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Find out which of your adult patients with anti-AChR antibody positive gMG may be right for VYVGART or VYVGART Hytrulo.

AChR=acetylcholine receptor; gMG=generalized myasthenia gravis.

Diane,

 53 years old

Busy office worker struggling with recurrence of symptoms with an NSIST and hesitant to change treatments

Patient portrayal

BACKGROUND

Diane is a medical biller at a suburban practice. She and her husband are active volunteers and members of their church. She was diagnosed with anti-AChR antibody positive gMG 2 years ago and is privately insured.

SYMPTOMS AND CONCERNS

Diane is experiencing increased weakness in her neck, arms, and legs, which makes it hard to sit in front of a computer or attend services and events. She is also experiencing slurred speech and difficulty swallowing and has started to avoid eating lunch with her coworkers.

Diane is worried about the continued effect of her symptoms and is ready to discuss other options. She is concerned about restarting prednisone.

AChR=acetylcholine receptor; gMG=generalized myasthenia gravis; MG-ADL=Myasthenia Gravis Activities of Daily Living; NSIST=nonsteroidal immunosuppressive therapy.

MEDICAL HISTORY
  • MG-ADL score: 7
  • BMI: 27
  • Initially controlled with pyridostigmine and high-dose prednisone, with an attempt to bridge to azathioprine; discontinued azathioprine after 1 year
  • Thymectomy
See Diane’s MG-ADL Scale
CURRENT TREATMENT
  • Pyridostigmine 60 mg 4 times a day
  • Mycophenolate mofetil 1.5 g 2 times a day

Do your patients know about the Myasthenia Gravis Patient Registry Survey?

Do you see patients like these in your practice?

Patient portrayals

Amber, 33

MG-ADL score: 5

Active professional uncontrolled on an AChE inhibitor and unwilling to consider IV treatment

Meet Amber

Hector, 68

MG-ADL score: 8

Recently retired and experiencing symptom exacerbations when tapering prednisone and looking for HCP guidance

Meet Hector

Matthew, 37

MG-ADL score: 6

New father experiencing breakthrough symptoms despite periodic IVIG

Meet Matthew

AChE=acetylcholinesterase; HCP=healthcare professional; IVIG=intravenous immunoglobulin; MG-ADL=Myasthenia Gravis Activities of Daily Living.

Patient portrayals

Infection

VYVGART and VYVGART HYTRULO may increase the risk of infection. The most common infections observed in Study 1 were urinary tract infection (10% of efgartigimod alfa-fcab-treated patients vs 5% of placebo-treated patients) and respiratory tract infection (33% of efgartigimod alfa-fcab-treated patients vs 29% of placebo-treated patients). Patients on efgartigimod alfa-fcab vs placebo had below normal levels for white blood cell counts (12% vs 5%, respectively), lymphocyte counts (28% vs 19%, respectively), and neutrophil counts (13% vs 6%, respectively). The majority of infections and hematologic abnormalities were mild to moderate in severity. Delay the administration of VYVGART or VYVGART HYTRULO in patients with an active infection until the infection has resolved; monitor for clinical signs and symptoms of infections. If serious infection occurs, administer appropriate treatment and consider withholding treatment with VYVGART or VYVGART HYTRULO until the infection has resolved.

Immunization

Immunization with vaccines during treatment with VYVGART or VYVGART HYTRULO has not been studied; the safety with live or live-attenuated vaccines and the response to immunization with any vaccine are unknown. Because VYVGART and VYVGART HYTRULO cause a reduction in immunoglobulin G (IgG) levels, vaccination with live-attenuated or live vaccines is not recommended during treatment with VYVGART or VYVGART HYTRULO. Evaluate the need to administer age-appropriate vaccines according to immunization guidelines before initiation of a new treatment cycle with VYVGART or VYVGART HYTRULO.

