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Roche/Chugai’s Enspryng Not Good Enough In Phase III Myasthenia Gravis Study

Three Phase III Trials Ongoing In Three Other Indications

 
• By Mandy Jackson

Many companies have late-stage myasthenia gravis programs in Phase III, but argenx and its Vyvgart competitors won a reprieve with the failure of IL-6 inhibitor Enspryng (satralizumab).

Concept of Myasthenia Gravis written on sticky notes isolated on Wooden Table.
The myasthenia gravis pharma market is growing despite some setbacks • Source: Shutterstock

Roche Holding AG subsidiary Chugai Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd.’s IL-6 receptor inhibitor Enspryng (satralizumab) achieved statistical significance on the primary endpoint in the Phase III LUMINESCE clinical trial in generalized myasthenia gravis (gMG), the firm announced 21 March, but the results did not meet the companies’ expectations on the degree of benefit versus placebo. The failure gives gMG market leader Vyvgart (efgartigimod alfa) from argenx N.V. more breathing room ahead of other competitors’ expected Phase III readouts in the disease.

Key Takeaways

  • Roche subsidiary Chugai said Enspryng did not meet the companies’ expectations for the drug in generalized myasthenia gravis (gMG) despite achieving statistical significance in a Phase III study.

Argenx, whose drug achieved blockbuster status in 2023 with $1.2bn in sales, gained 11.2% on the Enspryng news to close...

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