News

The European Medicines Agency (EMA) has agreed to review Argenx’s application requesting the approval of its lead candidate, efgartigimod (ARGX-113), to treat people with generalized myasthenia gravis (gMG). A regulatory decision is expected by mid-2022. “gMG is a severe, chronic and debilitating disease that can be unpredictable…

Myasthenia gravis (MG) tends to be more severe in people who are female, obese, or who took a long time to get diagnosed, according to a survey including nearly half of all MG patients living in Sweden. According to its researchers, nearly half of survey respondents reported having moderate…

One year of rituximab therapy was effective in people with myasthenia gravis (MG) ages 65 or older, with no significant differences in response or safety seen in this older patient group relative to younger patients, an analysis of medical records found. “Rituximab should be considered in the treatment…

Registration is now open for Global Genes‘ 2021 RARE Patient Advocacy Summit. This year’s hybrid event will be livestreamed from California Sept. 27-29, and some seats also are available for attending the event in person in San Diego. “Here you’ll have the opportunity to connect and engage with others…

Altered production of circular RNA impaired the process of muscle cell growth and regeneration in people with myasthenia gravis (MG), a study has suggested. More studies investigating the role of circular RNA in MG may identify new molecular markers to monitor disease progression and reveal therapeutic targets, the researchers…

Therapeutic plasma exchange improved symptoms related to hard-to-treat myasthenia gravis, resulted in reduced use of immunosuppressants, and was well-tolerated by patients, according to a new study. That study, “Clinical experience with maintenance therapeutic plasma exchange in refractory generalized myasthenia gravis,” was published in the Journal of…

Registration is now open for the 2021 Rare Diseases and Orphan Products Breakthrough Summit, which will be held virtually Oct. 18–19. The event, also known as the National Organization for Rare Disorders (NORD) Summit, brings the rare disease community together to network and discuss developments in treatments and research into…

Renal cell carcinoma, or kidney cancer, may be linked with myasthenia gravis due to an abnormal immune system response to cancer cells, a study of six people with these two disorders reported. Thymomas, or tumors of the thymus, are known to possibly trigger autoimmune diseases, including myasthenia gravis, in what is…

More than 600 people participated in the 10th annual Rare Disease Week on Capitol Hill 2021, held virtually July 14–22, to advocate for the rare disease community. Hosted by the EveryLife Foundation’s Rare Disease Legislative Advocates (RDLA) program, the event brings together community members from across the U.S. to…

Immunovant will use a $200 million strategic investment from Roivant Sciences to advance IMVT-1401, its investigational therapy for myasthenia gravis (MG) and other autoimmune conditions. A pivotal clinical trial testing IMVT-1401 in people with MG is expected to be launched within the next 12 months, according to…