RESEARCH AREA

Myasthenia Gravis

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Active and Recruiting

CA-NEU-96 Vivgard in IVIG (argenx)

For more information contact Victorine Sikati Foko at victorine.sikatifoko@neuro-outaouais.ca


2025 Efgartigimod in IVIG treated generalized Myasthenia Gravis (VIMM Study)  (Phase III)

Completed Clinical Trials

2023 BIAL (Phase II)
2021: BN42358 study (Phase IIb)
2014: iSTEP study (Phase III)
2011: CONFIDENT-PD study (Phase II)
2010: AFQ056A2217 study (Phase II)
2010: AFQ056A2208 study (Phase II)

Symptoms & Cause

Symptoms generally develop slowly over years. The progression of symptoms is often a bit different from one person to another due to the diversity of the disease. People with PD may experience:

Tremor, mainly at rest and described as pill-rolling tremor in hands. Other forms of tremor are possible

  • Bradykinesia
  • Limb rigidity
  • Gait and balance problems

The cause remains largely unknown. Although there is no cure, treatment options vary and include medications and surgery. While Parkinson’s itself is not fatal, disease complications can be serious.

Diagnose & Treatment

There is no “one way” to diagnose Parkinson’s disease (PD). However, there are various symptoms and diagnostic tests used in combination. Making an accurate diagnosis of Parkinson’s — particularly in its early stages — is difficult.

There is no standard treatment for Parkinson’s disease (PD). Treatment for each person with Parkinson’s is based on his or her symptoms. Treatments can include medications, physical therapy, surgical options, medical marijuana, clinical trials, lifestyle modifications, like getting more rest and exercise.

There are many medications available to treat Parkinson’s symptoms, although none yet that reverse the effects of the disease. It is common for people with PD to take a variety of these medications — all at different doses and at different times of day — to manage symptoms.

Importance of clinical research

Scientists and doctors are working together to find a treatment or prevention technique. The clinical research will help to attract the attention of the federal and state government as well as the pharmaceutical industry to the growing need and urgency in addressing PD. This is an important first step to better understanding who develops PD and why. We participate in a number of clinical trials aiming to create advancements for the treatment of Multiple Sclerosis, Stroke, Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s and Glioblastoma Multiforme (GBM). Our participation allows us to offer many treatments long before they become available to a majority of specialists, giving patients an opportunity to choose from a wide range of care that, while experimental in nature, may possibly be more effective. Cutting edge treatments aren’t the only reason we conduct clinical trials, nor are they the only reason patients decide to participate. Our involvement gives us the opportunity to develop better protocols and, most importantly, to help advance the treatments themselves. When it comes to Neurological diseases, large strides have been made in recent years; results that would have been impossible without the participation of Doctors, Nurses and, most of all, patients.

Myasthenia Gravis

The past decade has seen transformative developments in the treatment landscape of Myasthenia Gravis. New treatments with innovative mechanisms including B cell depletion, complement inhibitions, and neonatal FC receptor blockade are now available and offer the prospect of long-term disease remission.

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Active and Recruiting

CA-NEU-96 Vivgard in IVIG (argenx)

Myasthenia Gravis (MG) is a chronic autoimmune disorder that affects the neuromuscular junction, the connection between nerves and muscles. In MG, the immune system mistakenly produces antibodies that interfere with the communication between nerves and muscles, leading to muscle weakness and fatigue.
 
This condition can be classified based on the type of antibodies present. Some patients test positive for AChR, MuSK, or LRP4 antibodies, while others may be seronegative, meaning no specific antibodies are detected. Clinically, MG is further divided into two main types: ocular, which affects only the eye muscles, and generalized, which involves multiple muscle groups throughout the body.

Myasthenia Gravis

Myasthenia Gravis typically presents with focal muscle weakness that worsens with activity and improves with rest. Common symptoms include drooping eyelids, blurred or double vision, difficulty speaking or swallowing, weakness in the limbs or neck, and in severe cases, respiratory distress. The progression and severity of symptoms can vary significantly from person to person.
 
Although there is no cure for Myasthenia Gravis, effective treatments are available to manage symptoms and improve quality of life. Intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) is commonly used to provide temporary relief by modulating the immune response and reducing the activity of harmful antibodies.
 
A newer treatment option is Efgartigimod (Vivgart), a first-in-class therapy approved for patients with generalized MG who are AChR antibody-positive. Vivgart works by lowering the levels of disease-causing antibodies, offering a targeted approach to managing the condition.
 
Recently, CNO has initiated a clinical trial looking to confirm the therapeutic equivalence or superiority of Efgartigimod, a neonatal FC receptor blocker to IVIG, a standard treatment used in people with generalized seropositive Myasthenia Gravis.

Clinical Trials Presently Recruiting

Vivgard in IVIG (VIIM study)
Target Population: Generalized Myasthenia Gravis (AChR +), ages 18 to 80
For more information contact Victorine Sikati Foko at victorine.sikatifoko@neuro-outaouais.ca
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