News

Sanofi has decided to pause recruitment globally in its Phase 3 clinical trials of tolebrutinib, an experimental BTK inhibitor, based on recommendations from the independent data monitoring committee (iDMC) overseeing the trials. The company has several ongoing studies investigating tolebrutinib’s effectiveness and safety, including one testing the investigational therapy…

Researchers have found that a set of cells called medullary thymic epithelial cells, or mTECs, may play a role in the development of myasthenia gravis (MG) in thymoma patients — people with thymus tumors. Changes in the function of these cells were observed in thymoma tissues collected from people…

The cancer immunotherapy Imfinzi (durvalumab) may, in rare cases, trigger myasthenic crises — a serious complication of myasthenia gravis (MG) that can lead to respiratory failure. A recent case report described how an 82-year-old woman on MG remission experienced a myasthenic crisis following treatment with Imfinzi for advanced-stage lung cancer.

A combination of glucocorticoids and intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) is more effective at normalizing immune responses and easing disease symptoms in children with ocular myasthenia gravis (OMG) than glucocorticoids alone, a study showed. The combination also could allow for a shorter duration and lower dose of glucocorticoids, also known…

Careful administration and monitoring of anesthetic medications may prevent complications in people with subclinical myasthenia gravis (MG) undergoing surgery, a case report suggests. The findings, concerning a woman receiving surgery to remove a thymoma — a tumor of the thymus — suggest that anesthetic management of subclinical MG may…

Ultomiris (ravulizumab) has been recommended for approval in the European Union (EU) as an add-on therapy for most adults with generalized myasthenia gravis (gMG). The recommendation by the Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP), an arm of the European Medicines Agency, specifically covers gMG patients who are positive…

Plasma exchange combined with intravenous, or into-the-vein, immunoglobulin (IVIG) appears to be safe, and better than plasma therapy alone at easing the symptoms of myasthenia gravis (MG) and boosting the immunity of patients, a study suggests. These findings offer what researchers called a “reference for clinical decision-making” — particularly…

The Moderna COVID-19 vaccine was safe and did not particularly worsen clinical symptoms in people with myasthenia gravis (MG), a Spanish study reported. Patients developed a robust immune response after receiving the two recommended doses, despite being on immunosuppressive therapies. Additionally, no participant developed COVID-19 throughout the study. The…

Nonprofits, scientists, governmental organizations, and the rare disease drug development industry have long cited 7,000 as the average number of rare diseases in the world. But a new analysis shows there are as many as 10,867 rare diseases globally. And that…

Zai Lab’s application seeking approval of efgartigimod in China to treat adults with generalized myasthenia gravis (gMG) has been accepted by the country’s regulatory agency, the National Medical Products Administration (NMPA). “We are pleased to have the NMPA’s acceptance of the [application] filing for efgartigimod alfa injection…