Tennis Star Monica Seles Working with Argenx to Raise Awareness of Myasthenia Gravis

Rare Daily Staff

Drug developer Argenx said it has entered into a partnership with nine-time Grand Slam tennis champion Monica Seles to support its efforts to raise awareness about the rare autoimmune condition myasthenia gravis.

For the first time, Seles is publicly speaking out about her experience with myasthenia gravis to support Argenx’s Go for Greater initiative — an effort to connect people affected by the condition with available tools and support resources.

Generalized myasthenia gravis (gMG) is a rare and chronic autoimmune disease in which IgG autoantibodies disrupt communication between nerves and muscles, causing debilitating and potentially life-threatening muscle weakness. Approximately 85 percent of people with MG progress to gMG within 24 months, when muscles throughout the body may be affected. Patients with confirmed anti-acetylcholine receptor (AChR) antibodies make up approximately 85 percent of the total gMG population.

Argenx markets Vyvgart, a human IgG1 antibody fragment that binds to the neonatal Fc receptor (FcRn), resulting in reduced circulating IgG autoantibodies. It is the first approved FcRn blocker in the United States, European Union, China, and Canada for the treatment of adults with generalized myasthenia gravis (gMG) who are anti-acetylcholine receptor (AChR) antibody positive, and in Japan for the treatment of adults with gMG who have not responded sufficiently to steroids or non-steroidal immunosuppressive therapies (ISTs).

The Go for Greater program supports patients in achieving a better quality of life by fostering connections between people with MG and offering helpful resources. In addition to the new partnership with Seles, Argenx is a premier global sponsor of the upcoming 2025 U.S. Open, helping to amplify awareness of MG on an international stage.

“My MG journey over the past five years has not been an easy one. I felt isolated and defeated, as many of the activities I enjoyed were no longer physically possible for me,” said Seles. “I’ve since realized that by sharing my story, I can raise awareness of this disease, empower patients to advocate for themselves, and help them connect with the MG community for support.”

Photo: Monica Seles