Marisa Wexler, MS, senior science writer —

Vyvgart (efgartigimod) has been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to treat adults with generalized myasthenia gravis (gMG) who are anti-acetylcholine receptor (AChR) antibody positive, the therapy’s developer, Argenx, announced. According to Argenx, this patient group represents about 85% of all with generalized MG. “Today is…

“Human-on-a-chip” technology developed by Hesperos can be used to model myasthenia gravis (MG), a new study shows. “This system has the potential to help researchers understand which mechanisms are driving a specific patient’s disease, including presence of particular autoantibodies [self-targeting antibodies], and could be used to further evaluate…

Zai Lab is planning — in the first half of 2022 — to ask Chinese authorities to approve efgartigimod (ARGX-113) as a treatment for generalized myasthenia gravis (gMG) in that country. The therapy, being developed by Argenx and designed to lessen the body’s immune attacks against…

The Institute for Clinical and Economic Review (ICER), an independent nonprofit that evaluates the prices and benefits of medications in the U.S., reported on the efficacy and cost-effectiveness of Soliris (eculizumab) and efgartigimod. Its report found reasonable evidence that adding either of these medications to conventional care…

More adults with generalized myasthenia gravis (gMG) who were treated with efgartigimod in a Phase 3 trial experienced minimal or no symptoms than did those given a placebo, an analysis of new study data reported. Other analyses from the ADAPT trial highlighted the potential benefits of efgartigimod for people who are…

Robot-assisted thymectomy surgery — a procedure to remove the thymus gland, here done using a robotic system console — eased the disease symptoms of a Colorado man diagnosed with myasthenia gravis (MG). For Mike Oster, a Fort Collins retiree and avid fisherman, the procedure — performed by a cardiothoracic…

The first participant has been dosed in a Phase 3 clinical trial testing the efficacy and safety of batoclimab (HBM9161) in people with generalized myasthenia gravis (gMG) in China. “The first patient first dosing in the phase III study brings us one step closer to deliver the novel therapeutic…

The flexible endoscopic evaluation of swallowing-tensilon test (FTT), a new diagnostic tool for myasthenia gravis (MG), can be used to distinguish people with swallowing difficulties due to MG from those having similar symptoms caused by other conditions, according to a new study. The study, “Detecting myasthenia…

Treatment with Descartes-08, an investigational CAR T-cell therapy, markedly eased symptoms of myasthenia gravis (MG) in three patients participating in a Phase 1/2 clinical trial assessing the therapy’s safety and preliminary efficacy. “This is the first clinical trial of CAR T-cells for an autoimmune disease. Naturally, the first patients…

Differences in gut bacteria composition in people with myasthenia gravis (MG) may be a promising avenue to explore in developing new therapies, a study highlights. Findings suggest that these bacteria might contribute to disease onset and progression, its researchers wrote. The study, “Gut bacterial microbiota in…