FDA Approves Alexion’s Ultomiris for Treatment of gMG

On April 28, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) granted approval to ravulizumab (Ultomiris) for the treatment of generalized myasthenia gravis (gMG) in adults who test positive for the anti-acetylcholine receptor (AChR) antibody. To date, Ultomiris is the third disease modifying drug approved to treat gMG. Ultomiris will be made available in the United . . .

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FDA approves Octapharma’s Octagam® 10% for Treatment of Adults with Dermatomyositis

On July 20, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) granted approval to Octagam® 10% for the treatment of adult dermatomyositis, a rare immune-mediated inflammatory disease. Octagam® 10% is the first and only intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIg) approved for dermatomyositis. Dermatomyositis is an autoimmune condition that involves inflammation of muscles and associated tissues, such as the blood vessels that supply the muscles. The . . .

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How Expedited Drug Approval Impacts the Neuromuscular Disease Treatment Landscape

The urgency of the COVID-19 pandemic has transformed the drug-development landscape, driving rapid development, US review, and, in one case, new therapeutic approval. To bring critical drugs to market, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is utilizing a special emergency program announced in April 2020 to accelerate approval of promising coronavirus therapies, an initiative . . .

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MDA’s 2021 Advocacy Plan

2021 is a new year: The country has a new administration, and a new Congress has been sworn in. What isn’t new is MDA’s commitment to working tirelessly in Washington, DC, to transform the lives of people living with neuromuscular diseases (NMDs). Here’s a sneak peek at some of the issues we’ll be working on . . .

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FDA Approves ITF Pharma’s Tiglutik via PEG Tube for the Treatment of ALS

On Dec. 13, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved expanded labeling for ITF Pharma’s Tiglutik to include administration via percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG) tube for the treatment of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). The expanded approval for use with PEG feeding tubes will enable patients who not only have difficulty swallowing but also require . . .

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FDA Approves Sarepta Therapeutics’ Vyondys 53 for Treatment of DMD Amenable to Exon 53 Skipping

On Dec. 12, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) granted accelerated approval to golodirsen (Vyondys 53) for the treatment of Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) in patients amenable to skipping exon 53. It is the second exon-skipping, disease-modifying drug to treat DMD, the most common childhood form of muscular dystrophy. The drug is administered by intravenous . . .

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