News
Media
Conferences
CME/CE
Partners
Publications
Resources
Subscribe

Opinion|Videos|October 11, 2024

Complement Inhibitors in NMOSD

Author(s)Sean Pittock, MD

Key Takeaways

Ravulizumab, a complement inhibitor, is FDA-approved for NMOSD, offering a longer half-life than eculizumab, allowing for extended dosing intervals.
The standard dosing regimen for ravulizumab includes an initial loading dose followed by maintenance doses every eight weeks.
Recent 138-week extension data show sustained efficacy and safety of ravulizumab, with no new safety signals observed.
Ravulizumab's development highlights its role in the evolving NMOSD treatment landscape, providing a more convenient option for patients.

SHOW MORE

Sean Pittock, MD, discusses how complement inhibitors are positioned in the treatment landscape of neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder, providing an overview of ravulizumab, the most recent FDA-approved treatment, including its development rationale, half-life, dosing regimen, and new signals from the recently presented 138-week long-term extension data at EAN 2024.

Episodes in this series

EP. 1 Relapses and Disability Accumulation in NMOSD

EP. 1 Relapses and Disability Accumulation in NMOSD

EP. 2 Treatments With Higher Efficacy and Relapses in NMOSD

EP. 2 Treatments With Higher Efficacy and Relapses in NMOSD

EP. 3 Ravulizumab Long-Term Data and Management of NMOSD

EP. 3 Ravulizumab Long-Term Data and Management of NMOSD

EP. 4 The Evolving Understanding of NMOSD Pathophysiology and the Role of Complement System

EP. 4 The Evolving Understanding of NMOSD Pathophysiology and the Role of Complement System

EP. 5 Treatment Options to Manage and Prevent Relapses in NMOSD

EP. 5 Treatment Options to Manage and Prevent Relapses in NMOSD

EP. 6 Importance of Diverse Mechanisms of Action to Effectively Treat NMOSD

EP. 6 Importance of Diverse Mechanisms of Action to Effectively Treat NMOSD

EP. 7 Complement Inhibitors in NMOSD

EP. 7 Complement Inhibitors in NMOSD

EP. 8 Meningococcal Infection and NMOSD

EP. 8 Meningococcal Infection and NMOSD

EP. 9 Long-term NMOSD Data

EP. 9 Long-term NMOSD Data

EP. 10 Use of Long-term NMOSD Data in Clinical Practice

EP. 10 Use of Long-term NMOSD Data in Clinical Practice

Video content above is prompted by the following:

Where do complement inhibitors fit in the treatment landscape of neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD)? Which complement inhibitors are approved for NMOSD?
Please provide an overview of ravulizumab, the most recent FDA-approved treatment for NMOSD, the rationale for its development, half-life, and dosing regimen.
Long-term extension (138-week) data with ravulizumab were recently presented at EAN 2024.
Are there any new signals in the long-term extension study?

Newsletter

Keep your finger on the pulse of neurology—subscribe to NeurologyLive for expert interviews, new data, and breakthrough treatment updates.

Latest CME

Unlocking the Future of Glioma Care: Integrating Recent Advances to Personalize Treatment

In-Person + Virtual Event

Unlocking the Future of Glioma Care: Integrating Recent Advances to Personalize Treatment

November 21, 2025

Patient, Provider, and Caregiver Connection™: Pediatric Myasthenia Gravis—Current Treatment and Emerging Concepts

Patient, Provider, and Caregiver Connection™: Pediatric Myasthenia Gravis—Current Treatment and Emerging Concepts

John F. Brandsema, MD; Abigail N. Schwaede, MD; Samuel J. Mackenzie, MD, PhD

Mind Moments™: Optimizing Management for Patients with Generalized Myasthenia Gravis

Mind Moments™: Optimizing Management for Patients with Generalized Myasthenia Gravis

James F. Howard Jr, MD

SimulatED™: Understanding the Role of Genetic Testing in Patient Selection for Anti-Amyloid Therapy

Case-based Simulation

SimulatED™: Understanding the Role of Genetic Testing in Patient Selection for Anti-Amyloid Therapy

Nicholas Doher, DO; Babak Tousi, MD

Cases and Conversations™: Navigating the Complexities of Managing Myasthenia Gravis in Pediatric and Pregnant Patient Populations

Cases and Conversations™: Navigating the Complexities of Managing Myasthenia Gravis in Pediatric and Pregnant Patient Populations

John Brandsema, MD; Neelam Goyal, MD

Identifying and Treating CIDP in the Modern Era

Identifying and Treating CIDP in the Modern Era

Jeffrey A. Allen, MD; Karissa L. Gable, MD

Cases and Conversations™: Little Voices, Big Challenges – Comprehensive Care for Pediatric Spinal Muscular Atrophy

