The recent approval by the FDA for the use of efgartigimod alfa and hyaluronidase in the treatment of adults with chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy (CIDP) has been described as a groundbreaking day for CIDP treatment. According to Jeffrey Allen, MD, of the University of Minnesota, who served as a principal investigator for the drug’s pivotal trial, this new treatment option provides doctors and patients with a safe and effective alternative to the existing treatments for CIDP.
Efgartigimod-hyaluronidase combination, which is administered as a weekly subcutaneous injection, is the first neonatal Fc receptor (FcRn) blocker approved for CIDP. It works by reducing the recycling of immunoglobulin G (IgG) and lowering pathogenic IgG autoantibody levels that are believed to contribute to CIDP. This new approach offers a potential breakthrough in the treatment of this rare and debilitating immune-mediated neuromuscular disorder.
The approval of efgartigimod-hyaluronidase offers CIDP patients a promising new treatment option that may alleviate the burden of receiving treatment. Lisa Butler, executive director of the GBS|CIDP Foundation, highlighted the importance of providing patients with more treatment choices beyond just managing symptoms. The availability of this new treatment option brings hope to patients that they can now address their disease more effectively and possibly avoid disease progression.
The FDA based its decision on the results of the ADHERE trial, which involved 322 CIDP patients. The study showed that a significant percentage of patients experienced improvements with efgartigimod-hyaluronidase treatment and had a lower risk of relapse compared to the placebo group. Most treatment-emergent adverse events were reported as mild to moderate, with no deaths considered related to efgartigimod treatment. The safety profile of efgartigimod in previous clinical studies and real-world use was consistent with the results of the trial.
As the open-label ADHERE+ study continues to assess the long-term safety and efficacy of the efgartigimod-hyaluronidase combination, the approval of this new treatment option marks a significant advancement in CIDP management. The availability of efgartigimod-hyaluronidase offers patients and healthcare providers a new tool in the treatment of CIDP, potentially improving outcomes and quality of life for those affected by this challenging condition.