Andrea Lobo,  —

Andrea Lobo is a Science writer at BioNews. She holds a Biology degree and a PhD in Cell Biology/Neurosciences from the University of Coimbra-Portugal, where she studied stroke biology. She was a postdoctoral and senior researcher at the Institute for Research and Innovation in Health in Porto, in drug addiction, studying neuronal plasticity induced by amphetamines. As a research scientist for 19 years, Andrea participated in academic projects in multiple research fields, from stroke, gene regulation, cancer, and rare diseases. She authored multiple research papers in peer-reviewed journals. She shifted towards a career in science writing and communication in 2022.

Articles by Andrea Lobo

Vyvgart a rapid, effective treatment for impending myasthenic crisis

Treatment with Vyvgart (efgartigimod) may rapidly and safely ease symptoms during an impending myasthenic crisis in people with myasthenia gravis (MG), according to a study in China. Impending myasthenic crisis, or IMC, refers to symptoms rapidly worsening within a short time that may lead to a myasthenic crisis,…

IVIG agent safe, may be effective as maintenance therapy for gMG

A maintenance regimen using an intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) therapy may reduce disease severity and improve function in people with generalized myasthenia gravis, according to data from a Phase 2 clinical trial. IVIG is commonly used to treat acute symptom worsening in people with myasthenia gravis (MG). The …

KYV-101 granted orphan drug status for MG in Europe

The European Medicines Agency granted orphan drug status to the experimental cell therapy KYV-101 to treat myasthenia gravis (MG). The designation is given to medicines that aim to treat life-threatening or chronic debilitating conditions affecting no more than five in every 10,000 people. It provides companies with several…

Soliris eases AChR+ refractory myasthenia gravis disease severity

Soliris (eculizumab) effectively eased disease severity and reduced the need for immunosuppressive therapies in people with treatment-resistant generalized myasthenia gravis with anti-AChR antibodies, a real-world study in Italy shows. The treatment also reduced the number of disease exacerbations that required rescue therapy, such as intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG)…

UCB launches US scholarship program for MG patients, families

The new UCB Myasthenia Gravis Scholarship, launched by the Belgium-based biopharmaceutical company, is aiming to help myasthenia gravis (MG) patients and their family members in the U.S. to continue their education or learn new skills by covering educational expenses — with program awards totaling up to $150,000. “We…

MG, heart inflammation develops in man after anticancer therapy

The case of a 72-year-old man who developed myasthenia gravis (MG) and myocarditis, or inflammation of the heart, following chemoimmunotherapy for gastric cancer that included sintilimab showcases the need to better understand how this treatment can induce the immune disorder, said researchers in China. Sintilimab is a type of…

Anti-MuSK antibody levels may be MG severity, treatment biomarker

Blood levels of specific antibodies that target the muscle-specific tyrosine kinase (MuSK) may be biomarkers of disease severity and treatment response in people with myasthenia gravis (MG) who are positive for anti-MuSK antibodies. A study finds that high levels of MuSK-IgG4 — an anti-MuSK antibody subclass – were associated…

Nipocalimab up for approval for gMG in the European Union

Johnson & Johnson has submitted an application to the European Medicines Agency (EMA) seeking approval of nipocalimab to treat people with generalized myasthenia gravis (gMG). The request includes gMG patients who are positive for MG-causing autoantibodies targeting acetylcholine receptors (AChRs), muscle-specific tyrosine (MuSK), and low-density lipoprotein…