Cases and Conversations™: Little Voices, Big Challenges – Comprehensive Care for Pediatric Spinal Muscular Atrophy

John Brandsema, MD; Carla D. Zingariello, DO

A Breath of Strength: Managing Cancer Associated LEMS and Lung Cancer as One

A Breath of Strength: Managing Cancer Associated LEMS and Lung Cancer as One

Estelamari Rodriguez, MD, MPH; Millie Das, MD; Ruham Nasany, MD

Striking the Right Nerve: Managing Cancer Associated LEMS in Lung Cancer Patients

Striking the Right Nerve: Managing Cancer Associated LEMS in Lung Cancer Patients

Anne Chiang, MD, PhD; J. Douglas Miles, MD, PhD, FAAN; Suma Satti, MD

Patient, Provider, and Caregiver Connection: Improving Diagnosis and Care for Adolescent Myasthenia Gravis Patients – A New Frontier

Patient, Provider, and Caregiver Connection: Improving Diagnosis and Care for Adolescent Myasthenia Gravis Patients – A New Frontier

Abigail N. Schwaede, MD; Emmanuelle (Noelle) Tiongson, MD

A New Era in NMOSD Treatment: Optimizing Therapeutic Transitions and Reducing Patient Burden

A New Era in NMOSD Treatment: Optimizing Therapeutic Transitions and Reducing Patient Burden

Shamik Bhattacharyya, MD, MS, FAAN; Mirla Avila, MD; Dean Wingerchuk, MD

PER Podcast™: Maximizing the Multidisciplinary Care Outcomes of Patients with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS)

PER Podcast™: Maximizing the Multidisciplinary Care Outcomes of Patients with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS)

Richard Bedlack, MD, PhD

PER Podcast™: Best Strategies for Approaching the Diagnosis of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS)

PER Podcast™: Best Strategies for Approaching the Diagnosis of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS)

Terry Heiman-Patterson, MD

PER Postgame™: Updates from ANNA in the Management of IgA Nephropathy

PER Postgame™: Updates from ANNA in the Management of IgA Nephropathy

Gerald Bernard Appel, MD; Ellie Kelepouris, MD, FACP, FAHA

Patient, Provider, and Caregiver Connection: Turning a New Leaf in Acute Pain Management – How Recent Advancements Impact the Treatment Paradigm

Patient, Provider, and Caregiver Connection: Turning a New Leaf in Acute Pain Management – How Recent Advancements Impact the Treatment Paradigm

Jeffrey Gudin, MD; Jeffrey Bettinger, PharmD

Rewiring Recovery: Evidence-Based Approaches to Managing Chronic Inflammatory Demyelinating Polyneuropathy

Rewiring Recovery: Evidence-Based Approaches to Managing Chronic Inflammatory Demyelinating Polyneuropathy

Karissa Gable, MD

Shining a Light on an Ultra-Rare Disease – A Closer Look at Thymidine Kinase 2 Deficiency (TK2d)

Shining a Light on an Ultra-Rare Disease – A Closer Look at Thymidine Kinase 2 Deficiency (TK2d)

Zarazuela Zolkipli-Cunningham, MBChB, MRCP; Mary Kay Koenig, MD; Perry Shieh, MD, PhD, FAAN, FANA

Identifying and Treating Generalized Myasthenia Gravis in the Modern Era

Identifying and Treating Generalized Myasthenia Gravis in the Modern Era

James F. Howard Jr, MD, FAAN

Addressing Unmet Needs for Patients With Spinal Muscular Atrophy—Understanding Patient Challenges and Management Approaches

Addressing Unmet Needs for Patients With Spinal Muscular Atrophy—Understanding Patient Challenges and Management Approaches

Basil T. Darras, MD

Expert Illustrations & Commentaries™: Visualizing the Role of Dystrophin Dysregulation as a Therapeutic Target in Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy and MD STARnet

Expert Illustrations & Commentaries™: Visualizing the Role of Dystrophin Dysregulation as a Therapeutic Target in Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy and MD STARnet

Anne M. Connolly, MD, FAAN; Amy Moore, PhD

Trending on NeurologyLive - Clinical Neurology News and Neurology Expert Insights

APOE ϵ4/ϵ4 Predicts Higher Alzheimer Risk, But Many Without Allele Have True AD Pathology, Study Shows

This Week on NeurologyLive® — November 10, 2025

Simplifying Narcolepsy Treatment: Insights on Once- vs. Twice-Nightly Oxybate

NSGC Poster Highlights Positive Impacts of Genetic Counseling for Individuals At-Risk for Frontotemporal Dementia

Mechanistic Rationale for Factor XIa Inhibition

© 2025 MJH Life Sciences^®

All rights reserved.