Efgartigimod for Myasthenia Gravis

(ADAPT oculus Trial)

Recruiting at 111 trial locations

Overseen By Sabine Coppieters, MD

Age: 18+

Sex: Any

Trial Phase: Phase 3

Sponsor: argenx

Disqualifiers: Autoimmune diseases, others

No Placebo Group All trial participants will receive the active study treatment (no placebo)

Pivotal Trial (Near Approval) This treatment is in the last trial phase before FDA approval

Prior Safety Data This treatment has passed at least one previous human trial

Approved in 4 Jurisdictions This treatment is already approved in other countries

Compensation: Varies

Number of Visits: Unknown

124 Participants Needed

What You Need to Know Before You Apply

What is the purpose of this trial?

This trial tests a new treatment called efgartigimod PH20 SC for individuals with ocular myasthenia gravis, a condition that weakens muscles around the eyes. The researchers aim to determine if this treatment is safe and effective compared to a placebo over a period of up to two years. Initially, half of the participants will receive the actual treatment, while the others will receive the placebo; later, all participants will receive the treatment. Individuals diagnosed with myasthenia gravis and experiencing muscle weakness around the eyes might be suitable candidates. As a Phase 3 trial, this is the final step before FDA approval, offering participants a chance to contribute to a potentially groundbreaking treatment.

Will I have to stop taking my current medications?

The trial information does not specify whether you need to stop taking your current medications. It's best to discuss this with the trial coordinators or your doctor.

Is there any evidence suggesting that efgartigimod PH20 SC is likely to be safe for humans?

Research has shown that efgartigimod PH20 SC has been tested for safety in people with generalized myasthenia gravis. In these studies, participants generally tolerated the treatment well. More than 10% of participants experienced mild side effects, primarily reactions at the injection site.

Another study found that efgartigimod PH20 SC is as safe as its intravenous version (administered through a vein) and is suitable for long-term use. These findings suggest that efgartigimod PH20 SC is likely safe for people with myasthenia gravis, though, like any treatment, it may have side effects. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

Why do researchers think this study treatment might be promising for myasthenia gravis?

Unlike the standard treatments for myasthenia gravis, which often include medications like pyridostigmine or immunosuppressants, Efgartigimod PH20 SC offers a novel approach by specifically targeting the neonatal Fc receptor (FcRn). This mechanism reduces the levels of harmful antibodies that attack the body's own tissues. Additionally, Efgartigimod is administered subcutaneously, which can be more convenient and comfortable compared to intravenous therapies. Researchers are excited about its potential to provide a more targeted and efficient treatment for patients, potentially leading to quicker and more sustained symptom relief.

What evidence suggests that efgartigimod PH20 SC might be an effective treatment for myasthenia gravis?

Research has shown that efgartigimod PH20 SC, which participants in this trial may receive, can help treat generalized myasthenia gravis, a condition similar to ocular myasthenia gravis. Studies have found that this treatment reduces symptoms by lowering the levels of certain antibodies that mistakenly attack the body's muscles. In one study, efgartigimod PH20 SC matched the effectiveness of an intravenous version of the drug, which is already used for this condition. Patients reported improvements in their ability to perform daily tasks. These findings suggest that efgartigimod PH20 SC could benefit people with myasthenia gravis. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

Are You a Good Fit for This Trial?

This trial is for adults with ocular myasthenia gravis, a condition causing muscle weakness. Participants must have a confirmed diagnosis supported by specific tests or positive response to treatments, be at least 18 years old, and show certain levels of eye muscle weakness.

Inclusion Criteria

On most days, do symptoms interfere with your daily tasks?

Has a neurologist told you that you have generalized myasthenia gravis and that your blood test was positive for MG antibodies?

Exclusion Criteria

Apart from MG, do you have another autoimmune disease that’s not well-controlled?

Do you currently have any serious infection or severe kidney/liver problems?

Have you received plasma exchange, rituximab, Soliris, Ultomiris, Vyvgart, or Rystiggo in the last few months?

Timeline for a Trial Participant

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

2-4 weeks

Treatment Part A

Participants receive either efgartigimod PH20 SC or placebo for approximately 7 weeks

7 weeks

Treatment Part B

All participants receive efgartigimod PH20 SC for up to 2 years

up to 2 years

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for safety and effectiveness after treatment

12 weeks

What Are the Treatments Tested in This Trial?

Interventions

• Efgartigimod PH20 SC

Trial Overview The study is testing Efgartigimod PH20 SC's effectiveness and safety in treating ocular myasthenia gravis. Initially, half the participants will receive the actual drug and half a placebo. Afterward, all participants will receive Efgartigimod for up to two years.

