The things we know, the things we’re learning, and the potential we see ahead
Publish Date
25 MAR 2025
Overview
Affecting around 700,000 people worldwide, myasthenia gravis (MG) isn't just rare, its presentation in patients is highly varied.[1] For those with generalized MG (gMG), symptoms vary widely from person to person, so much so that each individual’s experience can look completely different.[2]
This makes MG not only rare, but one-of-a-kind for each person living with it. As a company with a well-established heritage studying neurological and immunological diseases, our team at EMD Serono is eager to understand more about this condition.
Knowing the need.
One of the things we know is how profoundly gMG affects those who live with it. In gMG, the communication between nerves and muscles at the neuromuscular junction (NMJ) is disrupted causing muscle weakness.3 In turn, this chronic autoimmune neuromuscular disorder is characterized by muscle weakness and fatigue, and while the disease can strike anyone at any age, it is more frequently seen in women aged 20 to 30 and men aged 50 and older.4
In gMG, the variation across patient experiences can be so vast that no two presentations are quite alike. People affected can lose control of the eye muscles and a variable combination of the arm, leg, and respiratory muscles.3 The effects, their severity and frequency, can be unpredictable and debilitating, significantly impacting various aspects of day-to-day life.5
Understanding the impact.
In gMG there are still many unknowns that limit adequate care of the disease. Developing a more nuanced understanding of it requires work in communities and with patients and advocates, in addition to work in the lab and the clinic.
That’s why our company finds additional ways to connect with the community beyond our ongoing clinical research. We are proud of our collaborations with patient-focused organizations such as the Myasthenia Gravis Foundation of America (MGFA) and Myasthenis Gravis Association (MGA). We are also excited to be meeting and learning from patients, caregivers, physicians and researchers at the array of MG-strong congresses such as the Annual MGFA Patient Conference and the American Association of Neuromuscular and Electrodiagnostic Medicine (AANEM).
Recognizing the opportunities.
We know the insights we gain will be valuable in our ongoing clinical work – and can be vital even beyond gMG. Studying such a complex condition can shed more light on immune-mediated disorders as a whole. There is still significant work to be done in the field of neuroscience, as patient needs across a variety of conditions remain substantial. Our commitment to addressing neurological and immune-mediated disorders drives us to expand our portfolio in both neurology and immunology, with the goal of delivering more treatments to more patients, more quickly.
For those passionate about using science and medicine to make a difference, the desire to learn and discover never stops. I'm grateful that EMD Serono is home to individuals who share that same curiosity and drive. It’s this commitment that keeps patients at the center of our research and development efforts. As we drive innovations that have the potential to improve lives, we are committed to sparking discovery and elevating humanity, following the path wherever it may lead in our pursuit of a deeper understanding.
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1 Sanders DB, Wolfe GI, et al. International consensus guidance for management of myasthenia gravis: Executive summary. Neurology. 2016 Jul 26;87(4):419-25.
2 UCSF Neuromuscular Disorders Center. Myasthenia Gravis. Accessed January 11, 2025. Available at https://neuromuscular.ucsf.edu/myasthenia-gravis.
3 National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke. Myasthenia Gravis. Accessed January 11, 2025. Available at https://www.ninds.nih.gov/health-information/disorders/myasthenia-gravis.
4 Johns Hopkins Medicine. Myasthenia Gravis. Accessed January 11, 2025. Available at https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/conditions-and-diseases/myasthenia-gravis.
5 Jackson K, Parthan A, et al. Understanding the symptom burden and impact of myasthenia gravis from the patient's perspective: A qualitative study. Neurol Ther. 2023 Feb;12(1):107-128
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