News

Cancer therapy Keytruda triggers MG in elderly man: Case report

Treatment with Keytruda (pembrolizumab), an immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI) used to treat cancer, may trigger myasthenia gravis (MG), according to a recent case report. The patient, a 73-year-old man with a previous history of skin and prostate cancer, developed symptoms of MG and myositis — a disease in which…

Helpline introduced for patients living with myasthenia gravis

The Myasthenia Gravis Foundation of America (MGFA) is introducing a helpline to assist those living with myasthenia gravis (MG) and their caregivers understand and cope with the autoimmune neuromuscular disorder. The helpline — 1-833-647-8764 (1-833-MGSTRNG) — is initially open from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. EST Monday through…

IL-41 may be potential biomarker as levels correlate with MG severity

Blood levels of interleukin-41 (IL-41) — a signaling molecule involved in immune responses — are found to be significantly elevated in people with myasthenia gravis (MG), and associated with disease severity and inflammatory markers, a study from China reports. These findings indicate “IL-41 may be essential to the [disease]…

Myasthenia gravis awareness starts local, goes global in June

Spreading awareness about myasthenia gravis (MG) during the month of June can be as simple as talking about the disease in your neighborhood and community. Hosting awareness events locally not only fosters engagement and relevance, but also helps people cope with the rarity of this autoimmune disease. MG is…

Telitacicept reduces gMG severity in Phase 2 study

Nearly six months of treatment with RemeGen’s telitacicept (RC18) lessened disease activity in adults with generalized myasthenia gravis (gMG) who are positive for antibodies targeting the acetylcholine receptor, according to data from a Phase 2 clinical trial in China. “Telitacicept demonstrated safety [and] good tolerability and reduced clinical…

CAR T-cell therapy Descartes-08 receives RMAT status from FDA

Cartesian Therapeutics’ investigational cell therapy Descartes-08 has been granted regenerative medicine advanced therapy (RMAT) designation by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the treatment of myasthenia gravis (MG). RMAT status is intended for experimental regenerative medicines to treat, modify, reverse, or cure a serious or life-threatening…