Approved Treatments for Myasthenia Gravis
Immunosuppressants
Immunosuppressants also may be used treat MG. These therapies either inhibit or prevent activity of the immune system when it tries to fight the receptors required to transmit nerve signals to muscles.
Mestinon
Mestinon (pyridostigmine) is an anticholinesterase medication approved to treat MG. The therapy is designed to improve the transmission of signals to muscles by increasing levels of the neurotransmitter acetylcholine.
Prednisone
Corticosteroids such as prednisone suppress the immune system by reducing the production of antibodies, or proteins that attack or block a specific invader or other target. This results in less damage to receptors at nerve-muscle junctions, easing the symptoms of MG.
Rystiggo
Rystiggo (rozanolixizumab-noli) is an injection therapy approved for adults with generalized MG who have antibodies against the acetylcholine receptor (AChR) or muscle-specific tyrosine kinase (MuSK). This antibody-based therapy works by binding to the neonatal Fc receptor (FcRn) — a protein that normally prevents the destruction of antibodies circulating in the bloodstream, including the self-reactive ones that drive MG.
Soliris
Soliris (eculizumab) is a monoclonal antibody therapy, which target specific components of the immune system and suppress them. Given as an infusion into the vein, it is approved to treat generalized myasthenia gravis patients who are anti-acetylcholine receptor (AChR) antibody positive.
Thymectomy
Thymectomy is one of the main treatment methods for myasthenia gravis. It is a surgical procedure where the thymus gland is removed to stop the production of autoantibodies that mistakenly attack the muscle-nerve connections in myasthenia gravis patients.
Ultomiris
Ultomiris (ravulizumab-cwvz) is a complement inhibitor approved in the U.S. to treat adults with generalized myasthenia gravis (gMG) who are positive for antibodies targeting the acetylcholine receptor (anti-AChR) — the most common type of MG-causing antibody.
Vyvgart
Vyvgart (efgartigimod) is designed to work by decreasing the number of circulating autoantibodies in autoimmune diseases such as MG. It was approved in 2021 for adults with generalized myasthenia gravis (gMG) who are anti-acetylcholine receptor (AChR) antibody positive, the most common type of MG-causing antibody.
Vyvgart Hytrulo
Vyvgart Hytrulo is a product combination of Vyvgart’s active substance and a man-made version of the human hyaluronidase PH20 enzyme, which degrades certain proteins in the skin to facilitate the delivery and absorption of biologic therapies. Similarly to Vyvgart, Vyvgart Hytrulo works by blocking FcRn, thereby increasing the rate at which IgG antibodies are broken down. By lowering the levels of MG-driving antibodies, the therapy is expected to ease disease symptoms.
Zilbrysq
Zilbrysq (zilucoplan) is a complement inhibitor that’s approved to treat adults with generalized myasthenia gravis (gMG) who are positive for antibodies targeting the acetylcholine receptor (AChR), the most common type of MG-driving antibody.
Other Treatments
Other strategies that can be used to treat MG patients include intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) infusion and plasmapheresis. Both procedures are designed to combat the presence of autoantibodies in the blood to ease disease symptoms.