Experimental cell therapy trial treats first Sjögren’s disease patient

Julianne McGowan, who has struggled for years with severe dry mouth caused by Sjögren’s disease, became the first patient to receive a novel stem cell therapy in a clinical trial led by Dr. Sara McCoy. The therapy, developed in partnership with the UW Program for Advanced Cell Therapy (PACT), involves extracting and enhancing a patient’s own bone marrow cells and injecting them into the salivary glands to potentially restore function. With no FDA-approved treatments currently addressing the gland damage caused by Sjögren’s, this trial represents a major step toward a long-term solution rather than temporary relief. McGowan has already experienced reduced dependence on lozenges and hopes her participation helps raise awareness about the disease and its debilitating symptoms.