Myasthenia Gravis Faces Significant Unmet Needs in Disease Treatment

Myasthenia gravis (MG) is an autoimmune neuromuscular disorder characterized by muscle weakness and fatigue. Currently, first-line treatments are mainly off-label symptomatic therapies due to affordability and accessibility.

Disease-modifying therapies (DMTs) are reserved for refractory class II-V MG patients, which lead to significant unmet needs in MG classification and treatment, according to GlobalData, a data and analytics company.

In July 2023, GlobalData surveyed 82 high-prescribing neurologists in the 7MM (US, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, UK, and Japan) to assess MG trends and unmet needs. They emphasized the need for better physician and public awareness of MG, especially in early-stage ocular MG, which can be challenging to diagnose. They also expressed the necessity for prognostic biomarkers to aid treatment selection for different MG types.

Symptoms and Signs of Myasthenia Gravis

Muscle weakness and fatigue are the primary symptoms, characterized by painless weakness that worsens with muscle use and improves with rest. Typically, weakness initiates in the eye muscles, resulting in drooping eyelids and blurred or double vision. As the disease progresses, weakness can affect almost any skeletal muscle, leading to symptoms such as slurred speech, difficulty chewing and swallowing, nasal regurgitation, weakness in the limbs, and, in severe cases, breathing difficulties referred to as myasthenia crisis. The distribution and severity of weakness can vary and may increase with factors like anxiety, infection, or menstrual periods, while rest can provide relief.