Hypersensitivity Reactions

Hypersensitivity reactions, including rash, angioedema, and dyspnea were observed in patients treated with VYVGART or VYVGART HYTRULO. Urticaria was also observed in patients treated with VYVGART HYTRULO. In clinical trials, hypersensitivity reactions were mild or moderate, occurred within 1 hour to 3 weeks of administration, and did not lead to treatment discontinuation. Monitor patients during and for one hour after VYVGART administration, or for at least 30 minutes after VYVGART HYTRULO administration, for clinical signs and symptoms of hypersensitivity reactions. If a hypersensitivity reaction occurs during VYVGART or VYVGART HYTRULO administration, discontinue use and institute appropriate supportive measures if needed.

ADVERSE REACTIONS

In Study 1, the most common (≥10%) adverse reactions in efgartigimod alfa-fcab-treated patients were respiratory tract infection, headache, and urinary tract infection. In Study 2, the most common (≥10%) adverse reactions in VYVGART HYTRULO-treated patients were injection site reactions and headache. Injection site reactions occurred in 38% of VYVGART HYTRULO-treated patients, including injection site rash, erythema, pruritus, bruising, pain, and urticaria. In Study 2 and its open-label extension, all injection site reactions were mild to moderate in severity and did not lead to treatment discontinuation. The majority occurred within 24 hours after administration and resolved spontaneously. Most injection site reactions occurred during the first treatment cycle, and the incidence decreased with each subsequent cycle.

USE IN SPECIFIC POPULATIONS

Pregnancy

As VYVGART and VYVGART HYTRULO are expected to reduce maternal IgG antibody levels, reduction in passive protection to the newborn is anticipated. Risks and benefits should be considered prior to administering live or live attenuated vaccines to infants exposed to VYVGART or VYVGART HYTRULO in utero.

Lactation

There is no information regarding the presence of efgartigimod alfa-fcab from administration of VYVGART, or efgartigimod alfa or hyaluronidase from administration of VYVGART HYTRULO, in human milk, the effects on the breastfed infant, or the effects on milk production. The developmental and health benefits of breastfeeding should be considered along with the mother’s clinical need for VYVGART or VYVGART HYTRULO, and any potential adverse effects on the breastfed infant from VYVGART or VYVGART HYTRULO or from the underlying maternal condition.

INDICATION

VYVGART® (efgartigimod alfa-fcab) for intravenous infusion and VYVGART® HYTRULO (efgartigimod alfa and hyaluronidase-qvfc) for subcutaneous injection are each indicated for the treatment of generalized myasthenia gravis in adult patients who are anti-acetylcholine receptor (AChR) antibody positive.

Please see the full Prescribing Information for VYVGART and the full Prescribing Information for VYVGART HYTRULO.

You may report side effects to the US Food and Drug Administration by visiting http://www.fda.gov/medwatch or calling 1-800-FDA-1088. You may also report side effects to argenx US, Inc, at 1-833-argx411 (1-833-274-9411).

Infection

VYVGART and VYVGART HYTRULO may increase the risk of infection. The most common infections observed in Study 1 were urinary tract infection (10% of efgartigimod alfa-fcab-treated patients vs 5% of placebo-treated patients) and respiratory tract infection (33% of efgartigimod alfa-fcab-treated patients vs 29% of placebo-treated patients). Patients on efgartigimod alfa-fcab vs placebo had below normal levels for white blood cell counts (12% vs 5%, respectively), lymphocyte counts (28% vs 19%, respectively), and neutrophil counts (13% vs 6%, respectively). The majority of infections and hematologic abnormalities were mild to moderate in severity. Delay the administration of VYVGART or VYVGART HYTRULO in patients with an active infection until the infection has resolved; monitor for clinical signs and symptoms of infections. If serious infection occurs, administer appropriate treatment and consider withholding treatment with VYVGART or VYVGART HYTRULO until the infection has resolved.

