ZUG, Switzerland and BOSTON — October 2, 2026
CRISPR Therapeutics announced that new Phase 1 clinical data for zugocabtagene geleucel (zugo-cel), an investigational CRISPR/Cas9 gene-edited allogeneic CAR T-cell therapy targeting CD19, will be presented at the American College of Rheumatology (ACR) Convergence 2026. The poster presentation will focus on the safety and efficacy of zugo-cel in patients with refractory systemic sclerosis, with the presentation scheduled for November 8, 2026. Zugo-cel is being evaluated in Phase 1 clinical trials across multiple autoimmune diseases, including rheumatologic, hematologic and neurologic conditions. The program represents CRISPR Therapeutics’ expansion of gene-edited cell therapy into autoimmune disease, building on the company’s broader focus on developing gene-based medicines for serious human diseases.
Zugo-cel Targets CD19 in Systemic Sclerosis
Zugo-cel is an investigational allogeneic CAR T-cell therapy designed to target CD19, a protein expressed on B cells and certain other immune-cell populations. By directing CAR T cells against CD19-positive cells, the approach is being investigated as a potential strategy for modifying abnormal immune responses associated with autoimmune disease. Unlike conventional autologous CAR T-cell therapies, the zugo-cel program uses CRISPR/Cas9 gene editing and an allogeneic cell platform, with the goal of developing an off-the-shelf therapeutic approach. The upcoming ACR Convergence presentation will specifically evaluate safety and efficacy in refractory systemic sclerosis, providing clinical information from the ongoing Phase 1 program. Because the announcement does not disclose the numerical Phase 1 results ahead of the presentation, the available information supports the existence and scope of the clinical dataset but does not establish the magnitude of clinical benefit.
Phase 1 Program Expands Across Autoimmune Diseases
CRISPR Therapeutics is evaluating zugo-cel across rheumatologic, hematologic and neurologic autoimmune indications, reflecting a broader effort to investigate CAR T-cell therapy beyond oncology. The company’s strategy is based on using gene-edited immune cells to potentially address diseases driven by pathogenic immune-cell populations. The upcoming poster, titled “Safety and Efficacy of Anti-CD19 Allogeneic Chimeric Antigen Receptor (CAR) T Cell Therapy Zugocabtagene Geleucel (zugo-cel) in Patients with Refractory Systemic Sclerosis,” has been assigned abstract number 0225 and will be presented during Poster Session A. The data will be presented on Sunday, November 8, 2026, at 10:30 a.m. ET. A copy of the presentation is expected to become available through CRISPR Therapeutics following the presentation, potentially providing additional details on patient outcomes and the safety profile of the investigational therapy.
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CRISPR Therapeutics Builds Gene-Edited Medicine Pipeline
The zugo-cel program expands CRISPR Therapeutics’ clinical pipeline into autoimmune disease while complementing its established gene-editing platform. The company is developing transformative gene-based medicines across hemoglobinopathies, cardiovascular disease, autoimmune disease, oncology, regenerative medicine and rare diseases. CRISPR Therapeutics previously reached a major milestone with CASGEVY® (exagamglogene autotemcel), described by the company as the world’s first approved CRISPR-based therapy for eligible patients with sickle cell disease and transfusion-dependent beta thalassemia. The company is also advancing its SyNTase™ gene-editing platform, designed to support precise and scalable gene correction. With zugo-cel now being evaluated clinically across autoimmune diseases and new systemic sclerosis data scheduled for presentation at ACR Convergence 2026, CRISPR Therapeutics is expanding the potential application of CRISPR-enabled cell therapies beyond traditional cancer indications and into serious immune-mediated diseases.
Source: CRISPR Therapeutics, press release
