José Lopes, PhD, managing science editor —

Treatment with Qiangji Jianli (QJJL) decoction, a traditional Chinese medicine, improved energy metabolism and the structure of mitochondria in a rat model of myasthenia gravis (MG), researchers in China report, suggesting it might be a promising therapy for the condition. The study,  “Effect of Qiangji Jianli decoction on mitochondrial…

Treating late-onset myasthenia gravis (MG) with Rituxan (rituximab) eases disease symptoms, shows a positive safety profile, and allows patients to reduce other medications, researchers say. Their study, “B-cell depletion in late-onset myasthenia gravis is safe and effective; a case series (P6.439),” was presented as a poster at the…

Treatment with cannabinoids improved muscle function in a mouse model of myasthenia gravis (MG), suggesting they may have therapeutic potential for the disease, researchers say. The study, “Cannabinoid-induced increase of quantal size and enhanced neuromuscular transmission,” appeared in the journal Scientific Reports. Cannabinoids regulate multiple levels of neuronal communication,…

The European Commission has granted orphan drug status to argenx’s myasthenia gravis therapy ARGX-113 (efgartigimod), which is designed to rein in the overproduction of antibodies that damage junctions of nerve and muscle cells. U.S. regulators gave the therapy an orphan drug designation in October 2017. Autoimmune disorders like myasthenia…

Results of a Phase 1 clinical trial showed that the investigational therapy GTP-004 significantly reduced the side effects associated with the myasthenia gravis (MG) medication Mestinon (pyridostigmine). GT Biopharma, the therapy’s developer, plans to accelerate the development of GTP-004 by initiating a Phase 2 trial in myasthenia…

University of Pennsylvania researchers used a component of rats’ muscle cell receptors to increase the punch of a myasthenia gravis treatment derived from an electric ray — an ocean animal that administers a shock like an electric eel. The team’s immune system suppression strategy alleviated the disease in rats and prevented…

Combining a traditional Chinese medicine known as Qi supplement formula with conventional therapy shows short-term benefits in myasthenia gravis (MG) patients, researchers in China report. But more studies of better quality are needed to support these observations, they stressed. Their study, “Efficacy and Safety of the TCM Qi-Supplementing Therapy…

Japanese researchers wrote about a myasthenia gravis (MG) patient who showed long-term improvement in disease symptoms after he was treated with blood purification therapy. The case report, “A Case of Anti-MuSK Antibody-positive Myasthenia Gravis Successfully Treated With Outpatient Periodic Weekly Blood Purification Therapy,” appeared in Internal Medicine, the journal…

Scabies infection boosts one’s risk of developing myasthenia gravis (MG), new research from Taiwan shows. The study, “The association between scabies and myasthenia gravis: A nationwide population-based cohort study,” appeared in the Journal of Clinical Neuroscience. Scabies is an infectious, highly contagious skin disease caused by the mite…

Soliris (eculizumab) continued improving myasthenia gravis patients’ muscle strength and functioning in a 52-week extension of a 26-week Phase 3 clinical trial, researchers reported. Alexion Pharmaceuticals said the extension study covered the same category of participant: patients with refractory generalized myasthenia gravis (gMG) who have anti-acetylcholine receptor (AchR) antibodies. The original Phase 3 trial…