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Updated May 2026 · ClinicalTrials.gov

RECRUITINGPhase 1INTERVENTIONAL

A Study of CC-97540, CD-19-Targeted Nex-T CAR T Cells, in Participants With Severe, Refractory Autoimmune Diseases (Breakfree-1)

A Phase 1, Multicenter, Open-Label Study Of CC-97540 (BMS-986353), CD19-Targeted Nex-T Chimeric Antigen Receptor (CAR) T Cells, in Participants With Severe, Refractory Autoimmune Diseases: Systemic Lupus Erythematosus, Idiopathic Inflammatory Myopathy, Systemic Sclerosis, or Rheumatoid Arthritis (Breakfree-1)

A Study of CC-97540, CD-19-Targeted Nex-T CAR T Cells, in Participants With Severe, Refractory Autoimmune Diseases (Breakfree-1) (NCT05869955) is a Phase 1 interventional studying Systemic Lupus Erythematosus and Idiopathic Inflammatory Myopathy, sponsored by Juno Therapeutics, Inc., a Bristol-Myers Squibb Company. RECRUITING as of the most recent ClinicalTrials.gov update. Talk to your doctor before contacting the trial site.

Important: This information is not medical advice. Talk to your doctor about whether a clinical trial is right for you.

About This Trial

The purpose of this study is to establish the tolerability, preliminary efficacy, and pharmacokinetics of CC-97540 in participants with severe, refractory autoimmune diseases (Breakfree-1).

What Stage of Research Is This?

Phase 1 trials test a new treatment for the first time in humans, focusing on safety, dosing, and how the body processes the drug. For Systemic Lupus Erythematosus, a Phase 1 study typically enrolls a small number of participants — often healthy volunteers or patients who have exhausted standard treatment options. Phase 1 results determine whether a treatment moves into larger Phase 2 efficacy studies.

This trial is currently recruiting participants. The sponsor has registered the study with ClinicalTrials.gov as actively enrolling, which means new applicants who meet the eligibility criteria can be considered for screening. Trial status can change between updates — confirm current recruiting status with the study contact before traveling for a screening visit.

Target enrollment of 270 participants puts this in the typical range for a Phase 2-style efficacy study or a moderate Phase 3 trial in a focused Systemic Lupus Erythematosus subpopulation. At this scale, the study has enough statistical power to detect a clear treatment effect but is not the largest cohort in the field.

Who May Be Eligible (Plain English)

Inclusion Criteria \- Diagnosis of Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE) defined as follows:. i) Fulfilling the 2019 European League Against Rheumatism (EULAR) / American College of Rheumatology (ACR) classification criteria of SLE. ii) Presence of anti-dsDNA, anti-histone, anti-chromatin, anti-Ro (anti-SS-A), anti-La (anti-SS-B), or anti-Sm antibodies at screening. \- SLE disease activity:. i) Active disease at screening, with recent ≥ 1 major organ system with a BILAG A score (excluding musculoskeletal, mucocutaneous, and/or constitutional organ system). ii) Inadequate response to glucocorticoids and to at least 2 of the following treatments, used for at least 3 months each: cyclophosphamide, mycophenolic acid or its derivatives, belimumab, azathioprine, anifrolumab, methotrexate, rituximab, obinutuzumab, cyclosporin, tacrolimus or voclosporin. - Diagnosis of Idiopathic Inflammatory Myopathy (IIM) defined as follows:. i) Fulfilling the 2017 EULAR/ACR classification criteria for probable or definite IIM. ii) Participant diagnosed with the following IIM subgroups: dermatomyositis (DM), immune-mediated necrotizing myopathy (IMNM), anti-synthetase syndrome (ASyS), and polymyositis (PM). iii) Presence of at least 1 myositis specific antibody (MSA), associated antibody (MAA), or ANA at screening or prior to screening. - IIM disease activity:. i) Severe/moderate muscle AND/OR skin involvement. ii) Proof of activity as documented by:. A. An active myositis-associated rash OR. B. A recent muscle biopsy OR. C. An elevated CK \> 3 times the upper limit of normal OR. D. Participants diagnosed IIM AND progressive Interstitial Lung Disease (ILD) on high-resolution computed tomography (HRCT) iii) Inadequate response to glucocorticoids and at least 2 of the following treatments used for at least 3 months: azathioprine, methotrexate, cyclosporin A, tacrolimus, MMF, cyclophosphamide, IVIG, JAK inhibitors, and rituximab. ...See full criteria on ClinicalTrials.gov Always talk to your doctor about whether this trial is right for you.

These are translations of the protocol\'s inclusion and exclusion criteria, simplified for patients and caregivers. The original clinical text appears below. Eligibility is ultimately confirmed by the trial site\'s screening process — this summary is a starting point for a conversation with your doctor, not a final determination.

