Renato Mantegazza1, Gil I Wolfe1, Srikanth Muppidi1, Heinz Wiendl1, Kenji P Fujita1, Fanny L O'Brien1, Heather D E Booth1, James F Howard2. 1. From the Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Neurologico Carlo Besta (R.M.), Milan, Italy; Department of Neurology (G.I.W.), Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University at Buffalo, State University of New York; Department of Neurology and Neurological Sciences (S.M.), Stanford University School of Medicine, Palo Alto, CA; Department of Neurology (H.W.), University of Münster, Germany; Alnylam Pharmaceuticals (K.P.F.), Cambridge, MA; Alexion Pharmaceuticals (F.L.O.), Boston, MA; Oxford PharmaGenesis (H.D.E.B.), UK; and Department of Neurology (J.F.H.), University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill. K.P.F. was formerly affiliated with Alexion Pharmaceuticals, Boston, MA. 2. From the Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Neurologico Carlo Besta (R.M.), Milan, Italy; Department of Neurology (G.I.W.), Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University at Buffalo, State University of New York; Department of Neurology and Neurological Sciences (S.M.), Stanford University School of Medicine, Palo Alto, CA; Department of Neurology (H.W.), University of Münster, Germany; Alnylam Pharmaceuticals (K.P.F.), Cambridge, MA; Alexion Pharmaceuticals (F.L.O.), Boston, MA; Oxford PharmaGenesis (H.D.E.B.), UK; and Department of Neurology (J.F.H.), University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill. K.P.F. was formerly affiliated with Alexion Pharmaceuticals, Boston, MA. howardj@neurology.unc.edu.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To evaluate whether eculizumab helps patients with anti-acetylcholine receptor-positive (AChR+) refractory generalized myasthenia gravis (gMG) achieve the Myasthenia Gravis Foundation of America (MGFA) post-intervention status of minimal manifestations (MM), we assessed patients' status throughout REGAIN (Safety and Efficacy of Eculizumab in AChR+ Refractory Generalized Myasthenia Gravis) and its open-label extension. METHODS: Patients who completed the REGAIN randomized controlled trial and continued into the open-label extension were included in this tertiary endpoint analysis. Patients were assessed for the MGFA post-intervention status of improved, unchanged, worse, MM, and pharmacologic remission at defined time points during REGAIN and through week 130 of the open-label study. RESULTS: A total of 117 patients completed REGAIN and continued into the open-label study (eculizumab/eculizumab: 56; placebo/eculizumab: 61). At week 26 of REGAIN, more eculizumab-treated patients than placebo-treated patients achieved a status of improved (60.7% vs 41.7%) or MM (25.0% vs 13.3%; common OR: 2.3; 95% CI: 1.1-4.5). After 130 weeks of eculizumab treatment, 88.0% of patients achieved improved status and 57.3% of patients achieved MM status. The safety profile of eculizumab was consistent with its known profile and no new safety signals were detected. CONCLUSION: Eculizumab led to rapid and sustained achievement of MM in patients with AChR+ refractory gMG. These findings support the use of eculizumab in this previously difficult-to-treat patient population. CLINICALTRIALSGOV IDENTIFIER: REGAIN, NCT01997229; REGAIN open-label extension, NCT02301624. CLASSIFICATION OF EVIDENCE: This study provides Class II evidence that, after 26 weeks of eculizumab treatment, 25.0% of adults with AChR+ refractory gMG achieved MM, compared with 13.3% who received placebo.
OBJECTIVE: To evaluate whether eculizumab helps patients with anti-acetylcholine receptor-positive (AChR+) refractory generalized myasthenia gravis (gMG) achieve the Myasthenia Gravis Foundation of America (MGFA) post-intervention status of minimal manifestations (MM), we assessed patients' status throughout REGAIN (Safety and Efficacy of Eculizumab in AChR+ Refractory Generalized Myasthenia Gravis) and its open-label extension. METHODS: Patients who completed the REGAIN randomized controlled trial and continued into the open-label extension were included in this tertiary endpoint analysis. Patients were assessed for the MGFA post-intervention status of improved, unchanged, worse, MM, and pharmacologic remission at defined time points during REGAIN and through week 130 of the open-label study. RESULTS: A total of 117 patients completed REGAIN and continued into the open-label study (eculizumab/eculizumab: 56; placebo/eculizumab: 61). At week 26 of REGAIN, more eculizumab-treated patients than placebo-treated patients achieved a status of improved (60.7% vs 41.7%) or MM (25.0% vs 13.3%; common OR: 2.3; 95% CI: 1.1-4.5). After 130 weeks of eculizumab treatment, 88.0% of patients achieved improved status and 57.3% of patients achieved MM status. The safety profile of eculizumab was consistent with its known profile and no new safety signals were detected. CONCLUSION: Eculizumab led to rapid and sustained achievement of MM in patients with AChR+ refractory gMG. These findings support the use of eculizumab in this previously difficult-to-treat patient population. CLINICALTRIALSGOV IDENTIFIER: REGAIN, NCT01997229; REGAIN open-label extension, NCT02301624. CLASSIFICATION OF EVIDENCE: This study provides Class II evidence that, after 26 weeks of eculizumab treatment, 25.0% of adults with AChR+ refractory gMG achieved MM, compared with 13.3% who received placebo.
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