How Is the Trial Designed?

Group I: Placebo PH20 SC in Part A + Efgartigimod PH20 SC in Part B Experimental Treatment 2 Interventions

Participants receiving placebo PH20 SC in Part A and Efgartigimod PH20 SC in Part B

Group II: Efgartigimod PH20 SC in part A+B Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

Participants receiving efgartigimod PH20 SC during part A and part B

Efgartigimod PH20 SC is already approved in European Union, United States, Japan, China for the following indications:

Approved in European Union as VYVGART for:

• Generalized myasthenia gravis in adults who are anti-acetylcholine receptor antibody positive

Approved in United States as VYVGART Hytrulo for:

• Generalized myasthenia gravis in adults who are anti-acetylcholine receptor antibody positive
• Chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy (CIDP)

Approved in Japan as VYVDURA for:

• Generalized myasthenia gravis in adults who are anti-acetylcholine receptor antibody positive

Approved in China as Efgartigimod alfa injection (subcutaneous injection) for:

• Generalized myasthenia gravis in adults who are anti-acetylcholine receptor antibody positive

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

argenx

Lead Sponsor

Trials

76

Recruited

11,500+

Tim Van Hauwermeiren

argenx

Chief Executive Officer since 2008

B.Sc. and M.Sc. in Bioengineering from Ghent University, Executive MBA from The Vlerick School of Management

Dr. Peter Ulrichts

argenx

Chief Medical Officer since 2023

MD from Maastricht University, PhD in Molecular Immunology from Maastricht University

Published Research Related to This Trial

NVA237 (glycopyrronium bromide) demonstrated consistent pharmacokinetics in mild-to-moderate COPD patients, with a steady-state reached within one week of treatment and limited systemic accumulation after repeated once-daily inhalation.

The study showed that plasma exposure to NVA237 was dose-proportional within the 50-200 μg range, indicating its potential for effective dosing without significant safety concerns.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Pharmacokinetics of multiple inhaled NVA237 doses in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Sechaud, R., Renard, D., Zhang-Auberson, L., et al.[2019]

The fixed-dose combination of glycopyrrolate and formoterol (GFF MDI) significantly improved lung function in patients with moderate-to-very severe COPD after 7 days of treatment, outperforming monocomponent inhalers and placebo.

Both doses of GFF MDI (72/9.6 μg and 36/9.6 μg) were well tolerated, indicating a favorable safety profile for this combination therapy in managing COPD.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

A randomized, seven-day study to assess the efficacy and safety of a glycopyrrolate/formoterol fumarate fixed-dose combination metered dose inhaler using novel Co-Suspension™ Delivery Technology in patients with moderate-to-very severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Reisner, C., Fabbri, LM., Kerwin, EM., et al.[2022]

Glycopyrronium, a long-acting muscarinic antagonist (LAMA), delivered a significantly higher fine particle fraction (42.6%) compared to tiotropium (9.8%), indicating better potential for effective lung deposition in COPD patients.

The study found that glycopyrronium also achieved greater intrathoracic drug deposition (39%) than tiotropium (22%), suggesting it may be more effective for a broader range of COPD severities.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Delivery characteristics of a low-resistance dry-powder inhaler used to deliver the long-acting muscarinic antagonist glycopyrronium. Colthorpe, P., Voshaar, T., Kieckbusch, T., et al.[2023]

Efgartigimod, a first-in-class neonatal Fc receptor antagonist, received its first approval in the USA in December 2021 for treating generalized myasthenia gravis in adults who are positive for anti-acetylcholine receptor antibodies.

The drug is also being evaluated for other autoimmune diseases and has been approved in Japan for generalized myasthenia gravis patients regardless of antibody status, indicating its potential broad application in autoimmune conditions.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Efgartigimod: First Approval. Heo, YA.[2022]

In a study of 37 patients with acetylcholine receptor antibody-positive generalized myasthenia gravis, 72% experienced a significant improvement in daily living activities after one cycle of efgartigimod, indicating its efficacy in managing symptoms.

Efgartigimod treatment resulted in a substantial reduction in IgG levels and was generally well-tolerated, with only mild side effects reported, although one patient had to discontinue due to a Clostridium difficile infection.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Safety and outcomes with efgartigimod use for acetylcholine receptor-positive generalized myasthenia gravis in clinical practice. Katyal, N., Halldorsdottir, K., Govindarajan, R., et al.[2023]

Efgartigimod, a human IgG1 antibody, significantly improved symptoms in patients with generalized myasthenia gravis, with 68% of treated patients showing a meaningful response compared to only 30% in the placebo group, indicating strong efficacy.

