Innovative new therapy gives hope to mum of 5 with Multiple Sclerosis
Barts Health becomes one of the first to offer groundbreaking CAR-T therapy for MS patients
A mother of five from Southend is making history as the first patient to receive a revolutionary new treatment for multiple sclerosis (MS) at Barts Health.
Vicky, 43, has lived with MS for 18 years. Her journey began in 2009 when she suddenly started losing vision in one eye after giving birth to her third child. Doctors found what looked like "glowing worms" on her brain scan - signs of inflammation attacking her nervous system.
"A nurse explained it to me like a house with all the lights on, but mice are chewing through the wires," Vicky said. "The lights flicker, someone fixes them, but then the mice come back, and the damage doesn't fully heal."
Living with MS has turned Vicky's life upside down. She suffers from extreme tiredness, brain fog, numbness, and nausea. The condition forced her to give up her job as a hairdresser because of the fatigue and cramps.
"I've tried every treatment over the years, from regular blood infusions, to home injections, tablets," Vicky said. "But I kept having flare-ups. When my doctor offered me this trial, I was apprehensive at first. The team gave me all the time I needed to decide.
I spent two weeks reading the information leaflets and doing my own research, before meeting with the clinical team again who spoke to me about the treatment in depth. They were always at the end of phone for any questions I had.”
What is CAR-T Therapy?
CAR-T therapy is an innovative treatment that harnesses the power of a patient's own immune system. The process involves extracting blood cells, which are sent to a specialist laboratory where they are genetically modified to recognise and target specific cells causing harm in the body. Once reprogrammed, the cells are infused back into the patient.
The treatment has already proven effective in oncology, helping cancer patients achieve remission. Researchers are now exploring its potential for autoimmune conditions like MS, where the immune system mistakenly attacks healthy tissue in the nervous system.
Dr Ben Turner, who has been researching stem cell treatments for MS for seven years, is leading the trial at Barts Health.
"This is an exciting opportunity for patients like Vicky who’ve exhausted all other treatments, and is a potentially transformative therapy for MS sufferers in the future" Dr Turner explained. ‘The research team have worked hard to bring CAR-T therapy to Barts Health and confirms us as one of the leading innovative medical centres in the UK."
Hope for the future
For Vicky, success doesn't mean being completely cured. She simply hopes the treatment will slow down her illness and keep the symptoms at bay.
"Even if it doesn't improve how I am now, as long as it freezes things for a while, I'd be happy," she said. "No more hospital visits every four weeks for two-hour infusions would be amazing. Most of all, I want to be there for my kids and see them grow up."
"If this helps other people too, that would be wonderful," she added.
The trial marks an exciting step forward in treating MS and offers new hope to thousands of patients across the UK living with this condition.
This was made possible thanks to collaboration across clinical, research, pharmacy, and ward colleagues at The Royal London Hospital and the Barts Cancer Centre.
Vicky’s clinical and research team will monitor her closely throughout her treatment.
Read more