Frequently Asked Questions

Generalized myasthenia gravis (gMG) is an autoimmune disease that damages the communication between your nerves and muscles. It is estimated that over 71,000 people in the United States are living with anti-acetylcholine receptor (AChR) antibody-positive gMG, which is the specific type of gMG that ULTOMIRIS (ravulizumab-cwvz) is approved to treat.

Common gMG symptoms include muscle weakness that may lead to trouble with arm or leg strength, eyelid drooping or double vision, talking or chewing, and other basic daily functions. Stress, changes in the weather, and using muscles throughout the day may trigger gMG symptoms, which can occur at any time and make daily planning difficult. gMG symptoms can worsen in the first few years, so finding a treatment that works for you is the first step that may help improve them.

Doctors usually diagnose gMG using a combination of antibody tests, magnetic resonance images, and other methods. If you think that you might have gMG, you can use the symptom tracker from the link below to assess your symptoms and start a conversation with your doctor at your next visit.

ULTOMIRIS is FDA approved to treat 4 rare autoimmune diseases, including adults with generalized myasthenia gravis (gMG) who are anti-acetylcholine receptor (AChR) antibody positive. You can use the symptom tracker below to assess your gMG symptoms and start a conversation with your doctor at your next visit to see if ULTOMIRIS may be right for you.

In gMG, muscle function is lost when a faulty immune response mistakenly attacks the muscles, contributing to the gMG symptoms that are commonly experienced. This is activated in part by a key protein called C5. ULTOMIRIS binds to and blocks C5. Although the exact way it works as a treatment for gMG is unknown, ULTOMIRIS blocks C5 immediately and completely.

ULTOMIRIS was studied in a clinical trial (CHAMPION-MG) that included 175 adults with varying degrees of severity of anti-AChR antibody-positive gMG. The trial measured the impact of ULTOMIRIS through improvements in participants’ daily activities and muscle weakness. Over 90% of people in the trial had mild or moderate gMG, and most were taking an immunosuppressive therapy when they first started taking ULTOMIRIS.

ULTOMIRIS was proven to provide continuous control over gMG symptoms, with improvement in activities of daily living. ULTOMIRIS was also proven to reduce muscle weakness, improving physical functions such as seeing, talking, and swallowing.

ULTOMIRIS is given via intravenous infusion by a healthcare professional at an infusion center, doctor's office, or at home. ULTOMIRIS offers predictable maintenance dosing just once every 8 weeks, starting 2 weeks after your initial dose. If you have not completed your meningococcal vaccines and ULTOMIRIS must be started right away, you should receive the required vaccine(s) as soon as possible. If you have not been vaccinated and ULTOMIRIS must be started right away, you should also receive antibiotics to take for as long as your healthcare provider tells you. If you had a meningococcal vaccine in the past, you might need additional vaccines before starting ULTOMIRIS. Your healthcare provider will decide if you need additional meningococcal vaccines. The vaccine does not completely eliminate the risk of meningococcal infection, which may be higher because ULTOMIRIS works directly on the immune system.

The vaccines are part of a required proactive plan to help reduce the risk of serious meningococcal infection, which may be higher because ULTOMIRIS works directly on the immune system. Vaccines do not completely eliminate the risk of infection.

Side effects were studied in the ULTOMIRIS clinical trial (CHAMPION-MG). The most common side effects reported in ≥10% of people receiving ULTOMIRIS were diarrhea and upper respiratory tract infection. In the trial, only 2 people taking ULTOMIRIS stopped treatment due to side effects compared to 3 people taking placebo.

There are currently no available data on the use of ULTOMIRIS in pregnant women or on the presence of ULTOMIRIS in human milk. If you are pregnant, you should consult with your doctor before receiving ULTOMIRIS. Breastfeeding should be discontinued during treatment with ULTOMIRIS and for 8 months after the final dose.

If you are on ULTOMIRIS, you can take advantage of OneSource™, a free, personalized patient support program offered by Alexion. Alexion OneSource Support Specialists partner with you to help you navigate health insurance options, provide support for meningococcal vaccinations before starting treatment, provide complimentary education, and connect you to the gMG community.

Getting started on ULTOMIRIS is simple. Our OneSource team is here to help you navigate the process of getting started on therapy.

If you have commercial insurance, you may pay as little as $0 for ULTOMIRIS through the Alexion OneSource CoPay Program. Terms and Conditions apply. Our OneSource Support Specialists can provide help with navigating insurance matters and eligibility for financial assistance.

Alexion hosts webinars and events for people with gMG so that they have the opportunity to hear from leading doctors and learn from other people receiving ULTOMIRIS. Also, you can explore a helpful peer-to-peer program called Peer Connects that connects people who are receiving ULTOMIRIS.

ULTOMIRIS is built on the foundation of SOLIRIS. Both treatments bind to and block complement protein C5, but ULTOMIRIS is designed to last longer so that you only need a maintenance dose once every 8 weeks, starting 2 weeks after your initial dose.

Talk to your doctor about making the transition to ULTOMIRIS. Transitioning from SOLIRIS to ULTOMIRIS should be done at the discretion of your doctor, who will use their clinical judgment in deciding the appropriate course of action.