The treatment was well tolerated, with similar rates of adverse events between efgartigimod and placebo groups, suggesting it is a safe option for patients, with no deaths reported during the trial.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Safety, efficacy, and tolerability of efgartigimod in patients with generalised myasthenia gravis (ADAPT): a multicentre, randomised, placebo-controlled, phase 3 trial. Howard, JF., Bril, V., Vu, T., et al.[2022]

In a 52-week study involving 1,066 patients with moderate-to-severe COPD, NVA237 (glycopyrronium bromide) significantly improved lung function, with a 97 mL increase in trough FEV(1) at 12 weeks compared to placebo.

NVA237 also reduced the risk of moderate-to-severe COPD exacerbations by 34% and improved patients' dyspnoea and health status, showing comparable efficacy to the standard treatment tiotropium, while maintaining a similar safety profile.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Efficacy and safety of NVA237 versus placebo and tiotropium in patients with COPD: the GLOW2 study. Kerwin, E., Hébert, J., Gallagher, N., et al.[2022]

Efgartigimod alfa is the first neonatal Fc receptor antagonist approved for treating generalized myasthenia gravis (gMG), showing significant and rapid improvements in muscle strength and quality of life in a phase 3 trial with a placebo group.

The treatment was generally well tolerated, with most side effects being mild to moderate, indicating a favorable safety profile for patients with gMG.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Efgartigimod Alfa in Generalised Myasthenia Gravis: A Profile of Its Use. Heo, YA.[2023]

Efgartigimod was found to be safe and well-tolerated in a phase 2 study involving 24 patients with generalized myasthenia gravis, with no serious adverse events reported.

The treatment led to a significant reduction in pathogenic IgG autoantibodies and resulted in a rapid and long-lasting improvement in disease symptoms for 75% of patients, suggesting its potential as an effective therapy for myasthenia gravis.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Randomized phase 2 study of FcRn antagonist efgartigimod in generalized myasthenia gravis. Howard, JF., Bril, V., Burns, TM., et al.[2020]

Efgartigimod, an FcRn antagonist, has been shown in clinical trials to effectively improve clinical status and reduce autoantibody levels in patients with myasthenia gravis, with no significant safety concerns reported.

This treatment has received regulatory approvals in the United States, Japan, and Europe, suggesting its potential effectiveness across various subgroups and severities of myasthenia gravis.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Clinical efficacy and safety of efgartigimod for treatment of myasthenia gravis. Sivadasan, A., Bril, V.[2023]

In a thorough QT study involving 70 healthy volunteers, the GFF metered dose inhaler (MDI) demonstrated no potential for QT prolongation, indicating cardiovascular safety at therapeutic doses.

In a separate study with 237 patients suffering from moderate-to-severe COPD, GFF MDI did not cause significant changes in heart rate or other cardiovascular measures, confirming its safety profile compared to standard treatments.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Cardiovascular safety profile of a fixed-dose combination of glycopyrrolate and formoterol fumarate delivered via metered dose inhaler using co-suspension delivery technology. Ferguson, GT., Reisner, C., Pearle, J., et al.[2019]

Citations

1. argenx.com argenx.com/news/2025/press-release-3176635

argenx Presents New Data at AANEM and MGFA ... What is VYVGART® (efgartigimod alfa-fcab)? VYVGART is a prescription medicine used to treat a condition called generalized myasthenia gravis ...

2. clinicaltrials.gov clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT06909214

NCT06909214 | A Study to Evaluate the ... A Study to Evaluate the Clinical Outcomes of Efgartigimod PH20 SC in Adults With New-onset Generalized Myasthenia Gravis (gMG) (ADAPT-EARLY) · Study Overview.

3. pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39227284/

A phase 3 randomized noninferiority study (ADAPT-SC) ... These findings support noninferiority between efgartigimod PH20 SC 1000 mg and efgartigimod IV 10 mg/kg, as well as long-term safety, tolerability, and ...

4. argenxmedical.com argenxmedical.com/content/dam/medical-affairs/congress-posters/nuerology/aan-2025/Long-Term-Safety-and-Efficacy-of-Subcutaneous-Efgartigimod-PH20-in-Adult-Participants-With-Generalized-Myasthenia-Gravis-Interim-Results-of-the-ADAPT-S.pdf

Interim Results of the ADAPT-SC+ Study aData presented represents mean change in MG-ADL score from study baseline maintained as patients move through multiple cycles of efgartigimod ...

5. neurology.org neurology.org/doi/10.1212/WNL.0000000000210678

Interim Results of the ADAPT-SC+ Study (P1-11.005) Objective: To evaluate long-term safety and efficacy of efgartigimod PH20 SC in participants with generalized myasthenia gravis (gMG) enrolled ...