A research team led by Dr. Luc Vallières has developed a new non-invasive drug that blocks antibodies involved in a disease related to multiple sclerosis: MOGAD.

A team at the CHU de Québec-Université Laval has developed this innovative therapeutic strategy.

This approach, developed and tested in an animal model, could slow the progression of various diseases thanks to drugs capable of interfering with the responsible antibodies.

"Currently, therapeutic strategies to counter autoantibodies are very limited. We have succeeded in developing a drug capable of effectively blocking them," explains Professor Vallières.

The method involves producing synthetic antibodies that recognize the same targets as autoantibodies and neutralize them.

A breakthrough to watch for anti-GAD diseases such as stiff-person syndrome (SPS).

RADIO CANADA JAN 2026

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RheumaGen is investigating the first curative cell and gene therapies for treatment-resistant or refractory rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and other autoimmune diseases, such as progressive forms of multiple sclerosis, type 1 diabetes, and ankylosing spondylitis.

 

 

Immune tolerance induction is a therapeutic strategy aimed at "retraining" the immune system to stop attacking healthy tissues without compromising its ability to fight infections or cancers [2]. Unlike current treatments that suppress immunity globally, this approach specifically targets the pathological response [2].

Here are the main avenues being explored in 2026:

Tolerance vaccines (self-antigen peptides): These involve administering fragments of "self" proteins (antigens) in such a way that the body recognizes them as harmless, rather than as targets [2].
Regulatory T cells (Tregs): This cell therapy uses specialized lymphocytes whose natural role is to curb excessive immune responses. Clinical trials are testing the injection of Tregs modified to protect specific organs [2].

Tolerance nanoparticles: Microscopic vectors transport antigens to the liver or spleen, key organs for tolerance learning, to induce a calming immune response [2].

State of research in 2026

Although considered the "Holy Grail" because it could lead to a definitive cure for autoimmune diseases (such as type 1 diabetes or multiple sclerosis), most of these technologies are still in the clinical trial stage [2]. The current challenge is to ensure that this tolerance is long-lasting and does not diminish over time.

To follow the progress of ongoing clinical trials, you can consult the ClinicalTrials.gov registry.

 

 

Anxiety/Stress:

GABA is a neurotransmitter that activates the inhibitory system to calm the excitatory system.

Glutamate is the neurotransmitter that activates the neurological excitatory system.

In autoimmune diseases, the balance between glutamate and GABA is often disrupted, contributing to neuroinflammation and neuronal degeneration.

By 2026, modulating the GABAergic and glutamatergic systems is a major therapeutic avenue for slowing the progression of autoimmune diseases and protecting the nervous system against neuroinflammation.

What does CAR-T therapy currently involve?

CAR-T cell therapy for an autoimmune disease is carried out in several carefully controlled stages. It is similar to CAR-T therapy used in oncology, but the goal is different: to selectively eliminate the immune cells responsible for autoimmunity (often B lymphocytes that produce autoantibodies).

Here's the step-by-step process, with details specific to autoimmune diseases 👇

⸻

1️⃣ Patient Selection

Autoimmune CAR-T cell therapy is currently offered primarily for:
• severe forms
• diseases refractory to standard treatments
• often within the context of a clinical trial

Examples studied:
• Systemic lupus erythematosus
• Myasthenia gravis
• Multiple sclerosis (aggressive forms)
• Pemphigus, dermatomyositis
• Stiff-person syndrome (under investigation)

2️⃣ T-cell collection (leukapheresis)
• T lymphocytes are collected from the patient via a specialized blood test (2–4 hours)
• No external donations: 100% autologous treatment
• The patient returns home the same day

👉 This step is generally well-tolerated

3️⃣ Genetic modification in the laboratory

In the laboratory:

• We Genetically reprograms T cells
• They receive a CAR receptor targeting a specific protein

(often CD19 on lymphocytes 😎)

🎯 Goal in autoimmune therapy:

Destroy the pathological B lymphocytes without suppressing the entire immune system

This step takes 2 to 6 weeks

4️⃣ Light conditioning chemotherapy

Before reinjection:
• Low-dose chemotherapy
• For 2–3 days
• Serves to:
• make room for the CAR-T cells
• improve their effectiveness

⚠️ Nothing like heavy cancer chemotherapy

5️⃣ CAR-T cell reinjection
• A single infusion (like a transfusion)
• Lasts 30 to 60 minutes
• No surgery

📍 The patient is then hospitalized for 1 to 2 weeks for monitoring

6️⃣ Critical monitoring phase

The CAR-T cells are activated in the body.

Possible side effects (often milder than in cancer):
• Fever
• Severe fatigue
• Transient drop in immunoglobulins
• Rarely:
• Cytokine release syndrome (CRS)
• Mild neurological disorders

➡️ In autoimmune diseases, studies show fewer serious side effects than in oncology

7️⃣ Immune system reset

This is the key point 🔑

• Pathological B cells are destroyed
• The immune system gradually rebuilds itself
• The new B lymphocytes are often non-autoreactive

📉 Observed result:
• Disappearance of autoantibodies
• Discontinuation of immunosuppressive treatments
• Sometimes complete and lasting remission

8️⃣ Long-term follow-up
• Follow-up for several years
• Vaccinations sometimes need to be repeated
• Monitoring for infections

💡 Several patients are in remission without treatment after a single infusion

In Summary:

⸻

Stage / Duration

1- Cell Collection / 1 day

2- CAR-T Cell Production / 2-6 weeks

3- Light Chemotherapy / 2-3 days

4- Infusion / 1 day

5- Hospitalization / 1-2 weeks

Specific Advancement for Lupus and Multiple Sclerosis

In recent clinical trials, doctors have used CAR-T cell therapy to target and eliminate defective B cells that cause autoimmune diseases such as lupus and multiple sclerosis. These B cells are responsible for producing harmful antibodies that attack the body's own tissues. By eliminating them, the immune system is forced to rebuild itself from scratch.

