News

Robot-assisted Thymectomy Helps Man Get Back Outdoors

Robot-assisted thymectomy surgery — a procedure to remove the thymus gland, here done using a robotic system console — eased the disease symptoms of a Colorado man diagnosed with myasthenia gravis (MG). For Mike Oster, a Fort Collins retiree and avid fisherman, the procedure — performed by a cardiothoracic…

‘Rare’ Documentary in Kickstarter Campaign to Raise $45K by Oct. 28

A crowdfunding campaign aims to raise $45,000 to support “Rare,” a documentary film featuring the struggles and achievements of people living with rare diseases and their families. Sweis Entertainment and Digital Cave Media launched the campaign — allowing filmmakers to finish producing and to release the documentary — on Kickstarter.

New Data-sharing Program Aims to Speed Innovation in Rare Diseases

A new U.S. initiative called Rare Disease Cures Accelerator–Data and Analytics Platform — dubbed RDCA–DAP — aims to accelerate treatment innovation across rare diseases by sharing existing patient data and promoting the standardization of new data collection. Launched during a virtual workshop in September, the U.S. Food and Drug…

Myasthenic Crisis During Sedation Leads to Diagnosis

A recent case report describes an elderly woman who was first diagnosed with myasthenia gravis (MG) after experiencing a myasthenic crisis while being sedated for a surgical procedure. “This case reports a form of discovery of [a] myasthenic crisis outside the usual circumstance,” its authors wrote. “The prognosis depends…

1st Patient Dosed in Phase 3 Trial of Batoclimab in China

The first participant has been dosed in a Phase 3 clinical trial testing the efficacy and safety of batoclimab (HBM9161) in people with generalized myasthenia gravis (gMG) in China. “The first patient first dosing in the phase III study brings us one step closer to deliver the novel therapeutic…

Exercise Program Improved Muscle, Physical Function

Muscle and physical function improved in patients with clinically stable myasthenia gravis (MG) who participated in an individually tailored six-month exercise program, a small study has found. The exercise program, which combined aerobic and resistance training with stretches, was well-tolerated by all participants. “Physical exercise is safe, effective, and…

MGFA Poised for 2021 Coast-to-Coast Walk 2740 Challenge

With the goal of raising funds and awareness to improve care and find a cure for myasthenia gravis (MG), the Myasthenia Gravis Foundation of America (MGFA) is hosting the 2021 Coast-to-Coast Walk and 2740 Challenge on Nov. 13. The event, which will be held virtually this year,…