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Efgartigimod efficacy and safety in refractory myasthenia gravis: UK's first real-world experience

Dionisio, Joana Moniz; Ambrose, Philip; Burke, Georgina; Farrugia, Maria Elena; Garcia-Reitboeck, Pablo; Hewamadduma, Channa; Hill, Marguerite; ... Spillane, Jennifer; + view all (2025) Efgartigimod efficacy and safety in refractory myasthenia gravis: UK's first real-world experience. Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery and Psychiatry , 96 (4) pp. 322-328. 10.1136/jnnp-2024-334086. Green open access

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Abstract

Background: We report our experience of patients with generalised myasthenia gravis (gMG) treated with efgartigimod, an neonatal Fc receptor antagonist, under the Early Access to Medicine Scheme (EAMS) in the UK. Methods: Data from all UK patients treated with efgartigimod under the EAMS July 2022 to July 2023 were collected retrospectively. Efgartigimod was administered as per the ADAPT protocol (consisting of a treatment cycle of four infusions at weekly intervals with further cycles given according to clinical need). Results: 48 patients with acetylcholine receptor antibody-positive gMG were treated in 12 centres. Most (75%) were female and most had a disease duration of over 10 years. The average MG-Activities of Daily Living (ADL) score at baseline was 11.2. Most (72.9%) patients had undergone thymectomy. 77.0% were taking prednisolone at baseline. All patients had used non-steroidal immunosuppressant treatments, the average number tried was 2.6 (range 1-6). 51% had received rituximab. 54.2% of patients required regular intravenous immunoglobulin/plasma exchange. 75% of patients had a mean reduction in the MG-ADL of≥2 points in the first cycle and this remained stable throughout the study. The mean intracycle reduction in the MG-ADL score in the first, second, third and fourth cycles were -4.6 to -3.9, -3.4 and -4.2, respectively. Side effects were generally mild. No rescue treatments were required. At the end of the study, 96% of patients remained on efgartigimod. Conclusion: Efgartigimod is a safe and effective treatment for patients with refractory, treatment-resistant gMG.

Type: Article
Title: Efgartigimod efficacy and safety in refractory myasthenia gravis: UK's first real-world experience
Location: England
Open access status: An open access version is available from UCL Discovery
DOI: 10.1136/jnnp-2024-334086
Publisher version: https://doi.org/10.1136/jnnp-2024-334086
Language: English
Additional information: This version is the author accepted manuscript. For information on re-use, please refer to the publisher’s terms and conditions.
Keywords: Clinical Neurology, FC RECEPTOR, Life Sciences & Biomedicine, MYASTHENIA, NEUROMUSCULAR, Neurosciences & Neurology, Psychiatry, Science & Technology, Surgery
UCL classification: UCL
UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > School of Life and Medical Sciences
UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > School of Life and Medical Sciences > Faculty of Brain Sciences
UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > School of Life and Medical Sciences > Faculty of Brain Sciences > UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology
UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > School of Life and Medical Sciences > Faculty of Brain Sciences > UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology > Clinical and Experimental Epilepsy
URI: https://discovery.ucl.ac.uk/id/eprint/10206623
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