g/dL (or 35 g/L). (2) Partial remission (PR) is defined as 24-hour urine protein maintained within the range of 0.5-3.5 g, or 24-hour UPCR maintained within the range of 0.5-3.5 g/g, accompanied by a reduction of ≥ 50% from baseline

Secondary outcomes

  1. Changes in 24-hour UPCR from baseline in IgAN and PMN participants

    Time frame: From enrollment to the end of treatment at 12 weeks and 24 weeks, respectively

    24-hour urine sample will be collected and UPCR will be measured.

  2. Changes in 24-hour urinary protein excretion from baseline in IgAN and PMN participants

    Time frame: From enrollment to the end of treatment at 12 weeks and 24 weeks, respectively

    24-hour urine sample will be collected and urinary protein excretion will be measured.

  3. Changes in kidney function from baseline in IgAN and PMN participants

    Time frame: From enrollment to the end of treatment at 12 weeks and 24 weeks, respectively

    eGFR will be measured to evaluate kidney fucntion

  4. Changes in serum biomarkers from baseline in IgAN participants

    Time frame: From enrollment to the end of treatment at 12 weeks and 24 weeks, respectively

    Biomarkers include serum albumin, Gd-IgA1, C3, C4 and Immunoglobulins.

  5. Changes in serum biomarkers from baseline in PMN participants

    Time frame: From enrollment to the end of treatment at 12 weeks and 24 weeks, respectively

    Biomarkers include serum albumin, anti-PLA2R, C3, C4 and Immunoglobulins.

  6. Maximum Plasma Concentration of Universal STAR-T Cells (Cmax)

    Time frame: Up to 24 weeks (Core Analysis Period); Extended observation up to 104 weeks.

    To evaluate the maximum observed plasma concentration of Universal STAR-T Cells

  7. Time to Reach Maximum Plasma Concentration (Tmax) of Universal STAR-T Cells.

    Time frame: Up to 24 weeks (Core Analysis Period); Extended observation up to 104 weeks.

    To evaluate the time to reach the maximum observed plasma concentration of Universal STAR-T Cells.

  8. Area Under the Plasma Concentration-Time Curve (AUC) of Universal STAR-T Cells

    Time frame: Up to 24 weeks (Core Analysis Period); Extended observation up to 104 weeks.

    To evaluate the total systemic exposure to Universal STAR-T Cells over time.

  9. Change in PD Biomarkers

    Time frame: Up to 24 weeks (Core Analysis Period); Extended observation up to 104 weeks.

    PD Biomarkers include serum serum cytokine concentrations, such as IL-1β, IL-2、IL-6, IL-8, TNF-α, and IFN-γ, using validated ELISA kits

  10. Changes in B cells in peripheral blood

    Time frame: Up to 24 weeks (Core Analysis Period); Extended observation up to 104 weeks

    Evaluation of PD effects of Universal STAR-T Cells via serial quantification of CD19-positive B cells in peripheral blood, expressed as cells per microliter (cells/μL). Measurement will be performed using flow cytometry according to standardized laboratory protocols

  11. Change in plasma cells in peripheral blood

    Time frame: Up to 24 weeks (Core Analysis Period); Extended observation up to 104 weeks.

    Evaluation of PD effects of Universal STAR-T Cells via serial quantification of plasma cells in peripheral blood, expressed as cells per microliter (cells/μL). Measurement will be performed using flow cytometry according to standardized laboratory protocols.T

  12. Anti-Drug Antibodies (ADA) against universal STAR-T cells

    Time frame: Up to 24 weeks (Core Analysis Period); Extended observation up to 104 weeks

    To evaluate the development of anti-drug antibodies (ADA) against allogeneic universal STAR-T cells in peripheral blood

Study contacts

Contact information is provided by the study sponsor or research team.

Li Fan, MD

CONTACT

[email protected]

8615913106705

Xueqing Yu, MD

CONTACT

[email protected]

-8620-83827812 ext. 61420

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

Guangdong Provincial People's Hospital

Other

Collaborators

  • China Immunotech (Beijing) Biotechnology Co., Ltd.

Registry information

Official study title

An Exploratory Study to Evaluate the Safety and Efficacy of Universal STAR-T Cell Injection in Subjects With Autoimmune Kidney Diseases

Important dates

Study start
2026
Primary completion
2029
Study completion
2029
First posted
Aug 5, 2026
Registry last updated
Aug 5, 2026

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

View the official ClinicalTrials.gov record (opens in a new tab)

This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.

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