Key takeaways

  • Vyvgart is used to treat generalized myasthenia gravis (MG) in adults.
  • Vyvgart is given as an intravenous (IV) infusion by a healthcare professional, typically in 4-week treatment cycles with one dose per week.
  • The drug works by removing certain antibodies from your body, which helps protect AChRs and improves communication between nerve cells and skeletal muscle cells.

Here are a few key facts about Vyvgart:

  • active ingredient: efgartigimod alfa-fcab
  • generic or biosimilar available: no
  • drug class: neonatal Fc receptor blocker
  • prescription required: yes

A similar drug called Vyvgart Hytrulo is also available from the manufacturer. It contains the active ingredients efgartigimod alfa and hyaluronidase-qvfc. In addition to treating MG, Vyvgart Hytrulo is used to treat chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy (CIDP). This article focuses on Vyvgart. Talk with your doctor for more information about Vyvgart Hytrulo.

Doctors prescribe Vyvgart for adults with generalized myasthenia gravis (MG). Symptoms of MG can include:

  • weakness in your arms or legs
  • muscle fatigue
  • difficulty breathing, swallowing, or talking
  • drooping eyelids
  • changes in facial expressions
Key term

MG is a kind of autoimmune disease. If you have an autoimmune disease, antibodies in your immune system mistakenly cause damage to your own cells.

Generalized MG causes muscle weakness, which can affect different parts of the body, including the eyes, arms, legs, and chest.

Costs of prescription drugs can vary depending on many factors. These factors include what your insurance plan covers and where you receive your infusions.

If you have questions about how to pay for your prescription, talk with your doctor. You can also look at the drug manufacturer’s website to learn more about a patient support program called My Vyvgart Path. If you have private insurance, you may be eligible for the Vyvgart Co-Pay Program.

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To learn about ways to lower prescription medication costs, you can also check out these tips for saving money on prescriptions.

Here’s a list of some of the key side effects that Vyvgart can cause. To learn about other side effects, talk with your doctor or pharmacist, or read Vyvgart’s prescribing information.

Possible side effects of Vyvgart include:

Mild side effects of many drugs may go away within a few days to a couple of weeks. But if they become bothersome, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.

Serious side effects from Vyvgart can occur, but they aren’t common. If you have serious side effects from Vyvgart, call your doctor right away. But if you think you’re having a medical emergency, you should call 911 or your local emergency number.

Experiencing side effects? After the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approves a drug, it tracks and reviews side effects of the medication. If you develop a side effect while taking this drug and want to tell the FDA about it, visit MedWatch or call 800-FDA-1088.

To treat myasthenia gravis, your doctor will likely recommend at least one 4-week treatment cycle of Vyvgart.

Your dose depends on your body weight. The usual dose of Vyvgart is 10 mg per kilogram (kg) of body weight, up to a maximum dose of 1,200 mg. For reference, 1 kg is approximately 2.2 pounds (lb). As an example, a person weighing 80 kg (about 176 lb) will receive an 800-mg dose of Vyvgart.

Each week, you’ll receive one Vyvgart dose for a total of four doses.

Your doctor will determine whether you’ll need more treatment cycles. Vyvgart does not cure myasthenia gravis, so you may need repeated treatments over time.

How it’s given

Vyvgart comes as a liquid solution in a vial. A healthcare professional will prepare Vyvgart and give you your dose as an intravenous (IV) infusion (an injection into your vein given over time).

The infusion will take about 1 hour, but you’ll stay a little longer to be monitored for any side effects after the infusion. This all takes place at your doctor’s office, hospital, or infusion center.

Find answers to some commonly asked questions about Vyvgart.

Yes, in some ways, Vyvgart is similar to Soliris (eculizumab) and Ultomiris (ravulizumab-cwvz).

Each can be prescribed to adults to treat generalized myasthenia gravis (MG) for adults. Each drug is administered by a healthcare professional. They also share some similar side effects, such as headache and respiratory infection.

Vyvgart, Soliris, and Ultomiris all work to decrease the activity of the immune system, but they do it in different ways. Vyvgart affects antibodies, while Soliris and Ultomiris affect a protein called complement C5.

No, Vyvgart isn’t known to cause weight gain. This side effect wasn’t reported in studies of Vyvgart.

But weight gain can be an issue for some people with MG. This is because weakness caused by the condition can limit physical activity. In addition, some other treatments for MG can cause weight gain, including corticosteroids such as prednisone.

With MG, antibodies in your immune system mistakenly block or damage certain receptors (a kind of protein) on the muscle cell surface. These receptors are important for nerve-muscle communication. When these receptors are blocked or damaged, you experience muscle weakness.

Vyvgart lowers the levels of these antibodies. It does this by blocking a protein that usually protects antibodies. These antibodies are then removed from the body.

With Vyvgart treatment, fewer antibodies are present to block or damage these receptors on the muscle cell surface. This means that nerve-muscle communication improves.

Before beginning treatment with Vyvgart, you’ll want to discuss a few things with your doctor.

Interactions

Taking a medication with certain vaccines, foods, and other things can affect how the medication works. These effects are called interactions. Examples of interactions with Vyvgart include:

Note: This list doesn’t contain all types of drugs, supplements, or vaccines that may interact with Vyvgart.

Quick tip: Before starting Vyvgart, be sure to tell your doctor about all medications you take, including prescription and over-the-counter types. Also, describe any vitamins, herbs, or supplements you use. Your doctor or pharmacist can tell you about any interactions these items may cause with Vyvgart.

Warnings

Talk with your doctor about your health history before you start Vyvgart treatment. Vyvgart can sometimes cause harmful effects in people who have certain conditions. Factors to consider include those described here.

  • Weakened immune system: Treatment with Vyvgart can increase your risk of infection. If you already have a weakened immune system, your risk of infection may be higher.
  • Allergic reaction: If you’ve had an allergic reaction to Vyvgart or any of its ingredients, your doctor will likely not prescribe Vyvgart. Ask them about other medications that might be better options.

Pregnancy and breastfeeding

It’s not known whether it’s safe to receive treatment with Vyvgart if you’re pregnant or breastfeeding.

Talk with your doctor to learn more about the risks and benefits of receiving Vyvgart for myasthenia gravis during pregnancy or while breastfeeding.

Pregnancy registry

If you receive Vyvgart during pregnancy, consider enrolling in the drug’s pregnancy registry. This registry collects information about the safety of Vyvgart when used during pregnancy. For more information, visit the registry’s website or call 855-272-6524.

Vyvgart is an IV infusion given by a healthcare professional that can treat generalized myasthenia gravis in certain adults.

If you have questions about whether Vyvgart is the best choice for you, talk with your doctor.

Disclaimer: While Healthline strives for factual, comprehensive, and current information, this article is not a substitute for a licensed healthcare professional’s expertise. Always consult a doctor before taking or discontinuing any medication. Drug information is subject to change and may not cover all uses, directions, precautions, warnings, interactions, reactions, or adverse effects. The lack of a warning does not guarantee a drug’s safety, effectiveness, or appropriateness for all patients or specific uses. Learn more about our approach to content integrity.