- Acetylcholine (ACh)
Acetylcholine helps carry messages from the brain to different parts of the body, including muscles. In gMG, harmful AChR antibodies damage the receptors for acetylcholine on muscles, which causes muscle weakness. - Acetylcholine receptor (AChR)
A type of receptor (message receiver) found on muscles. These receptors receive messages from nerves that tell muscles what to do. Patients with gMG who have antibodies that damage AChR receptors are called anti-AChR antibody positive gMG patients. Anti-AChR antibody positive is the most common type of gMG. - Acetylcholine receptor (AChR) antibody
Sometimes the immune system mistakenly makes IgG antibodies that target AChR receptors. These are known as harmful AChR antibodies. gMG patients with harmful AChR antibodies have anti-AChR antibody positive gMG. - Anti-AChR antibody positive gMG
The most common type of gMG. People with gMG who have harmful antibodies that damage acetylcholine receptors (AChR) are called anti-AChR antibody positive gMG patients. - Antibody fragment
An antibody fragment is only part of a whole antibody. For example, the bottom section of the Y-shaped antibody is a fragment. - Biologics
Biologics treat disease by using substances made from living organisms. These substances may naturally occur in the body or may be artificially created. A biologic must be approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to be used as a treatment in the United States. - Clinical trial
A type of research that tests the safety and effectiveness of a treatment in people. The FDA reviews the results of clinical trials to determine if a treatment is safe and effective for use in a specific condition. - Immunoglobulin G (IgG) antibody
A Y-shaped protein made by the immune system. Antibodies attach to different things to let the immune system know that there is a potential threat that it will need to destroy or neutralize. Antibodies can attach to disease-causing substances like bacteria and viruses. - Immunosuppressive therapy (IST)
A type of medication used to reduce the strength of the body’s immune system. It is often used to treat conditions where the immune system is overactive, like in autoimmune diseases. - MG-ADL scale
The Myasthenia Gravis Activities of Daily Living (MG-ADL) scale assesses the impact of gMG on daily functions by measuring 8 signs or symptoms that are commonly affected in gMG: the ability to speak, chew, swallow, breathe, brush teeth or comb hair, and get out of a chair, as well as the frequency of double vision and eyelid droop. Each item is measured on a 4-point scale, where a score of 0 represents normal function and a score of 3 represents the loss of ability to perform that function. Total scores range from 0 to 24 points, with a higher score showing more severe gMG. - Neonatal Fc receptor (FcRn)
A receptor that attaches to IgG antibodies and helps them stay in the body longer. In gMG, the IgG antibodies and harmful AChR antibodies can both attach to FcRns to stay in the body longer. - Quantitative Myasthenia Gravis (QMG)
The QMG scale assesses muscle weakness in gMG based on 13 items. Each item is assessed on a 4-point scale, where a score of 0 represents no muscle weakness and a score of 3 represents severe muscle weakness. Total scores range from 0 to 39, with a higher score meaning muscle weakness is more severe.
Additional resources
Talk to your neurologist
The VYVGART Doctor Discussion Guide can be used to help you discuss with your neurologist current anti-AChR antibody positive gMG symptoms you have and how they impact your daily abilities.
Infusion centers in your area
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Frequently asked questions
Find answers to common questions about VYVGART treatment and support.
*Your neurologist and insurance company will determine where you can receive your infusions.
What is the most important information I should know about VYVGART® (efgartigimod alfa-fcab)?
VYVGART may cause serious side effects, including:
- Infection. VYVGART may increase the risk of infection. In a clinical study, the most common infections were urinary tract and respiratory tract infections. More patients on VYVGART vs placebo had below normal levels for white blood cell counts, lymphocyte counts, and neutrophil counts. The majority of infections and blood side effects were mild to moderate in severity. Your health care provider should check you for infections before starting treatment, during treatment, and after treatment with VYVGART. Tell your health care provider if you have any history of infections. Tell your health care provider right away if you have signs or symptoms of an infection during treatment with VYVGART such as fever, chills, frequent and/or painful urination, cough, pain and blockage of nasal passages/sinus, wheezing, shortness of breath, fatigue, sore throat, excess phlegm, nasal discharge, back pain, and/or chest pain.
