A biology teacher and mother-of-two has become the first UK patient to receive a « gamechanger » therapy to treat multiple sclerosis (MS).
Emily Henders, 37, from Bushey, Hertfordshire, was treated at University College London Hospital (UCLH) as part of a global clinical trial.
Mrs Henders had experienced « really scary » relapse episodes since being diagnosed in December 2021 during which, she said: « My legs don’t work, I can’t walk. »
Experts believe the targeted immunotherapy treatment could « transform » lives by slowing or even halting progression of the disease.
« I hope taking part in the trial means I will never have to experience another relapse and that my MS symptoms will not progress, » Mrs Henders said.
« I know it is still experimental but it offers a scientific rationale which, as a biology teacher, makes sense to me. »
Multiple sclerosis is an « autoimmune » disease, which happens when the immune system attacks nerves in the brain and spinal cord by mistake.
The experimental treatment, known as CAR T cell therapy, aims to reset the immune system.
It works by depleting B cells, which are thought to drive the autoimmune attack in MS.
The patient’s own T cells, which hunt out infected or damaged cells, are genetically engineered and fed back into the patient via an infusion to « re-set » the immune system.
Mrs Henders, who has sons aged six and four, told the PA news agency she was feeling well after receiving the infusion in a three-minute procedure.
« I’m actually feeling really good. I’m feeling normal and I’ve got energy back.
« I don’t have any nausea, I’ve had no fevers. I’m feeling pretty relaxed, » she said.
Mrs Henders, whose father also has MS, was diagnosed on Christmas Eve after suffering tingling in her hands.
« Physically, my symptoms have progressively got worse, » she said.
« I notice sometimes my foot hits the pavement in a funny way. Or when I’m teaching and my hands are shaking. »
Mrs Henders will « never forget » her first major relapse when her children saw her taken away by ambulance.
« I was getting out of bed and I couldn’t stand up – it was very scary, » she said.
« I’ll never forget my children’s faces as the medics were rushing in and strapping me to a chair.
« Emotionally, I worry for them and how they’re dealing with it.
« I worry that this might be passed on to them. It’s very scary for the future, not knowing what the next relapse would bring. »
Mrs Henders hopes the treatment will avoid the decline typical in MS patients, who often require a wheelchair.
« It would mean I’ll be able to chase my children around, and I’ll still be able to work, » she said.
« I wouldn’t be able to be a science teacher in a wheelchair or even on crutches.
« It’s too much of a health and safety hazard, so that would have a real impact on my job. »
A spokesperson for the MS Society said: « It’s early days but, if trial results prove successful, CAR T-cell therapy could be a gamechanger for how we treat the condition. »
UCLH consultant haematologist Claire Roddie said the team was « excited » about the trial.
« We are taking a treatment developed to treat cancers and re-purposing it for a whole new spectrum of conditions, » she said.
« We give CAR T-cell therapy – bang, you’re in, you get the treatment, and that’s it.
« Hopefully you don’t need any more drugs beyond that point.
« If we could achieve that in MS, it would transform so many people’s lives. »
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