 Severe systemic sclerosis SSc is a serious autoimmune disorder in which a persons own immune cells attack organs in the body. SSc affects the skin, joints, lungs, heart, intestinal tract, and kidneys, and half of the patients with the most severe organ involvement die within 5 years. Treatment for SSc usually includes supportive care or immunosuppressive drugs drugs to suppress the immune system. As the immune cells are believed to be causing the disease, researchers are looking for new therapies that either slow down or stop this process, while not being too toxic. 