[S-25] New drug development and the change of treatment strategy in MG

[S-25-4] The innovative treatment strategy for patients with myasthenia gravis in Taiwan

Hou-Chang Chiu^1,2,3, Yeh Jiann-horng^2,3, Wang Yuan-ching², Su Ling-chih² (1.Fu-Jen Catholic University Hospital, 2.Shin Kong WHS Memorial Hospital, 3.College of Medicine, Fu-Jen Catholic University)

We are now experiencing the drastic changes in treatment strategy against MG. The Japanese clinical guidelines recommended lower dose of chronic steroids and early fast-acting treatment strategy. Recently, clinical trial of eculizumab was performed and the drug has been approved. Even after the proposal for these new strategies, nearly half of the MG patients do not achieve minimal manifestations status with prednisolone ≤5mg/day (a treatment target in Japan). Substantial number of patients are still administered insufficiently reduced oral steroids which hamper patients’ quality of life. Therefore, treatment status of MG is still far from our satisfaction. Fortunately, several new drugs are under development presently. In this symposium, we will discuss over the new drug development and adaptation status in real world clinical setting in United States, Europe and Asia.

Hou-Chang Chiu is at present the Director of Neuromedical Center of Fu-Jen Catholic University(FJU) Hospital , Chair professor of FJU. He graduated from National Taiwan University(NTU) medical college and became an attending neurologist and associate professor in NTU Hospital. He was a research associate in Royal Free Hospital London UK (1984-85) working with Prof. Newsom-Davis and Prof. Angela Vincent in study of myasthenia gravis (MG). His major research interests are directed at the treatment of MG including classification of clinical state, diagnosis,new drugs and patient support group (PSG) for MG to improve the quality of life in patients with MG. In 1992-2018 He worked in Shin Kong WHS Memorial Hospital as vice superintendent for teaching and research, where he set up the special clinics for MG patient and MG center for PSG and registered more than 3000 MG patients in Taiwan. He was also served as the vice president and professor of FJU medical college from 2008-16 and taught medical ethics in medical college and received a research grand from Department of Science ROC Taiwan for 6 years (2012-18) to set up a new tool for assessment of ethics education in medical school.