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Patient Profiles

Jesse is a patient living with gMG. Jesse has received compensation from Alexion Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

Patient types that may be appropriate for ULTOMIRIS®

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Meet Madison

A 32-year-old recently diagnosed with generalized myasthenia gravis (gMG) and experiencing breakthrough symptomsa

Age: 32 | Profession: Social worker | Length of Disease: 8 months; treatment initiated upon diagnosis | Location: Cleveland, Ohio

Medical history

  • Madison has no significant medical history except for a diagnosis of anti-AChR antibody-positive gMG 8 months ago
  • Madison has a family history of osteoporosis and diabetes mellitus

History of present illness

  • Madison’s disease progressed from oMG to gMG quickly, requiring a steroid and IST for management
  • MGFA class IIIa
  • MG-ADL total score: 7
  • Madison initially experienced an incomplete response on low-dose steroids and azathioprine, requiring an escalation to prednisone 60 mg per day
    • Madison experienced weight gain and acne requiring a steroid reduction to 20 mg per day

Current medications

  • Prednisone 20 mg once daily
  • Azathioprine 150 mg once daily
  • Pyridostigmine 60 mg four times daily

Current chief complaints

  • Madison has an incomplete response to current therapies and is experiencing breakthrough symptoms of intermittent slurring of speech, increased shortness of breath upon exertion, and lower limb paresis
  • Madison is continuing to experience gMG symptoms as well as weight gain and increased acne
  • Madison is concerned about the increased risk of comorbidities and serious adverse reactions associated with long-term steroid use and ISTs

Do you have a patient like Madison? Learn more about treating earlier with ULTOMIRIS (ravulizumab-cwvz).

Download: Patient Example of Early ULTOMIRIS Use Brochure

Meet Jacob

A 55-year-old father with gMG worried about treatment burdena

Age: 55 | Profession: Grocery clerk | Length of Disease: 2 years | Location: Boston, Massachusetts

Medical History

  • Jacob has no significant medical history except for a diagnosis of anti-AChR antibody-positive gMG 2 years ago

History of present illness

  • He has been on an infusion therapy with concomitant steroids for the past 6 months
  • MGFA class IIa
  • His daily medication regimen previously included azathioprine, which was discontinued because he could not tolerate it
  • He was still experiencing gMG symptoms, which prompted more frequent doses of infusion therapy

Current medications

  • Intravenous immunoglobulin
  • Prednisone 20 mg once daily

Current chief complaints

  • Despite more frequent infusions, Jacob is still experiencing fluctuating and unpredictable symptoms between treatment doses, making it difficult to drive to work and keep up with his children’s extracurricular activities
  • Jacob has concerns about his current treatment regimen due to its unpredictable infusion schedules and frequent lengthy infusion center visits
  • Based on conversations with his doctor, Jacob is interested in a treatment option that can help decrease his gMG symptoms, which were evaluated during his MG-ADL assessment

aPatient cases are fictitious and are not intended for diagnosis or treatment purposes.

Images are not of actual patients.

AChR, acetylcholine receptor; gMG, generalized myasthenia gravis; IST, immunosuppressive therapy; MG-ADL, Myasthenia Gravis Activities of Daily Living; MGFA, Myasthenia Gravis Foundation of America; oMG, ocular myasthenia gravis; QMG, Quantitative Myasthenia Gravis.

ULTOMIRIS (ravulizumab‑cwvz) efficacy

Find out the changes in MG-ADL and QMG total scores for patients in CHAMPION-MG.

View Efficacy Data

IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION INCLUDING BOXED WARNING

WARNING: SERIOUS MENINGOCOCCAL INFECTIONS

ULTOMIRIS, a complement inhibitor, increases the risk of serious infections caused by Neisseria meningitidis [see Warnings and Precautions (5.1)] Life-threatening and fatal meningococcal infections have occurred in patients treated with complement inhibitors. These infections may become rapidly life-threatening or fatal if not recognized and treated early.

  • Complete or update vaccination for meningococcal bacteria (for serogroups A, C, W, Y, and B) at least 2 weeks prior to the first dose of ULTOMIRIS, unless the risks of delaying ULTOMIRIS therapy outweigh the risk of developing a serious infection. Comply with the most current Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) recommendations for vaccinations against meningococcal bacteria in patients receiving a complement inhibitor. See Warnings and Precautions (5.1) for additional guidance on the management of the risk of serious infections caused by meningococcal bacteria.
  • Patients receiving ULTOMIRIS are at increased risk for invasive disease caused by Neisseria meningitidis, even if they develop antibodies following vaccination. Monitor patients for early signs and symptoms of serious meningococcal infections and evaluate immediately if infection is suspected.

Because of the risk of serious meningococcal infections, ULTOMIRIS is available only through a restricted program under a Risk Evaluation and Mitigation Strategy (REMS) called ULTOMIRIS and SOLIRIS REMS [see Warnings and Precautions (5.2)].

CONTRAINDICATIONS

  • Initiation in patients with unresolved serious Neisseria meningitidis infection.

WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS

Serious Meningococcal Infections

ULTOMIRIS, a complement inhibitor, increases a patient’s susceptibility to serious, life-threatening, or fatal infections caused by meningococcal bacteria (septicemia and/or meningitis) in any serogroup, including non-groupable strains. Life-threatening and fatal meningococcal infections have occurred in both vaccinated and unvaccinated patients treated with complement inhibitors.

