Intolerable adverse events related to the use of prednisone, typically used to treat myasthenia gravis (MG), were more frequently reported by women than men, a study finds. The study, “Gender differences in prednisone adverse effects,” was published in the journal Neurology Neuroimmunology & Neuroinflammation. Prednisone is…

With the U.S. midterm elections now less than two weeks away, patient advocacy groups are solidly focused on a range of hot-button issues, from the Orphan Drug Tax Creditand affordable health insurance to future funding for rare disease research. Yet “whether Democrats take over the House or Senate, or…

Long-term respiratory muscle endurance training (RMET) is a safe, feasible therapy that, in combination with conventional treatment, improves respiratory endurance and general well-being of people with mild to moderate myasthenia gravis. The findings were reported in a study titled “Effects of long-term respiratory muscle endurance training on respiratory…

Myasthenia gravis and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) may share common underlying cellular mechanisms mediated by anti-LRP4 antibodies, a rare case report into both diseases being diagnosed in an elderly patient suggests. The study, “Late-onset Myasthenia Gravis Accompanied by Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis with Antibodies against the Acetylcholine…

Investigational antibody rozanolixizumab (UCB7665) has proven safe and effective in treating symptoms associated with myasthenia gravis (MG), Phase 2 results show. Based on the results of the MG0002 Phase 2 study (NCT03052751), biopharmaceutical company UCB plans to accelerate the development of rozanolixizumab with a confirmatory study…

Gut microbiota is altered in people with myasthenia gravis (MG), opening the door for exploring the use of microbiota-modulating therapies, like probiotics, as potential ways of better managing the disease. Results of the pilot study, “Fecal microbiota profile in a group of myasthenia gravis patients,” were published in…

Two timed walk tests were found to be highly reliable for the measurement of exercise capacity in patients with mild to moderate generalized myasthenia gravis (MG), a study reports. The six-minute walk test (6MWT) and the…

Half a year has gone by since disgraced pharma executive Martin Shkreli was sentenced to seven years in federal prison for securities and wire fraud while heading San Diego-based Retrophin. As founder and CEO of another company (then known as Turing Pharmaceuticals), in late 2015 Shkreli bought the rights…

More than 700 medical experts, pharmaceutical executives, patient advocates, and others are expected to converge on Washington, D.C., next month for the 2018 NORD Rare Diseases & Orphan Products Breakthrough Summit. The Oct. 15-16 event, sponsored by the National Organization for Rare Diseases (NORD), takes place at the…

Thymoma, a tumor of the thymus gland that can be benign or malignant, elevates ocular myasthenia gravis (MG) patients’ risk of developing a generalized form of the disease, a case series in Germany reported. Within two…