ABSTRACT
Objective To evaluate the safety and efficacy of efgartigimod in patients with generalized myasthenia gravis (MG) enrolled in the ADAPT+ longterm extension study. Background Treatment with efgartigimod, a human IgG1 antibody Fc-fragment that blocks neonatal Fc receptor, resulted in clinically meaningful improvement (CMI) in MG-specific outcome measures in the ADAPT phase 3 clinical trial. All patients who completed ADAPT were eligible to enroll in its ongoing open-label, 3-year extension study, ADAPT+. Design/Methods Efgartigimod (10 mg/kg IV) was administered in cycles of once-weekly infusions for 4 weeks, with subsequent cycles initiated based on clinical evaluation. Efficacy was assessed during each cycle utilizing Myasthenia Gravis Activities of Daily Living (MG-ADL) and Quantitative Myasthenia Gravis (QMG) scales. Results Ninety-one percent of ADAPT patients (151/167) entered ADAPT+. As of February 2021, 106 AChR-Ab+ and 33 AChR-Ab- patients had received at least 1 dose of open-label efgartigimod (including 66 ADAPT placebo [PBO] patients). The mean (SD) study duration was 363 (114) days, resulting in 138 patient-years of observation. Similar incidence rates per patient year (IR/PY) of serious adverse events were seen in ADAPT (efgartigimod: 0.11;placebo: 0.29) compared to ADAPT+ (0.25). Five deaths (acute myocardial infarction, COVID-19 pneumonia/septic shock, bacterial pneumonia/MG crisis, malignant lung neoplasm, and unknown [multiple cardiovascular risk factors identified on autopsy]) occurred;none were considered related to efgartigimod by the investigator. AEs were predominantly mild or moderate. CMI was observed in AChR-Ab+ patients during each cycle (up to 10 cycles) at magnitudes comparable to improvements observed at week 3 of cycle 1 (mean[SE] improvements: MG-ADL, -5.1[0.34];QMG, -4.7[0.41]). Clinical improvements mirrored maximal reductions in total IgG and AChR-Abs across all cycles. Conclusions This analysis suggests the efficacy of long-term treatment with efgartigimod was consistent across multiple cycles. No new safety signals were identified, despite being conducted before vaccine availability during the COVID-19 pandemic.
ABSTRACT
Importance: Patients with myasthenia gravis (MG) and IST are potentially at increased risk for poor COVID-19 outcome. Objective: To determine whether immunosuppressive therapy (IST) compared to no IST is associated with a higher risk for, first, a symptomatic SARS-CoV-2 infection and, second, a more severe COVID-19 disease course as measured by hospitalization rate and death. Design, setting, and participants: The present study included all available MG patients from the German myasthenia gravis registry, which is a nationwide registry conducted by expert centers since February 2019 (German Clinical Trials Registry DRKS-ID 00024099). Main outcomes and measures: Between May 2020 and June 2021, data were collected on demographics, disease duration, comorbidities, preexistent IST including standard (corticosteroids, azathioprine, mycophenolate mofetil, methotrexate, cyclosporine) and escalation (rituximab, eculizumab) IST, thymectomy, COVID-19 characteristics, and outcomes. COVID-19 was diagnosed with a nasopharyngeal swab by polymerase-chain-reaction. Multiple binary logistic regression models and generalized estimation equation regression models based on matched SARS-CoV-2 infected to non-infected patients were used to estimate the association of IST with SARS-CoV-2 infection. Multiple binary logistic regression models were used to assess the association of IST with outcome of COVID-19 in MG patients. Results: Of 1388 MG patients, 95 (7%) MG patients with a mean age of 58 (SD 18) and median disease duration of 65 months (IQR 27-126) presented with COVID-19. Among them, 39 patients (41%) were male, and 76 (80%) received IST at the time of infection. There were 32 patients (34%) admitted to hospital due to COVID-19, 12 (13%) to the intensive care unit, and a total of 11 patients (12%) died. IST was a risk factor for hospitalization and death in the group of COVID-19 affected MG patients (adjusted odds ratio [OR] 3.04, 95% confi- dence interval [CI] = 1.02-9.06, p=0.046), but not for symptomatic SARS-CoV-2 infection itself in the whole group of MG patients. Conclusions and relevance: In MG patients, preexistent IST was a factor for a severe disease course of COVID-19 but not for the risk for SARS-CoV-2 infection. These data support the consequent implementation of effective strategies to prevent COVID- 19 in this high-risk group.