- Undesirable immune reactions (hypersensitivity reactions). VYVGART can cause the immune system to have undesirable reactions such as rashes, swelling under the skin, and shortness of breath. In clinical studies, the reactions were mild or moderate and occurred within 1 hour to 3 weeks of administration, and the reactions did not lead to VYVGART discontinuation. Your health care provider should monitor you during and after treatment and discontinue VYVGART if needed. Tell your health care provider immediately about any undesirable reactions.
Before taking VYVGART, tell your health care provider about all of your medical conditions, including if you:
- Have a history of infection or you think you have an infection
- Have received or are scheduled to receive a vaccine (immunization). Discuss with your health care provider whether you need to receive age-appropriate immunizations before initiation of a new treatment cycle with VYVGART. The use of vaccines during VYVGART treatment has not been studied, and the safety with live or live-attenuated vaccines is unknown. Administration of live or live-attenuated vaccines is not recommended during treatment with VYVGART.
- Are pregnant or plan to become pregnant and are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed.
Tell your health care provider about all the medicines you take, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements.
What are the common side effects of VYVGART?
The most common side effects of VYVGART are respiratory tract infection, headache, and urinary tract infection.
These are not all the possible side effects of VYVGART. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to the US Food and Drug Administration at 1-800-FDA-1088.
What is VYVGART?
VYVGART is a prescription medicine used to treat a condition called generalized myasthenia gravis, which causes muscles to tire and weaken easily throughout the body, in adults who are positive for antibodies directed toward a protein called acetylcholine receptor (anti-AChR antibody positive).
Please see the full Prescribing Information for VYVGART and talk to your doctor.
Important Safety Information
What is the most important information I should know about VYVGART® (efgartigimod alfa-fcab)?
VYVGART may cause serious side effects, including:
- Infection. VYVGART may increase the risk of infection. In a clinical study, the most common infections were urinary tract and respiratory tract infections. More patients on VYVGART vs placebo had below normal levels for white blood cell counts, lymphocyte counts, and neutrophil counts. The majority of infections and blood side effects were mild to moderate in severity. Your health care provider should check you for infections before starting treatment, during treatment, and after treatment with VYVGART. Tell your health care provider if you have any history of infections. Tell your health care provider right away if you have signs or symptoms of an infection during treatment with VYVGART such as fever, chills, frequent and/or painful urination, cough, pain and blockage of nasal passages/sinus, wheezing, shortness of breath, fatigue, sore throat, excess phlegm, nasal discharge, back pain, and/or chest pain.
- Undesirable immune reactions (hypersensitivity reactions). VYVGART can cause the immune system to have undesirable reactions such as rashes, swelling under the skin, and shortness of breath. In clinical studies, the reactions were mild or moderate and occurred within 1 hour to 3 weeks of administration, and the reactions did not lead to VYVGART discontinuation. Your health care provider should monitor you during and after treatment and discontinue VYVGART if needed. Tell your health care provider immediately about any undesirable reactions.
Before taking VYVGART, tell your health care provider about all of your medical conditions, including if you:
- Have a history of infection or you think you have an infection
- Have received or are scheduled to receive a vaccine (immunization). Discuss with your health care provider whether you need to receive age-appropriate immunizations before initiation of a new treatment cycle with VYVGART. The use of vaccines during VYVGART treatment has not been studied, and the safety with live or live-attenuated vaccines is unknown. Administration of live or live-attenuated vaccines is not recommended during treatment with VYVGART.
- Are pregnant or plan to become pregnant and are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed.
Tell your health care provider about all the medicines you take, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements.
What are the common side effects of VYVGART?
The most common side effects of VYVGART are respiratory tract infection, headache, and urinary tract infection.
These are not all the possible side effects of VYVGART. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to the US Food and Drug Administration at 1-800-FDA-1088.
What is VYVGART?
VYVGART is a prescription medicine used to treat a condition called generalized myasthenia gravis, which causes muscles to tire and weaken easily throughout the body, in adults who are positive for antibodies directed toward a protein called acetylcholine receptor (anti-AChR antibody positive).
Please see the full Prescribing Information for VYVGART and talk to your doctor.
Questions? Call 1-833-VYVGART (1-833-898-4278)
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