Immunization

Immunization with vaccines during treatment with VYVGART or VYVGART HYTRULO has not been studied; the safety with live or live-attenuated vaccines and the response to immunization with any vaccine are unknown. Because VYVGART and VYVGART HYTRULO cause a reduction in immunoglobulin G (IgG) levels, vaccination with live-attenuated or live vaccines is not recommended during treatment with VYVGART or VYVGART HYTRULO. Evaluate the need to administer age-appropriate vaccines according to immunization guidelines before initiation of a new treatment cycle with VYVGART or VYVGART HYTRULO.

Hypersensitivity Reactions

Hypersensitivity reactions, including rash, angioedema, and dyspnea were observed in patients treated with VYVGART or VYVGART HYTRULO. Urticaria was also observed in patients treated with VYVGART HYTRULO. In clinical trials, hypersensitivity reactions were mild or moderate, occurred within 1 hour to 3 weeks of administration, and did not lead to treatment discontinuation. Monitor patients during and for one hour after VYVGART administration, or for at least 30 minutes after VYVGART HYTRULO administration, for clinical signs and symptoms of hypersensitivity reactions. If a hypersensitivity reaction occurs during VYVGART or VYVGART HYTRULO administration, discontinue use and institute appropriate supportive measures if needed.

ADVERSE REACTIONS

In Study 1, the most common (≥10%) adverse reactions in efgartigimod alfa-fcab-treated patients were respiratory tract infection, headache, and urinary tract infection. In Study 2, the most common (≥10%) adverse reactions in VYVGART HYTRULO-treated patients were injection site reactions and headache. Injection site reactions occurred in 38% of VYVGART HYTRULO-treated patients, including injection site rash, erythema, pruritus, bruising, pain, and urticaria. In Study 2 and its open-label extension, all injection site reactions were mild to moderate in severity and did not lead to treatment discontinuation. The majority occurred within 24 hours after administration and resolved spontaneously. Most injection site reactions occurred during the first treatment cycle, and the incidence decreased with each subsequent cycle.

USE IN SPECIFIC POPULATIONS

Pregnancy

As VYVGART and VYVGART HYTRULO are expected to reduce maternal IgG antibody levels, reduction in passive protection to the newborn is anticipated. Risks and benefits should be considered prior to administering live or live attenuated vaccines to infants exposed to VYVGART or VYVGART HYTRULO in utero.

Lactation

There is no information regarding the presence of efgartigimod alfa-fcab from administration of VYVGART, or efgartigimod alfa or hyaluronidase from administration of VYVGART HYTRULO, in human milk, the effects on the breastfed infant, or the effects on milk production. The developmental and health benefits of breastfeeding should be considered along with the mother’s clinical need for VYVGART or VYVGART HYTRULO, and any potential adverse effects on the breastfed infant from VYVGART or VYVGART HYTRULO or from the underlying maternal condition.

INDICATION

VYVGART® (efgartigimod alfa-fcab) for intravenous infusion and VYVGART® HYTRULO (efgartigimod alfa and hyaluronidase-qvfc) for subcutaneous injection are each indicated for the treatment of generalized myasthenia gravis in adult patients who are anti-acetylcholine receptor (AChR) antibody positive.

Please see the full Prescribing Information for VYVGART and the full Prescribing Information for VYVGART HYTRULO.

You may report side effects to the US Food and Drug Administration by visiting http://www.fda.gov/medwatch or calling 1-800-FDA-1088. You may also report side effects to argenx US, Inc, at 1-833-argx411 (1-833-274-9411).

References: 1. Wolfe GI et al. Neurology. 1999;52(7):1487-1489. doi:10.1212/wnl.52.7.1487 2. Howard JF Jr et al. Lancet Neurol. 2021;20(7):526-536. doi:10.1016/S1474-4422(21)00159-9 3. Cutter G et al. Muscle Nerve. 2019;60(6):707-715. https://doi.org/10.1002/mus.26695