ABSTRACT
Synthetic mRNA acts as a template for synthesizing proteins, protein fragments, or peptides and now has many pharmaceutical applications.1,2 Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) due to infection with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), a novel zoonotic RNA virus, has resulted in the rapid development of dedicated mRNA vaccines.3–5 This rapid response was made possible by using mRNA platforms that already existed for experimental vaccines against other infectious diseases and cancer.6–12 Carrier-based mRNA vaccines have been developed using lipid-based delivery, peptide-based delivery, polymer-based delivery, and cationic nano-emulsions, as well as dendritic cells.13 The mRNA vaccine leads to the expression of encodedantigensinantigen-presentingcells(APCs),generatingbothinnateandadaptiveimmuneresponses.Futuredevelopments in mRNA therapy in oncology are expected to include adaptations in the routes of administration and co-delivery of multiple mRNAs with other anti-cancer treatments, such as immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICI), radiotherapy, or chemotherapy. In addition, advances in next-generation sequencing (NGS) technology allow the genome, exome, and transcriptome of a single cancer patient to be deciphered. This new knowledge about the diversity of epitopes in different tumors and corresponding specific T cells has allowed the advancement of personalized cancer treatments.14 The article aims to present the rationale for the new therapeutic roles of mRNA vaccines, from COVID-19 and other infections to personalized oncology therapeutics. © 2021 Healthbook TIMES Oncology Hematology. All rights reserved.
ABSTRACT
Objective: Evaluate the safety, tolerability, and efficacy of efgartigimod in patients with generalized myasthenia gravis (MG) enrolled in the ADAPT+ long-term extension study. Background: Treatment with efgartigimod, a human IgG1 antibody Fc-fragment that blocks neonatal Fc receptor, resulted in clinically meaningful improvement (CMI) in MG-specific outcome measures in the ADAPT study. All patients who completed ADAPT were eligible to enroll in its ongoing open-label, 3-year extension study, ADAPT+. Design/Methods: Efgartigimod (EFG), 10 mg/kg, was administered intravenously in cycles of once-weekly infusions for 4 weeks, with subsequent cycles initiated based on predefined criteria. Efficacy was assessed during each cycle utilizing Myasthenia Gravis Activities of Daily Living (MG-ADL) and Quantitative Myasthenia Gravis (QMG) scales. Results: Ninety-one percent of ADAPT patients (151/167) entered ADAPT+. As of February 2021, 106 AChR-Ab+ and 33 AChR-Ab- had received at least 1 dose of open-label efgartigimod (including 66 ADAPT placebo [PBO] patients). The mean(SD) study duration was 363(114) days, resulting in 138 patient-years of observation. Similar rates of the most common adverse events (AEs) were seen in the EFG-EFG and PBO-EFG arms: headache (15.1%/30.3%), nasopharyngitis (8.2%/13.6%), and diarrhea (6.8%/10.6%). Five deaths (acute myocardial infarction, COVID-19 pneumonia/septic shock, bacterial pneumonia/MG crisis, malignant lung neoplasm, and unknown [multiple cardiovascular risk factors identified on autopsy]) occurred;none were considered related to efgartigimod by the investigator. AEs were predominantly mild or moderate. CMI was observed in AChR-Ab+ patients during each cycle (up to 10 cycles) at magnitudes comparable to improvements observed at week 3 of cycle 1 (mean[SE] improvements: MG-ADL, -5.1[0.34];QMG, -4.7[0.41]). Clinical improvements mirrored maximal reductions in total IgG and AChR-Abs across all cycles. Similar results were observed in AChR-Ab- patients. Conclusions: This analysis suggests long-term treatment with efgartigimod was well-tolerated and efficacious, regardless of antibody status. Despite being conducted during the COVID-19 pandemic, before vaccine availability, no new safety signals were identified.