🫧 Updated March 2026

Scleroderma (SSc)
Clinical Trials

Antifibrotic therapies, B cell-depleting agents, and immunomodulatory treatments are actively recruiting systemic sclerosis patients — including those with interstitial lung disease. Search below for trials near you.

100+
SSc trials currently recruiting
$0
Cost to participants in most trials
ILD
Lung involvement trials very active
Live from ClinicalTrials.gov
Find Scleroderma Trials Near You

Who Is Eligible for Scleroderma Trials?

SSc trials typically enroll patients with either diffuse cutaneous SSc (dcSSc) or limited cutaneous SSc (lcSSc), stratified by disease duration and organ involvement. Most trials for fibrosis and skin disease require early diffuse SSc (within 3-5 years of first non-Raynaud symptom) because this is the window of greatest skin and organ progression. Trials for SSc-ILD often have separate eligibility based on pulmonary function testing.

What Treatments Are Being Tested?

Drug ClassHow It WorksWho It Is For
Antifibrotic agents Block TGF-beta and other fibrotic pathways driving skin thickening and organ fibrosis Diffuse SSc with active skin thickening, early disease
CD20 B cell depletors Deplete autoreactive B cells contributing to fibrosis and autoimmunity — rituximab biosimilars and next-gen agents dcSSc, SSc-ILD
IL-6 inhibitors Block IL-6 signaling involved in fibrosis and vascular damage Active dcSSc, elevated inflammatory markers
CAR-T cell therapy Immune reset — early results in severe dcSSc showing skin score improvement Severe refractory dcSSc
Nintedanib combinations Antifibrotic drug approved for SSc-ILD, now being tested in combination regimens SSc-ILD with progressive fibrosis

What to Expect as a Trial Participant

SSc trials measure skin involvement using the modified Rodnan Skin Score (mRSS) and lung function using spirometry and HRCT. Visits are typically every 4-12 weeks. ILD trials often require pulmonary function tests at each visit.

Related Tool
2013 ACR/EULAR Systemic Sclerosis Classification Calculator
Check whether your symptoms meet the formal criteria for SSc — the same criteria trial coordinators use to confirm eligibility.
Open Calculator

Frequently Asked Questions

Most trials enroll patients with confirmed SSc per 2013 ACR/EULAR criteria. Skin trials prefer early diffuse SSc within 5 years of first non-Raynaud symptom. ILD trials require documented SSc-ILD on HRCT and pulmonary function within a specified range. Both dcSSc and lcSSc patients can qualify depending on the study focus.
Yes. SSc-ILD is one of the most actively researched areas in scleroderma. Dedicated trials are testing antifibrotic combinations, rituximab, and other agents. These require HRCT-confirmed ILD and spirometry. Enrollment is open at multiple academic centers.
Yes, significantly. Most trials targeting skin fibrosis prefer patients within 3-5 years of their first non-Raynaud symptom because this is when skin disease is most active and treatment is most likely to show benefit. Very late disease may not qualify for skin-focused trials.
Yes. Several trials are testing phosphodiesterase inhibitors, endothelin receptor antagonists, and vasodilatory agents for Raynaud's and digital ulcers in SSc. These are separate from the disease-modifying trials and often have less restrictive eligibility.
Phase 3 trials have completed earlier safety phases. SSc is a serious disease and trials offer access to therapies that may not be otherwise available. All trials require IRB approval. The monitoring in trials is typically more intensive than standard care, which benefits patients with active organ involvement.
The mRSS is a standardized measure of skin thickness used in SSc trials. A physician rates skin thickening at 17 body sites on a scale of 0-3, for a total score of 0-51. A higher score means more skin involvement. Most skin trials require a minimum mRSS at enrollment and use change in mRSS as a primary endpoint.

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Trial data sourced live from ClinicalTrials.gov. Content reviewed by Mahiar Rabie, MS, MD. This page is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Eligibility for any specific trial must be confirmed with the trial coordinator.