Tuan Vu, MD, Professor of Neurology at University of South Florida, discusses myasthenia gravis and results from the Phase 3 CHAMPION clinical trial, testing the safety and efficacy of ravulizumab.
Myasthenia gravis (MG) is a chronic autoimmune neuromuscular disease characterized by weakness of the skeletal muscles. Common symptoms include weakness of the muscles that control:
- The eye and eyelid
- Facial expressions
- Chewing
- Talking
- Swallowing
Weakness tends to increase during periods of activity and improve after periods of rest. The condition results from a defect in the transmission of nerve impulses to muscles, which is due to the presence of antibodies against acetylcholine. The exact cause of this is unknown.
Current management and treatment options include corticosteroids, immunosuppressants, and cholinesterase enzyme inhibitors.
The CHAMPION Phase 3 clinical trial is a 26-week, double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled study. An open-label extension continued the trial to 60 weeks. Observations from the trial included the long-term efficacy and safety of ravulizumab across a total of 230 patients. LS mean change from baseline in Myasthenia Gravis–Activities of Daily Living (MG-ADL) score was − 4.0 (95% CI: − 4.8, − 3.1; p < 0.0001). LS mean change in MG-ADL score from OLE baseline to Week 60 was − 1.7 (95% CI: − 2.7, − 0.8; p = 0.0007). Trends followed through to the quantitative myasthenia gravis scores. Ravulizumab also showed positive tolerability.
To learn more about myasthenia gravis and other rare neurological diseases, visit https://checkrare.com/diseases/neurology-nervous-system-diseases/