Original Eligibility Criteria

View original clinical language
Inclusion Criteria \- Diagnosis of Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE) defined as follows:. i) Fulfilling the 2019 European League Against Rheumatism (EULAR) / American College of Rheumatology (ACR) classification criteria of SLE. ii) Presence of anti-dsDNA, anti-histone, anti-chromatin, anti-Ro (anti-SS-A), anti-La (anti-SS-B), or anti-Sm antibodies at screening. \- SLE disease activity:. i) Active disease at screening, with recent ≥ 1 major organ system with a BILAG A score (excluding musculoskeletal, mucocutaneous, and/or constitutional organ system). ii) Inadequate response to glucocorticoids and to at least 2 of the following treatments, used for at least 3 months each: cyclophosphamide, mycophenolic acid or its derivatives, belimumab, azathioprine, anifrolumab, methotrexate, rituximab, obinutuzumab, cyclosporin, tacrolimus or voclosporin. * Diagnosis of Idiopathic Inflammatory Myopathy (IIM) defined as follows:. i) Fulfilling the 2017 EULAR/ACR classification criteria for probable or definite IIM. ii) Participant diagnosed with the following IIM subgroups: dermatomyositis (DM), immune-mediated necrotizing myopathy (IMNM), anti-synthetase syndrome (ASyS), and polymyositis (PM). iii) Presence of at least 1 myositis specific antibody (MSA), associated antibody (MAA), or ANA at screening or prior to screening. * IIM disease activity:. i) Severe/moderate muscle AND/OR skin involvement. ii) Proof of activity as documented by:. A. An active myositis-associated rash OR. B. A recent muscle biopsy OR. C. An elevated CK \> 3 times the upper limit of normal OR. D. Participants diagnosed IIM AND progressive Interstitial Lung Disease (ILD) on high-resolution computed tomography (HRCT) iii) Inadequate response to glucocorticoids and at least 2 of the following treatments used for at least 3 months: azathioprine, methotrexate, cyclosporin A, tacrolimus, MMF, cyclophosphamide, IVIG, JAK inhibitors, and rituximab. * Diagnosis of Systemic Sclerosis (SSc) defined as follows:. i) Fulfilling 2013 EULAR/ACR classification criteria for SSc. ii) Antinuclear Antibody (ANA) positive at screening or prior to screening. \- SSc disease activity:. i) Participants diagnosed with diffuse cutaneous SSc OR diffuse or limited cutaneous SSc AND progressive ILD, AND. ii) Inadequate response to at least 1 of the following treatments used for at least 3 months: mycophenolate, cyclophosphamide, rituximab, nintedanib, azathioprine, tocilizumab, or intravenous immunoglobulins (IVIG). \- Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) disease activity:. i) Minimum of 3 SJC and 3 TJC on a 66/68 joint count (SJC/TJC). ii) OR participants diagnosed with progressive ILD (interstitial lung disease). iii) AND Inadequate disease response or intolerance to at least one conventional synthetic disease-modifying antirheumatic drug (DMARD) and as well as ≥ 2 DMARDs with different mechanisms of action from the categories biologic disease-modifying antirheumatic drug (bDMARDs) or targeted synthetic disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drug (tsDMARD) for a minimum of 3 months. A. Participants qualifying on progressive ILD may have exhausted the therapies above OR have demonstrated inadequate disease response or intolerance to at least one of the following treatments used for at least 3 months: mycophenolate, tocilizumab, cyclophosphamide, rituximab, azathioprine, nintedinib, pirfenidone. Exclusion Criteria \- Diagnosis of drug-induced SLE rather than idiopathic SLE. \- Other systemic autoimmune diseases (eg, multiple sclerosis, psoriasis, inflammatory bowel disease, etc) are excluded. Participants with type I autoimmune diabetes mellitus, thyroid autoimmune disease, Celiac disease, or secondary Sjögren's syndrome are not excluded. * SLE overlap syndromes including, but not limited to, rheumatoid arthritis, scleroderma, and mixed connective tissue disease, are excluded. * Present or recent clinically significant CNS pathology, within 12 months. * IIM disease activity:. i) Other forms of IIM: Inclusion Body Myositis, Amyopathic DM, any form of juvenile myositis. ii) Myositis other than IIM, eg, drug-induced myositis and PM associated with HIV. iii) Participants with severe muscle damage (Physician VAS for muscle damage in Myositis Damage Index \> 7 cm on a 10 cm scale), permanent weakness due to a non-IIM cause (eg, stroke), or myositis with cardiac involvement. \- SSc disease activity:. i) SSc related PAH requiring active treatment. ii) Rapidly progressive SSc related lower GI (small and large intestines) involvement (requiring parenteral nutrition); active gastric antral vascular ectasia. iii) Prior scleroderma renal crisis. \- RA disease activity:. i) Prior history of or current inflammatory joint disease other than RA. ii) Joint damage and/or deformity that may confound the investigator's ability to accurately assess disease activity. \- Other protocol-defined Inclusion/Exclusion criteria apply.

Treatments Being Tested

DRUG

CC-97540

Specified dose on specified days

DRUG

Fludarabine

Specified dose on specified days

DRUG

Cyclophosphamide

Specified dose on specified days

DRUG

Tocilizumab

Specified dose on specified days

Locations (20)

Trial sites listed on ClinicalTrials.gov for this study. Site activation status can vary — confirm with the specific site before traveling for a screening visit.

University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus
Aurora, Colorado, United States
Colorado Blood Cancer Institute
Denver, Colorado, United States
Local Institution - 0048
New Haven, Connecticut, United States
Mayo Clinic in Florida
Jacksonville, Florida, United States
University of Miami Hospital and Clinics, Sylvester Cancer Center
Miami, Florida, United States
Local Institution - 0053
Chicago, Illinois, United States
Local Institution - 0030
Baltimore, Maryland, United States
Local Institution - 0038
Boston, Massachusetts, United States
Local Institution - 0046
Boston, Massachusetts, United States
University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School
Worcester, Massachusetts, United States
University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School
Worcester, Massachusetts, United States
University of Michigan
Ann Arbor, Michigan, United States
Henry Ford Medical Center - New Center One
Detroit, Michigan, United States
Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota
Rochester, Minnesota, United States
Washington University School of Medicine
St Louis, Missouri, United States
Local Institution - 0028
Omaha, Nebraska, United States
Atlantic Health System Overlook Medical Center
Summit, New Jersey, United States
NYU Langone Health
New York, New York, United States
Local Institution - 0054
New York, New York, United States
Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai
New York, New York, United States

How to Talk to Your Doctor About This Trial

Bring the printable summary of this trial — including the NCT ID (NCT05869955), the sponsor (Juno Therapeutics, Inc., a Bristol-Myers Squibb Company), and the key eligibility criteria — to your next appointment. Your doctor can review the inclusion and exclusion criteria against your medical history, lab values, and current treatments to assess whether you are likely to qualify. They can also help you weigh whether trial participation makes sense alongside your existing care plan.

Useful questions to walk through together: What does the trial protocol require beyond standard care? How long is the active treatment phase, and how long is follow-up? Are there study visits at sites I can reach? Who pays for the trial-specific procedures, and who pays for standard-of-care portions? See our 25 questions to ask about clinical trials guide for a more complete checklist.

Authoritative Sources

The official record for this trial lives on ClinicalTrials.gov — the federal registry maintained by the National Library of Medicine at NIH. For background on how this trial fits into the FDA approval pathway, see the FDA drug approval process. For oncology-specific guidance for patients considering trials, the National Cancer Institute publishes patient-oriented overviews. International trial registries are aggregated by the WHO ICTRP.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the NCT05869955 clinical trial studying?

The purpose of this study is to establish the tolerability, preliminary efficacy, and pharmacokinetics of CC-97540 in participants with severe, refractory autoimmune diseases (Breakfree-1). The full protocol is registered on ClinicalTrials.gov and includes the primary outcome measures, eligibility criteria, and study endpoints.

Who can participate in NCT05869955?

Eligibility for this trial depends on the specific inclusion and exclusion criteria set by the sponsor. The plain-English summary above translates the most important criteria into accessible language; the official clinical text is preserved in the collapsible section underneath. Whether you fit any specific trial is a medical decision your doctor needs to confirm — bring the trial information to your treating physician for a full review against your medical history.

How do I contact the trial site for NCT05869955?

Contact information registered with ClinicalTrials.gov is shown in the sidebar of this page. Before reaching out, confirm with your treating physician that this trial is appropriate for your situation. The trial site will then walk you through the screening process to determine final eligibility.

Is participating in a clinical trial safe?

Clinical trials in the United States are regulated by the FDA and overseen by Institutional Review Boards (IRBs) that review the protocol for safety. Risk varies by trial — Phase 1 studies test new treatments in humans for the first time, while Phase 3 trials use treatments that have already passed earlier safety screening. The informed consent document for any specific trial details the known risks and what to expect. Discuss those risks with your physician before deciding whether to participate.

Where can I verify the data on this page?

Every detail on this page comes directly from the ClinicalTrials.gov API. Click "View on ClinicalTrials.gov" in the sidebar to see the official, unmodified record. The federal record is always authoritative; this page is a structured presentation with a plain-English eligibility translation. For background on how clinical trials are regulated, see the FDA drug approval process documentation.

How This Page Is Built

Every field on this page is pulled directly from the ClinicalTrials.gov API v2 — no estimates, no proxies. The plain-English eligibility translation is generated from the original protocol text and reviewed for fidelity to the underlying clinical criteria. The original clinical text remains visible in the collapsible section above so users and clinicians can verify the translation. Read the full methodology for the data pipeline and known limitations.

Source: ClinicalTrials.gov API v2 record for NCT05869955. Maintained by the National Library of Medicine at NIH. Public domain. Cite as: "TrialFinderData. NCT05869955. Data: ClinicalTrials.gov."

Medical disclaimer: This page is informational, not medical advice. Talk to your doctor about whether a clinical trial is right for you.

Last updated 2026-05-08 · Data from ClinicalTrials.gov.