ABSTRACTMyasthenia gravis (MG) is an inflammatory disorder of the neuromuscular junction, which is primarily caused by autoantibodies against the nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (AChR). Achieving remission in MG with standard care is difficult and there is a risk of adverse events because long-term immunosuppression is usually required. Thus, the development of more effective and safer treatments is needed. Based on the concept of “selective reductions of pathogenic antibodies and pathogenic immune cells without suppressing normal immunity,” we developed AChR-Fc, a fusion protein of the immunoglobulin G1 Fc region and the AChR alpha 1 subunit extracellular domain. AChR-Fc is believed to exhibit two mechanisms of action: selective neutralizing activity against AChR antibodies and cytotoxic activity against AChR antibody-producing B cells. This AChR-Fc fusion protein represents an innovative treatment that may be effective against MG, although future clinical trials will be required.
Akiyuki UZAWA (Tue,) studied this question.