Marisa Wexler, MS, senior science writer —

Marisa holds a Master of Science in cellular and molecular pathology from the University of Pittsburgh, where she studied novel genetic drivers of ovarian cancer. Her areas of expertise include cancer biology, immunology, and genetics, and she has worked as a science writing and communications intern for the Genetics Society of America.

Articles by Marisa Wexler

Robot-assisted Thymectomy Helps Man Get Back Outdoors

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…

1st Patient Dosed in Phase 3 Trial of Batoclimab in China

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…

Swallowing Muscle Test May Help Diagnose MG

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…

CAR T-cell Therapy Descartes-08 Eased MG Symptoms

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…

Immunovant Will Use $200M Investment to Advance IMVT-1401

Immunovant will use a $200 million strategic investment from Roivant Sciences to advance IMVT-1401, its investigational therapy for myasthenia gravis (MG) and other autoimmune conditions. A pivotal clinical trial testing IMVT-1401 in people with MG is expected to be launched within the next 12 months, according to…

Rare Case of MG Crisis Attributed to COVID-19 Vaccine

A very rare case of a myasthenia gravis (MG) crisis caused by the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine was described recently by researchers at St. Joseph’s Regional Medical Center in Paterson, New Jersey. “Although numerous studies have observed the relationship between active COVID infections and MG exacerbations, no known studies or…