October 11, 2025 – Shanghai BRL Medicin Inc., a company focused on gene and cell therapy, announced today a major breakthrough in a clinical study conducted in collaboration with the team of Professors Mingyao Liu and Bing Du from East China Normal University, the team of Professor Wencan Wu from the Eye Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, and Oujiang Lab. The world's first patient treated with allogeneic BCMA-targeted Universal CAR-T (BCMA UCAR-T) for Neuromyelitis Optica Spectrum Disorder (NMOSD) has successfully completed treatment and was discharged yesterday, October 10. This achievement not only signifies that BRL Medicin is again at the international forefront in the R&D and clinical translation of universal CAR-T cell therapies but also marks significant progress in its technological layout for treating autoimmune diseases, bringing new hope to patients worldwide with refractory neurological autoimmune diseases.

The minimally invasive ophthalmology and rhinology specialist team, the patient, and the patient's family member (third and fourth from left)

Neuromyelitis Optica Spectrum Disorder (NMOSD) is an autoimmune-mediated demyelinating disease of the central nervous system. Its main clinical manifestations include sudden vision loss, eye movement pain, limb weakness/numbness, or even paralysis due to severe optic neuritis and long-segment transverse myelitis. The disease is highly relapsing and leads to high rates of disability and blindness. Statistics show that over 90% of untreated NMOSD patients will relapse, resulting in irreversible visual damage and eventual irreversible optic nerve atrophy. Although several drugs are currently approved for NMOSD treatment, many patients still respond poorly.

Professor Wencan Wu, Vice President of Wenzhou Medical University and an internationally renowned neuro-ophthalmology expert with unique expertise in diagnosing and treating optic nerve diseases, has been leading his team since 2024 in collaboration with BRL Medicin and the team of Professors Mingyao Liu and Bing Du from East China Normal University. They are conducting a clinical study on "BCMA-targeted Universal CAR-T Cell Therapy for Relapsed/Refractory Neuromyelitis Optica Spectrum Disorder."

In this collaborative clinical study, the BRL Medicin team worked closely with key medical staff from the Eye Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, a top-tier national and internationally influential specialized eye hospital, to ensure smooth treatment implementation. During the treatment of the first patient, a full-process standardized management protocol was implemented: the patient was housed in a laminar airflow single room with strict protective isolation to minimize infection risk; the standard cell infusion procedure was followed meticulously; vital signs were monitored closely and dynamically; and graded identification and emergency response plans for Cytokine Release Syndrome (CRS) and Immune Effector Cell-Associated Neurotoxicity Syndrome (ICANS) were established for immediate intervention if necessary. Furthermore, BRL Medicin, as the core cell therapy product manufacturer and technical support provider, ensured product safety, efficacy, and the implementation of standardized processes. Leveraging its globally pioneering TyUCell^® universal cell platform technology, BRL Medicin successfully developed the allogeneic BCMA-targeted UCAR-T cell therapy. This therapy aims to achieve immune reconstitution and induce deep immune tolerance by precisely clearing plasma cells that produce pathogenic antibodies.

The first patient treated had long suffered from NMOSD, experiencing not only blurred vision but also physical pain and psychological distress, leading to exhaustion. After learning about this study, the patient participated. Following the infusion of BRL Medicin's innovative BCMA UCAR-T therapy, the patient showed no significant toxic side effects, only transient low-grade fever (≤38°C) was recorded. The patient has now discontinued all immunosuppressants. Preliminary efficacy evaluation confirmed successful clearance of the target cells, leading to a successful discharge after the observation period. The patient and family expressed high satisfaction with the treatment outcome and gratitude to the research team. It is noteworthy that this represents the world's first successful case of BCMA UCAR-T cell therapy for Neuromyelitis Optica Spectrum Disorder.

Professor Mingyao Liu, Founder of BRL Medicin, stated: "The success of this clinical study not only validates the feasibility and safety of BRL Medicin's BCMA UCAR-T technology but also provides a novel treatment strategy and therapeutic solution for NMOSD and other autoimmune diseases. BRL Medicin will continue to advance systematic follow-up and subsequent clinical studies for this project, accelerating the industrialization of allogeneic universal UCAR-T and other innovative therapies to benefit a broad patient population."