Results from a clinical trial suggest that treatment with gefurulimab leads to significant improvement in activities of daily living in adults with generalized myasthenia gravis (MG), according to a press release recently published by gefurulimab’s manufacturer, Alexion (a subsidiary of AstraZeneca).
Gefurulimab is an artificial monoclonal antibody administered subcutaneously once a week. It targets the C5 molecule of the complement cascade, a chain reaction of proteins in the blood that attracts immune cells and forms a complex which destroys infected cells and bacteria. In patients with MG, the complement system mistakenly attacks acetylcholine receptors in the postsynaptic membrane, which in turn leads to impaired muscular function.
The drug is currently being tested in the Phase III PREVAIL study. Preliminary results from the trial suggest that it is safe and well tolerated. Furthermore, patients receiving the drug experienced a significant improvement in their ability to perform activities of daily living, as determined by the Myasthenia Gravis Activities of Daily Living (MG-ADL) total score after 26 weeks of treatment.
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“Building on Alexion’s pioneering leadership in gMG, these positive results from the PREVAIL Phase III trial demonstrate the potential for gefurulimab to offer rapid and sustained disease control for this patient community. These data, reflecting patient participation across 20 countries, reinforce the established safety profile and efficacy of C5 inhibition and show the potential for gefurulimab as a first-line biologic, with the convenience of a self-administered option,” said Marc Dunoyer, chief executive officer of Alexion, AstraZeneca Rare Disease.
“A once-weekly, self-administered C5 treatment option would offer patients greater convenience and independence in managing their condition, empowering them to have more control over their therapy,” said Dr. Kelly Gwathmey, the principal investigator in the trial.
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