Rewritten Article:
Myasthenia Gravis Treatment with Ultomiris: Understanding Its Function and Additional Info
Hey there! Let's talk about Ultomiris (ravulizumab-cwvz), a medication used for myasthenia gravis management. This article covers details like its workings, side effects, and dosage.
Ultomiris is an intravenous infusion solution, administered by healthcare professionals. It belongs to the group of biologics, classified as complement inhibitors, and currently doesn’t have a biosimilar counterpart.
For a more detailed exploration, check out this in-depth article on Ultomiris.
Ultomiris carries a severe warning from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). To learn more, dive into the "Before receiving Ultomiris" section.
Body weight
What's Myasthenia Gravis All About?
Loading dose
Myasthenia gravis occurs when faulty communication between muscles and nerves results in your voluntary muscles tiring quickly and weakening. It is a chronic autoimmune condition, where your immune system mistakenly attacks your own cells.
Maintenance dose
Myasthenia Gravis Symptoms
Symptoms vary among individuals and tend to worsen during periods of increased activity, improving with rest. Common symptoms include:
40 kg to less than 60 kg (approximately 88 lb to less than 132 lb)
- drooping eyelids
- weak muscles in your limbs, neck, and eyes
- extreme fatigue
- blurry or double vision
- difficulty chewing, swallowing, speaking, and breathing
2,400 mg
Who's a Candidate for Ultomiris
3,000 mg every 8 weeks
Ultomiris is prescribed for adults with anti-acetylcholine receptor (AChR) antibody-positive generalized myasthenia gravis (gMG).
- "Generalized" refers to impacted muscle groups throughout the body versus ocular myasthenia gravis, which only affects eye muscles.
- "Anti-acetylcholine receptor (AChR) antibody-positive" means your immune system creates antibodies that block acetylcholine receptors. Acetylcholine is a neurotransmitter that stimulates muscle contractions.
60 kg to less than 100 kg (approximately 132 lb to less than 220 lb)
Before prescribing Ultomiris, your doctor may conduct a blood test to determine if your gMG is AChR antibody-positive. For more information, consult your doctor about how Ultomiris fits with your form of myasthenia gravis.
2,700 mg
How Ultomiris Helps Myasthenia Gravis
3,300 mg every 8 weeks
If your doctor recommends Ultomiris for treating myasthenia gravis, you might be curious about its workings.
The Science Behind Ultomiris
100 kg or more (approximately 220 lb or more)
While the specific workings of Ultomiris are not fully understood, it is thought to inhibit the activity of a complement system protein called C5 at the neuromuscular junction (NMJ).
3,000 mg
The NMJ is the site of nerve cells communicating with the muscles they control. By reducing the activity of C5 at the NMJ, Ultomiris helps nerve signals reach your muscles. This may reduce fatigue and muscle weakness, potentially boosting muscle strength.
3,600 mg every 8 weeks
The Effectiveness of Ultomiris for Myasthenia Gravis
Clinical studies show that Ultomiris effectively improved patients' abilities to carry out daily tasks in adults with gMG who were AChR antibody-positive.
Want to learn more about these studies? Take a peek at the Ultomiris prescribing information. Your doctor or pharmacist can also provide insight into how effective Ultomiris was in these research trials.
Giving, Receiving, and How Often to Get Ultomiris
Ultomiris
Here's an overview of how Ultomiris dosages for myasthenia gravis are usually handled, but always consult your doctor for personalized advice.
Vyvgart
Ultomiris comes in three strengths:
- 300 milligrams (mg)/30 milliliters (mL)
- 300 mg/3 mL
- 1,100 mg/11 mL
Form
Dosages
solution for IV infusion
Ultomiris treatment typically starts with a loading dose. After two weeks, you'll switch to a regular dose, usually every 8 weeks.
solution for IV infusion
Dosage recommendations vary based on your body weight:
| Body weight | Loading dose | Maintenance dose ||------------------|--------------|----------------------------|| 40 kg to less than 60 kg (approx. 88 lb to less than 132 lb) | 2,400 mg | 3,000 mg every 8 weeks || 60 kg to less than 100 kg (approx. 132 lb to less than 220 lb) | 2,700 mg | 3,300 mg every 8 weeks || 100 kg or more (approx. 220 lb or more) | 3,000 mg | 3,600 mg every 8 weeks |
Dosage frequency
For more information about Ultomiris schedules, check out this Ultomiris dosage article.
once every 8 weeks
How Ultomiris is Administered
once weekly for 4 weeks; your doctor may prescribe additional cycles based on how well Vyvgart works for your symptoms
Ultomiris is delivered as an IV infusion solution, administered by healthcare professionals at an infusion center.
Dosing Frequency
Drug class
Patients usually receive their maintenance doses every 8 weeks. After the loading dose, the maintenance doses usually start.
complement inhibitorneonatal Fc receptor blocker
Enrichment Insights:
- Risk of Serious Infections: Ultomiris increases the risk of severe and potentially life-threatening infections, particularly meningococcal infections like meningitis. Symptoms of infection include sudden fever, headache, stiff neck, nausea, confusion, drowsiness, sensitivity to light, and dizziness. Patients should be vaccinated against meningococcal infections and receive antibiotics for the first two weeks post-treatment. The risk persists during treatment and for at least 8 months following the final dose.
- REMS Program: Ultomiris is available only under a Risk Evaluation and Mitigation Strategy (REMS) program. Patients are required to carry a Patient Safety Card detailing symptoms of meningococcal infection for the duration of treatment and eight months post-treatment.
- Other Infection Risks: Ultomiris can also increase the risk of other infections, such as upper respiratory infections and urinary tract infections.
- Antibody Status: The efficacy of Ultomiris is established for patients with AChR antibody-positive myasthenia gravis.
- Ultomiris is a medication used for myasthenia gravis management, specifically for adults with anti-acetylcholine receptor (AChR) antibody-positive generalized myasthenia gravis (gMG), and belongs to the group of biologics, classified as complement inhibitors.
- It's important to note that Ultomiris doesn't have a biosimilar counterpart at the moment.
- Ultomiris is administered by healthcare professionals and carries a severe warning from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
- Symptoms of myasthenia gravis include drooping eyelids, weak muscles in the limbs, neck, and eyes, extreme fatigue, blurry or double vision, difficulty chewing, swallowing, speaking, and breathing.
- Clinical studies show that Ultomiris effectively improved patients' abilities to carry out daily tasks in adults with gMG who were AChR antibody-positive.
- Ultomiris is administered as an IV infusion solution, and patients usually receive their maintenance doses every 8 weeks.
- Ultomiris increases the risk of severe and potentially life-threatening infections, particularly meningococcal infections, and patients should be vaccinated against these infections and receive antibiotics for the first two weeks post-treatment.
