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FAQs

Frequently Asked Questions

About gMG:

What is gMG?

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.

Learn more about gMG

What are the most common symptoms of gMG?

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.

Learn more about gMG symptoms

How is gMG diagnosed?

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.

Download the gMG Symptom Tracker

About ULTOMIRIS®:

Is ULTOMIRIS right for me?

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.

Download the gMG Symptom Tracker

How does ULTOMIRIS work?

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.

Learn more about how ULTOMIRIS works

How was ULTOMIRIS studied?

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.

Learn more about how ULTOMIRIS was studied

How can ULTOMIRIS help me manage my gMG?

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.

Learn more about how ULTOMIRIS may help

How do I take ULTOMIRIS and what are the dosing requirements?

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.

Learn more about ULTOMIRIS dosing

Why do I need to receive meningococcal vaccines before taking ULTOMIRIS?

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.

Learn more about meningococcal vaccinations with ULTOMIRIS

What are the side effects of ULTOMIRIS?

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.

Learn more about side effects of ULTOMIRIS

Can I receive ULTOMIRIS while pregnant or breastfeeding?

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.

What support is available for people on ULTOMIRIS?

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.

Learn more about OneSource

How can I get started on ULTOMIRIS?

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

Learn how to get started on ULTOMIRIS

How can I afford ULTOMIRIS?

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.

Learn more about OneSource

Is there a way for me to connect with other people on ULTOMIRIS?

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.

Join our events

About transitioning from SOLIRIS® (eculizumab):

How is ULTOMIRIS different from SOLIRIS?

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.

If I’m already taking SOLIRIS and want to transition to ULTOMIRIS, what should I do?

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.

Have any additional questions?
Call us at 1-877-GMG-ULTO (877-464-8586)

Receive information and updates

IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION INCLUDING BOXED WARNING

What is the most important information I should know about ULTOMIRIS?
ULTOMIRIS is a medicine that affects your immune system and may lower the ability of your immune system to fight infections.

  • ULTOMIRIS increases your chance of getting serious meningococcal infections that may quickly become life-threatening or cause death if not recognized and treated early.
  1. You must complete or update meningococcal vaccine(s) at least 2 weeks before your first dose of ULTOMIRIS.
  2. 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.
  3. If you have not been vaccinated and ULTOMIRIS must be started right away, you should also receive antibiotics for as long as your healthcare provider tells you.
  4. 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.
  5. Meningococcal vaccines do not prevent all meningococcal infections. Call your healthcare provider or get emergency medical care right away if you get any of these signs and symptoms of a meningococcal infection: fever, fever with high heart rate, headache and fever, confusion, muscle aches with flu-like symptoms, fever and a rash, headache with nausea or vomiting, headache with a stiff neck or stiff back, or eyes sensitive to light.

Your healthcare provider will give you a Patient Safety Card about the risk of serious meningococcal infection. Carry it with you at all times during treatment and for 8 months after your last ULTOMIRIS dose. Your risk of meningococcal infection may continue for several months after your last dose of ULTOMIRIS. It is important to show this card to any healthcare provider who treats you. This will help them diagnose and treat you quickly.

ULTOMIRIS is only available through a program called the ULTOMIRIS and SOLIRIS Risk Evaluation and Mitigation Strategy (REMS). Before you can receive ULTOMIRIS, your healthcare provider must: enroll in the REMS program; counsel you about the risk of serious meningococcal infections; give you information about the signs and symptoms of serious meningococcal infection; make sure that you are vaccinated against serious infections caused by meningococcal bacteria, and that you receive antibiotics if you need to start ULTOMIRIS right away and are not up to date on your vaccines; give you a Patient Safety Card about your risk of meningococcal infection.

ULTOMIRIS may also increase the risk of other types of serious infections, including Streptococcus pneumoniae, Haemophilus influenzae, and Neisseria gonorrhoeae. Certain people may be at risk of serious infections with gonorrhea.

Who should not receive ULTOMIRIS?
Do not receive ULTOMIRIS if you have a serious meningococcal infection when you are starting ULTOMIRIS.

Before you receive ULTOMIRIS, tell your healthcare provider about all of your medical conditions, including if you: have an infection or fever, are pregnant or plan to become pregnant, and are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed. It is not known if ULTOMIRIS will harm your unborn baby or if it passes into your breast milk. You should not breastfeed during treatment and for 8 months after your final dose of ULTOMIRIS.

Tell your healthcare provider about all the vaccines you receive and medicines you take, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements which could affect your treatment.

What are the possible side effects of ULTOMIRIS?
ULTOMIRIS can cause serious side effects including infusion-related reactions. Symptoms of an infusion-related reaction with ULTOMIRIS may include lower back pain, abdominal pain, muscle spasms, changes in blood pressure, tiredness, feeling faint, shaking chills (rigors), discomfort in your arms or legs, bad taste, or drowsiness. Stop treatment of ULTOMIRIS and tell your healthcare provider right away if you develop these symptoms, or any other symptoms during your ULTOMIRIS infusion that may mean you are having a serious infusion-related reaction, including: chest pain, trouble breathing or shortness of breath, swelling of your face, tongue, or throat, and feel faint or pass out.

The most common side effects of ULTOMIRIS in people with gMG are diarrhea and upper respiratory tract infections.

Tell your healthcare provider about any side effect that bothers you or that does not go away. These are not all the possible side effects of ULTOMIRIS. For more information, ask your healthcare provider or pharmacist. Call your healthcare provider right away if you miss an ULTOMIRIS infusion or for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

INDICATION
What is ULTOMIRIS?

ULTOMIRIS is a prescription medicine used to treat adults with a disease called generalized Myasthenia Gravis (gMG) who are anti-acetylcholine receptor (AChR) antibody positive. It is not known if ULTOMIRIS is safe and effective for the treatment of gMG in children.

Please see the full Prescribing Information and Medication Guide for ULTOMIRIS, including Boxed WARNING regarding serious meningococcal infections.

Questions? Call us at 1-877-GMG-ULTO (877-464-8586)