News

Merck Acquiring Cladribine as Potential Generalized MG Treatment

Merck KGaA has acquired Chord Therapeutics and the rights to continue developing CRD1 (cladribine), Chord’s lead candidate for treatment of generalized myasthenia gravis. “I am particularly pleased that Chord’s focus on severe, rare neurological conditions will be complemented by Merck’s established leadership with cladribine,” Arthur Roach, founder and…

Ultomiris Rapidly Eases Symptoms of Generalized MG in Phase 3 Trial

Treatment with Ultomiris (ravulizumab-cwvz), a complement-blocking therapy, quickly eased symptom severity in adults with generalized myasthenia gravis (gMG), according to data from a Phase 3 trial. Findings were shared at the Myasthenia Gravis Foundation of America (MGFA) Scientific Sessions 2021 in the presentation, “Efficacy and safety…

FDA Approves Vyvgart for Adults With Most Common Form of gMG

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…

MG Onset Follows Surgery to Remove Thymus in Case Study

In an older woman, myasthenia gravis (MG) onset followed surgery to remove a thymoma, or tumor of the thymus, a case study reported. Doctors should actively check for MG symptoms in patients with a thymoma before and after surgery, and measure the levels of self-reacting antibodies against acetylcholine receptors,…

Rozanolixizumab May Safely Ease Symptom Severity in gMG Patients

Rozanolixizumab, UCB’s investigational antibody, may ease symptom severity in adults with generalized myasthenia gravis (MG), and help them carry on with daily activities, top-line data from the Phase 3 MycarinG study suggests. Moreover, rozanolixizumab, given as an under-the-skin (subcutaneous) infusion, was found to be generally safe and…

MuSK-MG Linked to Eye and Bulbar Symptoms, Chinese Study Finds

A type of myasthenia gravis (MG) caused by the presence of self-reactive antibodies targeting muscle-specific kinase (MuSK) affects mostly women and manifests with eye and bulbar symptoms (those involving the face and neck), according to a single-center study in Northwest China. In these cases, MG can be successfully managed…

Gender, Race, and Thymectomy Increase Risk for Lupus in MG

People with myasthenia gravis (MG) have an increased risk of developing systemic lupus erythematosus or SLE, another type of autoimmune disorder, according to recent study findings that suggest “a real association between these two diseases.” Especially at risk are African American women, those who had surgery to remove…

Rare Case Report Attributes MG in Elderly Man to COVID-19 Vaccine

An 82-year-old man was diagnosed with myasthenia gravis (MG) shortly after receiving his second dose of the BioNTech/Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine, a case study reports. He lacked typical MG symptoms, but instead developed speech problems (dysarthria) and swallowing difficulties (dysphagia). “Diagnosis of COVID-19 vaccine associated new onset myasthenia gravis…