Myasthenia Gravis | Current Treatment | Physician Insights | US | 2023

Myasthenia gravis (MG) is a rare neuromuscular disorder commonly caused by autoantibodies targeting acetylcholine (ACh) receptors and therefore affecting neuromuscular synaptic transmission at the neuromuscular junction. It is a heterogenous disease; generalized MG is characterized by the presence of autoantibodies for ACh receptors; a subset of MG patients express other antibodies or are seronegative. The main symptoms are limb or respiratory muscle weakness, although some patients experience only ocular symptoms. Neurologists commonly treat MG with acetylcholinesterase inhibitors (e.g., pyridostigmine), corticosteroids, and/or immunosuppressants, mostly to manage the symptoms. The FDA has approved three biologics for MG: eculizumab (Alexion / AstraZeneca’s Soliris) in 2017, efgartigimod alfa (Argenx’s Vyvgart) in 2021, and ravulizumab (Alexion / AstraZeneca’s Ultomiris) in 2022. Understanding the many decision points that neurologists face when treating MG provides important context for the evolving market that developers will enter. This report explores neurologists’ perceptions and opinions of MG treatments, including recently launched agents.

Questions answered

• What percentage of MG patients receive drug therapy and with what drugs / drug classes?
• How long do patients stay on a therapy? To what do they switch when they discontinue their current treatment?
• What are neurologists’ preferred drugs / drug classes in each line of therapy, and why?
• What are neurologists’ opinions of the recently approved drugs for MG? How are neurologists incorporating these drugs into the treatment landscape?
• How and why has neurologists’ prescribing changed in the past year? What changes are they anticipating in the coming year?

Content highlights

Markets covered: United States

Key companies: Alexion / AstraZeneca, Argenx

Key drugs: Soliris, Vyvgart, Ultomiris, AChEIs, corticosteroids, immunosuppressants

Product description

Current Treatment: Physician Insights provides physician insights on treatment dynamics, prescribing behavior, and drivers of brand use so that marketers can create specific messaging around these treatment dynamics to more effectively increase or defend their market position.