News

Higher amounts of anti-acetylcholine receptor (AchR) antibodies in the blood before surgically removing the thymus could be a good predictor of outcomes for patients with myasthenia gravis, a study published in the Open Journal of Thoracic Surgery suggests. Myasthenia gravis is an autoimmune disease characterized by the uncontrolled production…

Researchers have found that patients with myasthenia gravis (MG) who are overweight or obese have a greater risk of postoperative complications after a thymectomy — the removal of the thymus. The study, “Influence of body mass index on postoperative complications after thymectomy in myasthenia gravis patients,” was published…

An investigational treatment for myasthenia gravis, ARGX-113 (efgartigimod), being developed by the Dutch pharmaceutical firm argenx, was found to be well-tolerated and effective at improving disease symptoms as early as one week after the first infusion, trial data show. The company recently revealed top-line data from its proof-of-concept Phase 2…

Researchers found that a low-dose regimen of oral corticosteroids is better than high- or intermediate-dose regimens in maintaining treatment goals for patients with myasthenia gravis (MG). The study “Oral corticosteroid dosing regimen and long-term prognosis in generalised myasthenia gravis: a multicentre cross-sectional study in Japan” was published in the…

GT Biopharma has launched a proof-of-concept Phase 1 trial of its investigational therapy GTP-004 for the treatment of myasthenia gravis. The trial’s primary goal is to demonstrate the therapy improves the gastrointestinal side effects of current treatments. “I am very pleased that GT Biopharma’s first clinical trial in patients with…

Cancer immunotherapies that boost the immune system’s response, such as Opdivo (nivolumab), may increase risk for autoimmune disorders, including myasthenia gravis, a case report study suggests. The findings of the case are reported in “Myasthenia Gravis Induced by Nivolumab: A Case Report,” published in the journal Cureus. Opdivo…

The Myasthenia Gravis Foundation of America (MGFA) started the MG Walk Campaign six years ago to raise funds, create awareness, renew hope, and generate a broader network of community and support for those living with myasthenia gravis (MG). The MG Walks allow supporters and patients to become the driving…

The Assistance Fund recently launched a program to provide financial support to patients with myasthenia gravis (MG). The Assistance Fund is a charity foundation that assists patients and their families by helping them meet the financial needs associated with treatment expenses. Currently managing more than 30 disease-specific funds, The…

A recent study by researchers from Yale University furthers understanding about why certain myasthenia gravis (MG) patients who were treated with Rituxan (rituximab) may relapse. Findings of the study, “Autoantibody-producing plasmablasts after B cell depletion identified in muscle-specific kinase myasthenia gravis,” were published at The Journal of Clinical…

The National Organization for Rare Disorders (NORD) says it’s “disappointed and dismayed” after the House of Representatives voted 227-205 last week to repeal the Orphan Drug Tax Credit as part of a U.S. tax reform package. A similar package before the Senate Finance Committee does not repeal the credit…