Revaccinate patients in accordance with ACIP recommendations considering the duration of ULTOMIRIS therapy. Note that ACIP recommends an administration schedule in patients receiving complement inhibitors that differs from the administration schedule in the vaccine prescribing information. If urgent ULTOMIRIS therapy is indicated in a patient who is not up to date with meningococcal vaccines according to ACIP recommendations, provide antibacterial drug prophylaxis and administer meningococcal vaccines as soon as possible. Various durations and regimens of antibacterial drug prophylaxis have been considered, but the optimal durations and drug regimens for prophylaxis and their efficacy have not been studied in unvaccinated or vaccinated patients receiving complement inhibitors, including ULTOMIRIS. The benefits and risks of treatment with ULTOMIRIS, as well as those associated with antibacterial drug prophylaxis in unvaccinated or vaccinated patients, must be considered against the known risks for serious infections caused by Neisseria meningitidis.

Vaccination does not eliminate the risk of serious meningococcal infections, despite development of antibodies following vaccination.

Closely monitor patients for early signs and symptoms of meningococcal infection and evaluate patients immediately if infection is suspected. Inform patients of these signs and symptoms and instruct patients to seek immediate medical care if they occur. Promptly treat known infections. Meningococcal infection may become rapidly life-threatening or fatal if not recognized and treated early. Consider interruption of ULTOMIRIS in patients who are undergoing treatment for serious meningococcal infection depending on the risks of interrupting treatment in the disease being treated.

ULTOMIRIS and SOLIRIS REMS
Due to the risk of serious meningococcal infections, ULTOMIRIS is available only through a restricted program called ULTOMIRIS and SOLIRIS REMS.

Prescribers must enroll in the REMS, counsel patients about the risk of serious meningococcal infection, provide patients with the REMS educational materials, assess patient vaccination status for meningococcal vaccines (against serogroups A, C, W, Y, and B) and vaccinate if needed according to current ACIP recommendations two weeks prior to the first dose of ULTOMIRIS. Antibacterial drug prophylaxis must be prescribed if treatment must be started urgently, and the patient is not up to date with both meningococcal vaccines according to current ACIP recommendations at least two weeks prior to the first dose of ULTOMIRIS. Patients must receive counseling about the need to receive meningococcal vaccines and to take antibiotics as directed, signs and symptoms of meningococcal infection, and be instructed to carry the Patient Safety Card at all times during and for 8 months following ULTOMIRIS treatment.

Further information is available at www.UltSolREMS.com or 1-888-765-4747.

Other Infections
Serious infections with Neisseria species (other than Neisseria meningitidis), including disseminated gonococcal infections, have been reported.

ULTOMIRIS blocks terminal complement activation; therefore, patients may have increased susceptibility to infections, especially with encapsulated bacteria, such as infections caused by Neisseria meningitidis but also Streptococcus pneumoniae, Haemophilus influenzae, and to a lesser extent, Neisseria gonorrhoeae. Patients receiving ULTOMIRIS are at increased risk for infections due to these organisms, even if they develop antibodies following vaccination.

Thromboembolic Event Management
The effect of withdrawal of anticoagulant therapy during treatment with ULTOMIRIS has not been established. Treatment should not alter anticoagulant management.

Infusion-Related Reactions
Administration of ULTOMIRIS may result in systemic infusion-related reactions, including anaphylaxis and hypersensitivity reactions. In clinical trials, infusion-related reactions occurred in approximately 1 to 7% of patients, including lower back pain, abdominal pain, muscle spasms, drop or elevation in blood pressure, rigors, limb discomfort, drug hypersensitivity (allergic reaction), and dysgeusia (bad taste). These reactions did not require discontinuation of ULTOMIRIS. If signs of cardiovascular instability or respiratory compromise occur, interrupt ULTOMIRIS and institute appropriate supportive measures.

ADVERSE REACTIONS
Most common adverse reactions in adult patients with gMG (incidence ≥10%) were diarrhea and upper respiratory tract infection. Serious adverse reactions were reported in 20 (23%) of patients treated with ULTOMIRIS and in 14 (16%) patients receiving placebo. The most frequent serious adverse reactions were infections reported in at least 8 (9%) patients treated with ULTOMIRIS and in 4 (4%) patients treated with placebo. Of these infections, one fatal case of COVID-19 pneumonia was identified in a patient treated with ULTOMIRIS and one case of infection led to discontinuation of ULTOMIRIS.

DRUG INTERACTIONS
Plasma Exchange, Plasmapheresis, and Intravenous Immunoglobulins
Concomitant use of ULTOMIRIS with plasma exchange (PE), plasmapheresis (PP), or intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIg) treatment can reduce serum ravulizumab concentrations and requires a supplemental dose of ULTOMIRIS.

Neonatal Fc Receptor Blockers
Concomitant use of ULTOMIRIS with neonatal Fc receptor (FcRn) blockers (e.g., efgartigimod) may lower systemic exposures and reduce effectiveness of ULTOMIRIS. Closely monitor for reduced effectiveness of ULTOMIRIS.

USE IN SPECIFIC POPULATIONS
Pregnancy Exposure Registry
There is a pregnancy exposure registry that monitors pregnancy outcomes in women exposed to ULTOMIRIS during pregnancy. Healthcare providers and patients may call 1-833-793-0563 or go to www.UltomirisPregnancyStudy.com to enroll in or to obtain information about the registry.

To report SUSPECTED ADVERSE REACTIONS, contact Alexion Pharmaceuticals, Inc. at 1-844-259-6783 or FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088 or www.fda.gov/medwatch.

INDICATION
ULTOMIRIS is indicated for the treatment of adult patients with generalized myasthenia gravis (gMG) who are anti-acetylcholine receptor (AChR) antibody-positive.

Please see full Prescribing Information for ULTOMIRIS, including Boxed WARNING regarding serious and life-threatening or fatal meningococcal infections.

References:

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