Marta Figueiredo, PhD, science writer —

Marta holds a biology degree, a master’s in evolutionary and developmental biology, and a PhD in biomedical sciences from the University of Lisbon, Portugal. She was awarded a research scholarship and a PhD scholarship, and her research focused on the role of several signaling pathways in thymus and parathyroid glands embryonic development. She also previously worked as an assistant professor of an annual one-week embryology course at the University of Lisbon’s Faculty of Medicine.

Articles by Marta Figueiredo

Restoring Function of Immune Cell Type May Aid in gMG Remission

Generalized myasthenia gravis (gMG) may be associated with a deficiency in a type of immune cell called myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs), a study suggests, and that restoring their function and increasing their numbers may help reduce symptoms. Treatment with immunosuppressants resulted in an expansion of MDSCs, which was linked…

Anti-thyroid Antibodies Tied to Specific Immune Profile in MG

Myasthenia gravis (MG) patients with antibodies against the thyroid gland have significantly more B-cells — the immune cells that produce antibodies — and fewer immune T-cells, a small single-center study in China shows. These early findings suggest the presence of anti-thyroid antibodies may affect the success of immunomodulating therapies…

Chinese Medicine May Ease MG by Acting On Gut Microbiota

Fufang Huangqi decoction — a traditional Chinese medicine formula reported to reduce symptoms of myasthenia gravis (MG) — helps to restore the balance of gut microbial community, or microbiota, in people with mild MG, according to a small study. These early findings suggest that the formula’s clinical benefits may…

Zilucoplan Safely Reduced gMG Symptoms in Phase 3 Trial

Zilucoplan, UCB’s experimental therapy, safely and effectively eases symptom severity and improves the quality of life for adults with generalized myasthenia gravis (gMG), while helping them complete daily activities, according to top-line data from the Phase 3 RAISE clinical trial. Based on these findings, indicating the trial met its…