Game-Changing Therapies for Myasthenia Gravis MEDSTAT_JS MEDSTAT_CSS

Game-Changing Therapies for Myasthenia Gravis

As recently as 2017, only symptom-abating treatments were available for patients with myasthenia gravis. Since then, there has been tremendous progress in the formulation of targeted therapies, including five currently FDA-approved medications: eculizumab, efgartigimod, ravulizumab, rozanolixizumab, and zilucoplan. Drs Henry Kaminski, Pushpa Narayanaswami, and Nicholas J. Silvestri examine the latest therapeutic options and how best to individualize treatment.

Game-Changing Therapies for Myasthenia Gravis

For patients with myasthenia gravis, new FDA-approved therapies have been a game changer for patients with more advanced symptoms.

In this virtual Roundtable, Drs Henry Kaminski, Pushpa Narayanaswami, and Nicholas J. Silvestri examine the latest therapies and how best to select the most appropriate therapy on the basis of a variety of factors, including antibody status, insurance stipulations, and coexisting conditions.

First, the panelists discuss the five FDA-approved therapies for myasthenia gravis and the criteria for prescribing them, including their use as a "bridge therapy."

The panelists then address factors that influence use of the approved agents, including safety concerns, patient comorbidities, pregnancy and fertility concerns, as well as the high cost of these agents.

The panelists conclude their discussion by delving into autoantibody subtypes and how the variations affect the treatments prescribed.

About the Panel

Henry Kaminski, MD Photo

Henry Kaminski, MD

  • Meta A. Neumann Professor
  • Department of Neurology
  • George Washington University
  • Neurologist
  • Department of Neurology & Rehabilitation Medicine
  • GW Medical Faculty Associates
  • Washington, DC
Pushpa Narayanaswami, MD Photo

Pushpa Narayanaswami, MD

  • Pushpa Narayanaswami, MD
  • Associate Professor
  • Department of Neurology
  • Harvard Medical School
  • Vice Chair of Clinical Operations
  • Department of Neurology
  • Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center
  • Boston, Massachusetts
Nicholas J. Silvestri, MD Photo

Nicholas J. Silvestri, MD

  • Associate Professor
  • Department of Neurology
  • University at Buffalo Jacobs School of Medicine & Biomedical Sciences
  • Staff Physician, UBMD
  • Buffalo, New York
Disclosures

Henry Kaminski, MD, has disclosed the following relevant financial relationships:
Serve(d) as a director, officer, partner, employee, advisor, consultant, or trustee for: UCB; Takeda; Roche; Cabaletta Bio; Canopy Bio; EMD Serono; EcoR1
Received research grant from: PI; MGNet Rare Disease Network; National Institutes of Health

Pushpa Narayanaswami, MD, has disclosed the following relevant financial relationships:
Serve(d) as an advisor or consultant for: Alexion; Argenx; Janssen; Dianthus; UCB; GlaxoSmithKline
Received research grant from: Alexion; UCB; Dianthus; Janssen

Nicholas J. Silvestri, MD, has disclosed the following relevant financial relationships:
Serve(d) as a director, officer, partner, employee, advisor, consultant, or trustee for: Argenx; Alexion; Immunovant; UCB
Serve(d) as a speaker or a member of a speakers bureau for: Argenx; Alexion; UCB