Patricia Inacio, PhD,  science writer—

High levels of autoantibodies against acetylcholine receptors (AChR) in the blood of people with thymoma — a tumor of the thymus — can help to identify patients at risk of developing myasthenia gravis (MG) after tumor surgery, a study suggests. Larger tumors, and partial tumor resection might also increase this risk.

Lower frequency of a specific subset of immune cells in the bloodstream may help identify myasthenia gravis (MG) in cases difficult to diagnose, specifically those testing negative for MG autoantibodies, a study suggests. Published in the journal Muscle & Nerve, the study, “Reduced plasmablast frequency is associated with…

Myasthenia gravis (MG) can develop in people with polycythemia vera (PV), a type of blood cancer, even in the absence of thymomas — tumors of the thymus — a study reporting two cases suggests. The study, “Association of polycythemia vera with positive JAK2V617F mutation and myasthenia gravis: A…

A first person has been dosed in a Phase 2 trial evaluating mezagitamab (TAK-079), Takeda Pharmaceutical’s investigational antibody, as a therapy for generalized myasthenia gravis (MG), according to a press release. The trial (NCT04159805), beginning to enroll at select sites across the U.S., Canada, Italy, Poland,…

A Phase 2 clinical trial of Harbour BioMed‘s investigational therapy batoclimab, also known as HBM9161, for myasthenia gravis (MG), has started dosing patients, the company said in a press release. The trial (NCT04346888) — being conducted at the Huashan Hospital in Shanghai, China — is…

NMD Pharma is launching a Phase 1/2a trial in the Netherlands to evaluate for the first time NMD670, an oral treatment candidate for people with myasthenia gravis (MG). The study (CHDR1948), approved by the Dutch ethics committee and regulatory authorities, will take place at the Centre…

3P Biopharmaceuticals and Toleranzia are continuing their partnership to develop Toleranzia’s potential therapy candidate, TOL2, for people living with myasthenia gravis (MG). “Currently there are enormous opportunities offered by biotechnology as we can help to develop treatments for rare diseases or those without current therapeutic approaches, such as…

Younger age, more advanced thymoma (tumors of the thymus) and cancer recurrence predict poorer survival in people with myasthenia gravis (MG) whose tumors are surgically removed, a large study from China reports. Older age, in contrast, seems to protect against the likelihood of a tumor returning. The study,…

Harbour BioMed‘s HBM9161 was found to be safe and effective at reducing the levels of autoimmune disease-associated antibodies in many disorders, including myasthenia gravis, a Phase 1 trial shows. In autoimmune diseases such as myasthenia gravis, a type of antibody known as immunoglobulin G (IgG) attacks the…

Treatment with Rituxan (rituximab) benefits patients with myasthenia gravis (MG) with either anti-acetylcholine receptor (AChR) or muscle-specific tyrosine kinases (MuSKs) antibodies, a study has found. Patients with MuSKs antibodies, however, may experience greater improvement, including less time to achieve remission, fewer exacerbations, and need for hospitalizations following treatment. The…