What makes this approach unique is what happens next. After treatment, patients regenerated new B cells that no longer carried the autoimmune "memory." As a result, disease activity ceased without the need for ongoing immunosuppressive medications. Patients entered sustained remission, symptoms resolved, and inflammatory markers remained low during follow-up.

This represents a major shift in autoimmune treatment. Instead of managing symptoms throughout life, CAR-T therapy aims to correct the underlying immune malfunction. Although the trials are still small and carefully controlled, the results suggest that some autoimmune conditions can be biologically reset rather than permanently managed, opening a new chapter in immune-based medicine.

Source/Credit

• German and European CAR-T autoimmune trials

• Nature Medicine; The New England Journal of Medicine

• Autoimmune Research Consortium, 2026

Report in Quebec

Will Stem Cells Cure Us?

‼️Warning: EVERYTHING is still in the research/expert center stage… here's the current mechanism!

🧬 What is a stem cell?

Stem cell therapy for autoimmune diseases is a medical approach aimed at resetting or modulating the immune system when it mistakenly attacks the body's tissues.

🎯 Treatment Goal

👉 To "reboot" the immune system so that it stops attacking the body.

This is not a symptomatic treatment, but an attempt to modify the root cause of the disease. 🥳

🔬 The Two Main Approaches

1️⃣ Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation (HSCT)

👉 The most studied and most used in clinical research.

Principle: The diseased immune system is temporarily destroyed.

It is rebuilt from healthy stem cells

Steps:

1. Stem cell harvesting
2. Chemotherapy (destroys existing system)
3. Stem cell reinjection
4. Reconstruction of a "new" immune system

Studyed in:
• Multiple sclerosis (MS)
• Severe lupus
• Scleroderma
• Severe Crohn's disease
• Stiff-person syndrome (SPS)

2️⃣ Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs)

👉 A less aggressive, still experimental approach.

Role:
• Modulate the immune response
• Reduce inflammation
• Promote immune tolerance

Advantages:
• Low toxicity
• No need for chemotherapy

Limitations:
• Effects often temporary
• Results vary depending on the disease

Studyed in:
• Lupus
• Rheumatoid arthritis
• Crohn's disease
• Sjögren's syndrome
• Certain autoimmune skin diseases

Is it a common treatment?

❌ No.

Reserved for severe and resistant forms
Primarily administered within the context of clinical trials
Strictly supervised in specialized centers

⚠️ Potential risks
• Serious infections
• Infertility (HSCT)
• Toxicity related to chemotherapy
• Low but real mortality (especially HSCT)

Here is a current (2026) overview of pancreatic islet transplantation in Canada, specifically for the treatment of type 1 diabetes (islet transplantation):

🧬 1. Clinical Transplants in Canada

Quebec – McGill University Health Centre (MUHC)

The MUHC in Montreal is a major centre for pancreatic islet transplantation in Canada. It performed the first islet transplant in 2015 and has continued to perform several since then.

It is the only centre in Eastern Canada capable of isolating and transplanting human islets.

In 2022, it was designated a provincial centre for islet transplantation by the Quebec Ministry of Health, which aims to improve access to this therapy for patients in Quebec. To date, access remains limited, particularly due to the availability of donor organs and laboratory capacity.
Alberta – University of Alberta Clinical Islet Transplant Program

In Edmonton, Alberta, the University of Alberta has an established clinical islet transplant program. This center has extensive experience with this type of transplantation and regularly publishes patient follow-up results.
This program has been running for several years and is one of the few North American centers that routinely perform this type of transplant.

Other centers (islet & pancreas transplantation)

Pancreas and islet transplantation programs also exist in Toronto and possibly in British Columbia (e.g., UHN in Toronto, which includes islet-related services).

However, the clinical availability of isolated islets varies by province and center. 🔬 2. Clinical Status vs. Established Treatment

Pancreatic islet transplantation is still considered a specialized, rather than a "standard," therapy for all diabetic patients. It is intended for individuals with severe type 1 diabetes, particularly those who experience frequent severe hypoglycemic episodes despite good monitoring.
The number of transplants remains very limited compared to the total number of type 1 diabetes transplants (a few dozen in Quebec, according to some data) and is highly dependent on the availability of donor organs.

As with other transplants, patients must take immunosuppressant medications for life, which is a significant obstacle to wider adoption.

🧪 3. Research and Innovation

Trials with Stem Cells (Derived Therapies)

Clinical trials are exploring the use of stem cell-derived islets, such as VX-880, with sites in Canada (e.g., Montreal and Toronto) as part of international trials. The goal of these approaches is to produce more accessible islets and potentially reduce reliance on human donors.

Academic Research and Networks

The Canadian Islet Research and Training Network (CIRTN) brings together several universities (Alberta, UBC, Manitoba, Montreal, Toronto) to develop and strengthen islet research, including aspects of improving cell survival after transplantation.
Biotechnology & Recent Partnerships

Canadian companies such as Aspect Biosystems are collaborating with international partners to develop printed or modified cell therapies, potentially usable in the treatment of diabetes.

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