Breakthrough Treatment: CAR-T Therapy for Rheumatologic Diseases in Israel

Autoimmune rheumatologic diseases are chronic, disabling conditions in which the immune system mistakenly attacks the body’s own tissues—affecting joints, blood vessels, connective tissue, and internal organs. These diseases disproportionately affect women, who are diagnosed at four times the rate of men. Common conditions include lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, vasculitis, and Sjögren’s syndrome. The physical and emotional toll can be profound, especially when treatments fail to control disease activity.

Traditional Treatments – Limited Relief, Long-Term Burden

Until now, most rheumatologic conditions have been treated with immune-suppressing medications—including corticosteroids, biologic drugs, and chemotherapy agents. These treatments can help manage symptoms and delay disease progression, but they often come with significant side effects and don’t always lead to lasting remission. For patients who have tried multiple medications without success, treatment options have been frustratingly limited.

What Is CAR-T Therapy?

CAR-T cell therapy (Chimeric Antigen Receptor T-cell therapy) is a revolutionary form of immunotherapy that reprograms a patient’s own immune cells to identify and destroy cells that drive disease. Originally developed for blood cancers like leukemia and lymphoma, CAR-T has now moved into a new frontier: autoimmune diseases.

Prof. Lidar Presents the CAR-T Therapy Program for Rheumatologic Diseases

A Game-Changer for Autoimmune Care

For the first time in Israel, CAR-T therapy is being offered as a clinical trial for severe rheumatologic diseases—led by top researchers at Sheba Medical Center. Early results show very good outcomes in patients with B-cell–mediated diseases, offering a new direction for those with no other effective options. This represents a significant shift in the way autoimmune diseases are treated.

Leading the Program: Prof. Merav Lidar

The CAR-T clinical trial program for rheumatologic diseases is led by Prof. Merav Lidar, one of Israel’s foremost experts in autoimmune and inflammatory conditions. Prof. Lidar serves as Director of the Center for Autoimmune Diseases and Head of the Rheumatology Unit at Sheba Medical Center. With decades of experience in treating complex autoimmune cases and conducting clinical research, she is a key figure in advancing CAR-T therapy as a new treatment path for patients who have exhausted standard care.

Conditions Currently Treated with CAR-T in Israel: