Medscape: FDA Approves New Myasthenia Gravis Drug

[ME/CFS Science Blog]

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved efgartigimod (Vyvgart, argenx), a first-in-class, targeted therapy for adults with generalized myasthenia gravis (gMG) who test positive for the antiacetylcholine receptor (AChR) antibody...

Full text at: https://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/965109

 

[ME/CFS Science Blog]

This was in the national news because the drug was developed by a Belgian company. It is based on antibodies of lama's and the company hopes to test it out on other illnesses as well.

The phase III study for myasthenia gracvs was published in Lancet Neurology: https://www.thelancet.com/journals/laneur/article/PIIS1474-4422(21)00159-9/fulltext

 

[Hoopoe]

Efgartigimod is an antibody fragment designed to reduce pathogenic IgG antibodies and block the IgG recycling process in patients with gMG.

The novel agent binds to the neonatal Fc receptor (FcRn), which is widely expressed throughout the body and plays a central role in rescuing IgG antibodies from degradation. Blocking FcRn reduces IgG antibody levels.

Sounds as if this drug could work for other autoimmune diseases.

 

[voner]

This was in the national news because the drug was developed by a Belgian company. It is based on antibodies of lama's and the company hopes to test it out on other illnesses as well.

The phase III study for myasthenia gracvs was published in Lancet Neurology: https://www.thelancet.com/journals/laneur/article/PIIS1474-4422(21)00159-9/fulltext

I found the full text of the study on Sci-Hub. I am reading it and it is a very interesting paper.