Ericka Wong, MD: Ravulizumab is a humanized monoclonal antibody that specifically binds with higher affinity to the human terminal complement protein C5. Like eculizumab, it prevents the MAC [membrane attack complex]-mediated destruction of the neuromuscular junction. It was actually developed with the intention of eliminating the twice-weekly IV [intravenous] dosing schedule of eculizumab. Ravulizumab was engineered to maintain a therapeutic serum concentration over an 8-week dosing interval.

The CHAMPION-MG trial was a global phase III randomized double-blind placebo-controlled 26 weeks trial that evaluated the safety and efficacy of ravulizumab in patients with acetylcholine receptor-positive generalized MG [myasthenia gravis]. Ravulizumab significantly improved the MG-ADL [Myasthenia Gravis activities of daily living scale] and QMG [quantitative myasthenia gravis] scores and improvements actually occurred within 1 week and were sustained throughout the trial. The open-label extension has even shown these benefits have been sustained through 60 weeks. Also really notable is that there were no differences in adverse events between the placebo group and the group that received ravulizumab.

Transcript Edited for Clarity