Mixing Old and New: How Different Drugs Are Used to Treat a Rare Muscle Disease
In the United States, individuals with generalized myasthenia gravis (gMG) often rely on medications to manage their symptoms. Among these, oral corticosteroids (OCSs) and nonsteroidal immunosuppressant therapies (NSISTs) are commonly prescribed, despite their potential for serious side effects.
Emergence of Newer Treatments
Recently, newer drugs have been approved for gMG, including:
- Ravulizumab
- Eculizumab
- Efgartigimod
These medications function differently than older treatments, leading some to speculate that they might reduce the need for traditional immunosuppressants. However, real-world evidence supporting this idea remains limited.
Study Findings on Drug Prescription Patterns
A recent study examined how frequently people with gMG in the U.S. are prescribed OCSs and NSISTs alongside these newer drugs. The results revealed that many patients continue using older drugs even when on newer treatments, suggesting that the newer drugs may not be fully replacing the older ones.
The study also found that the use of OCSs and NSISTs varies depending on the newer drug prescribed:
- Patients taking efgartigimod tend to use fewer older drugs compared to those taking ravulizumab or eculizumab.
- This difference may be due to efgartigimod's unique mechanism of action.
Study Limitations
The study has some limitations:
- It is retrospective, relying on previously collected data, which can make conclusions less definitive.
- The data is specific to the United States, so findings may not apply globally.
Conclusion
Despite its limitations, the study provides valuable insights into real-world drug use for gMG. While newer treatments are becoming more common, older drugs still play a critical role in managing the condition.
