Approved Treatments for Myasthenia Gravis

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 (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.

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 (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 (eculizumab) is a monoclonal antibody therapy, which targets a specific component of the complement system. Given as an infusion into the vein, it is approved to treat generalized myasthenia gravis patients who are positive for anti-acetylcholine receptor (AChR) antibodies.

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 (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 (efgartigimod) is an injection therapy designed to decrease the number of circulating autoantibodies that drive MG. It was approved in 2021 for adults with generalized myasthenia gravis (gMG) who are positive for anti-acetylcholine receptor (AChR) antibodies.

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 (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 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.