Rotherham man takes part in "gamechanger" MS treatment trial
A patient in Rotherham has become the first in Sheffield to participate in a global clinical trial using CAR T cell therapy to treat multiple sclerosis. The immunotherapy, originally designed for cancer, aims to reset the immune system to stop it from attacking the nervous system.
Why it matters
If successful, this trial could provide a revolutionary treatment path for autoimmune diseases, potentially offering remission for patients who have not responded to standard therapies.
Image caption, Numan Unees was the first person in Sheffield to take part in the international MS treatment trial
Yorkshire health correspondent Published 3 August 2026, 06:14 BST Diagnosed with multiple sclerosis (MS) six years ago and left unable to walk unaided, Numan Unees was facing a challenging future before a pioneering clinical trial gave him new hope.
The 40-year-old is the first patient in Sheffield and the seventh in a global trial to receive an immunotherapy treatment originally developed for some cancers.
Experts said it is still early days, but if this experimental treatment eventually proves to be safe and effective for MS patients it could be a "gamechanger".
Speaking just a month after receiving the therapy, Numan, from Rotherham, said it would be "like starting a new life" if it worked and he regained some mobility.
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