NCT06587828 · TScan Therapeutics, Inc.
A Biospecimen Collection Study to Identify the Targets of Disease-Reactive T Cells in Patients With Autoimmune Disease
What this study is about
The most clinically meaningful way to discover new targets of T cells in autoimmune diseases is to study the tissues of patients with active autoimmune disease mediated organ inflammation. These tissues contain both cytotoxic and helper T cells that are driving their disease, and these T cells are being guided by TCRs that recognize tissue-specific targets.
View original scientific description
The most clinically meaningful way to discover new targets of T cells in autoimmune diseases is to study the tissues of patients with active autoimmune disease mediated organ inflammation. These tissues contain both cytotoxic and helper T cells that are driving their disease, and these T cells are being guided by TCRs that recognize tissue-specific targets. By collecting tissue when a patient has active inflammation, it is possible to determine which T cells are activated and undergoing clonal expansion in the patient's diseased organ. TScan has developed a genome-wide, high-throughput technology to determine the natural, physiological target of any TCR (Kula, 2019). The goal of this study is to isolate T cells from inflamed tissues and matched blood samples and/or matched normal tissues (for patients with inflammatory bowel diseases). T cell clones that are expanded in diseased tissues relative to blood or normal tissues will be selected and the targets of their TCRs will be defined using TScan's genome-wide, high-throughput target ID technology. The goal of this study is to discover a collection of peptide targets, along with their associated TCRs to be developed as new tolerogenic therapies for patients with autoimmune diseases.
Who can participate
This study lists these criteria on ClinicalTrials.gov. A study coordinator reviews eligibility during screening — this page does not determine whether you qualify.
Inclusion criteria
- Study cohorts 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8.9: Known or suspected diagnosis, with subsequent diagnostic confirmation, of one of the following cohorts associated with the following autoimmune diseases:
- Inflammatory Bowel Diseases - Crohn's Disease or ulcerative colitis
- Celiac disease
- Ankylosing spondylitis or Non radiographic axial spondyloarthritis (nr-axSpA)
- Multiple sclerosis
- Scleroderma
- Systemic sclerosis with pulmonary involvement
- Other autoimmune disease (as agreed between Investigator and Sponsor)
- Apparent evolving autoimmune disease
- Frozen cryopreserved
- Age equal or greater than 18 years at time of informed consent.
- Ability to understand and willingness to sign an informed consent document when informed consent is required by an ethical review board.
- On disease-modifying treatments that are not known to be directly T cell toxic. Such treatments are allowed and include:
- Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs including aspirin, ibuprofen, acetaminophen, celecoxib, indomethacin, diclofenac, etodolac, naproxen, meloxicam, sulindac, nabumetone amongst others.
- Tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha) antagonists including infliximab (Remicade), adalimumab (Humira), certolizumab pegol (Cimzia), etanercept (Enbrel), golimumab (Simponi) and biosimilar drugs with the same generic name.
- Interleukin-12/23 antagonists including ustekinumab (Stelara) and risankizumab-rzaa (Skyrizi)
- Alpha-4-integrin antagonists including vedolizumab (Entyvio), natalizumab (Tysabri)
- Interleukin-17 inhibitors including secukinumab (Cosentyx), ixekizumab (Taltz)
- Recombinant interferon beta
- CD20 antagonists including rituximab (Rituxan), ocrelizumab (Ocrevus), ofatumumab (Kesimpta)
- Oral fumarates including dimethyl fumarate (Tecfidera), diroximel fumarate (Vumerity), monomethyl fumarate (Bafiertam)
- Oral sphingosine 1-phosphate receptor (S1PR) modulators including fingolimod (Gilenya), siponimod (Mayzent), ozanimod (Zeposia), ponesimod (Ponvory)
- Oral glatiramer acetate (copolymer 1; Copaxone)
- Patient is an appropriate candidate for a procedure to obtain a biopsy, tissue samples or biologic materials during a clinically indicated procedure where it is expected that excess materials could be used for research OR
- In the opinion of the clinical investigator, a patient is an appropriate, low-risk candidate for a research only procedure to obtain a biopsy, tissue samples or biologic materials.
Exclusion criteria
- On treatment with drugs that are known to be T cell toxic and cannot be held for at least 4 weeks or longer. The following treatments are not allowed except in designated cohorts when approved by Sponsor:
- Glucocorticoids including prednisone, methylprednisolone (Solu-medrol), budesonide (Entocort), hydrocortisone (Solu-cortef), dexamethasone (Decadron), betamethasone (Betaject)
- Sulfasalazine (Azulfidine)
- Aminosalicylates including mesalamine/ mesalazine (Asacol, Pentasa).
- Thiopurines including azathioprine (Imuran) and 6-mercaptopurine (Purixan)
- Systemic JAK inhibitors including tofacitinib (Xeljanz), abrocitinib (Cibinqo), baricitinib (Olumiant), upadacitinib (Rinvoq)
- CD52 inhibitors including alemtuzumab (Campath)
- Methotrexate
- Teriflunomide (Aubagio)
- Concurrent disease or condition that would make the patient inappropriate for study participation, or any serious medical or psychiatric disorder that would interfere with the subject's safety.
- Dementia, altered mental status, or any psychiatric condition that would prohibit the understanding or rendering of informed consent.
- Patients receiving research biopsy procedures will not have a history of serious or life-threatening allergic reaction to local anesthetics (i.e., lidocaine, xylocaine), if local anesthetic is required for the procedure or to medications used for sedation during a procedure.
- Pregnant or nursing women are excluded because there may be unanticipated adverse events and increased risk to both mother and fetus in the setting of local anesthetic or study procedures.
- Any other medical or psychiatric condition, which in the opinion of the patient's treating clinician, would make participation in this protocol unreasonably hazardous for the patient.
Where
- Orange, California
- Sherman Oaks, California
- Skokie, Illinois
- Lexington, Kentucky
- Waltham, Massachusetts
- Harrisburg, Pennsylvania
- Cranston, Rhode Island
- Summerville, South Carolina
- Bellaire, Texas
- Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Frequently asked questions
What is a clinical trial?
A clinical trial is a research study that tests new medical treatments, drugs, devices, or procedures to determine their safety and effectiveness. Trials are carefully designed and monitored to protect participants while advancing medical knowledge.
Is it safe to participate?
Clinical trials follow strict safety guidelines and ethical standards. Trials must be reviewed and approved, and participants are closely monitored by medical professionals throughout the study. You can withdraw at any time if you choose.
Will I be compensated?
Many clinical trials offer compensation for your time, travel expenses, and inconvenience. The specific compensation varies by study and will be discussed during the screening process. All study-related medical care is typically provided at no cost to participants.
Will I receive a placebo instead of treatment?
When effective treatment exists, participants typically receive either the standard treatment plus the study intervention, or the standard treatment plus placebo. You would not be denied effective care. Placebos are primarily used when no proven treatment is available, or in addition to standard care. Your trial consent form will clearly explain what treatments you may receive.
Can I leave a trial if I change my mind?
Absolutely. Participation in clinical trials is completely voluntary. You have the right to withdraw from the study at any time, for any reason, without penalty or loss of benefits to which you are otherwise entitled.
How long does a clinical trial last?
Trial duration varies widely depending on the study design and purpose. Some trials last just a few weeks, while others may continue for months or years. The study coordinator will provide specific timeline information during your screening call.
Data: ClinicalTrials.gov · synced Nov 24, 2025 · Source of record for eligibility and locations