Vyvgart Hytrulo is a prescription drug used to treat certain conditions that affect your muscles and nerves. Vyvgart Hytrulo is given as an infusion under the skin by a doctor or another healthcare professional.

Vyvgart Hytrulo is used in certain adults to treat:

To learn more about Vyvgart Hytrulo’s uses, see the “What is Vyvgart Hytrulo used for?” section.

Vyvgart Hytrulo basics

Vyvgart Hytrulo contains the active ingredients efgartigimod alfa and hyaluronidase-qvfc.

Vyvgart Hytrulo is a biologic medication, which means it’s made from parts of living organisms. It’s available only as a brand-name drug. It isn’t available in a biosimilar form.

Biosimilars are like generic drugs. But generics are made for nonbiologic drugs, while biosimilars are made for biologic drugs.

Biosimilars will have the same active ingredient core name as the brand-name drug. But they’ll have unique suffixes. This is why “-qvfc” appears at the end of active ingredient names. It shows that the drug is distinct from biosimilars that may be created in the future.

Vyvgart Hytrulo vs. Vyvgart

A similar drug to Vyvgart Hytrulo, called Vyvgart, is also available. Both drugs are used to treat generalized MG in certain adults. But Vyvgart Hytrulo is also used to treat CIDP, while Vyvgart is not.

Both drugs are given by a doctor or other healthcare professional, but in different ways. Vyvgart Hytrulo is given as an infusion under your skin, while Vyvgart is given as an intravenous (IV) infusion. (An infusion is a type of injection that’s given over a period of time.)

This article focuses on Vyvgart Hytrulo. To learn more about Vyvgart and how these drugs compare, talk with your doctor. You can also see this Vyvgart article.

Vyvgart Hytrulo is used to treat certain conditions that affect your muscles and nerves. These include:

Generalized myasthenia gravis (MG): Generalized MG is a neuromuscular disorder. (“Generalized” means the condition affects muscle groups throughout your body.) It may cause symptoms such as:

  • muscle weakness
  • fatigue
  • difficulty walking, speaking, or breathing

Doctors prescribe Vyvgart Hytrulo for adults with specific antibodies (proteins) involved in MG. To learn more about this, talk with your doctor or visit the manufacturer’s website.

Chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy (CIDP): CIDP is an autoimmune disorder. With this condition, your immune system mistakenly attacks the protective covering around your nerves. It may cause symptoms such as:

  • difficulty walking
  • tingling and numbness in your arms or legs
  • double vision

Vyvgart Hytrulo works to treat generalized MG and CIDP by targeting proteins that may cause damage to muscles and nerves. This helps ease the symptoms of conditions the drug is used to treat.

If you have questions about using Vyvgart Hytrulo for your condition, talk with your doctor.

Like most drugs, Vyvgart Hytrulo may cause mild to serious side effects. The following lists contain some of the more common side effects Vyvgart Hytrulo may cause, but they don’t include all possible side effects.

Keep in mind that side effects of a drug can depend on:

  • your age
  • other health conditions you have
  • other medications you take

Your doctor or pharmacist can tell you more about the potential side effects of Vyvgart Hytrulo. They can also suggest ways to help reduce side effects.

Mild side effects

Here’s a list of some of the mild side effects that Vyvgart Hytrulo can cause. To learn about other mild side effects, talk with your doctor or pharmacist, or read Vyvgart Hytrulo’s prescribing information.

Mild side effects of Vyvgart Hytrulo that have been reported include:

Mild side effects of many drugs may go away within a few days to a couple of weeks. But if they become bothersome, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.

Serious side effects

Serious side effects from Vyvgart Hytrulo can occur, but they aren’t common. If you have serious side effects from Vyvgart Hytrulo, call your doctor right away. But if you think you’re having a medical emergency, you should call 911 or your local emergency number.

Serious side effects of Vyvgart Hytrulo that have been reported include infusion reactions. These reactions may cause symptoms such as:

ALLERGIC REACTION

For some people, Vyvgart Hytrulo can cause an allergic reaction. In general, symptoms of allergic reaction can be mild or serious.

What might help

If you have mild symptoms of an allergic reaction, such as a mild rash, call your doctor right away. They may suggest a treatment to manage your symptoms and can determine whether you should keep taking Vyvgart Hytrulo.

If you have symptoms of a severe allergic reaction, such as swelling or trouble breathing, call 911 or your local emergency number right away. These symptoms could be life threatening and require immediate medical care.

If your doctor confirms you’ve had a serious allergic reaction to Vyvgart Hytrulo, they may have you switch to a different treatment.

Your doctor will recommend the dosage of Vyvgart Hytrulo that’s right for you. The following are commonly used dosages, but the dosage you receive will be determined by your doctor.

Form and strength

Vyvgart Hytrulo is given as an infusion under your skin by your doctor or another healthcare professional. (An infusion is a type of injection given over a period of time.)

Vyvgart Hytrulo is a liquid solution that comes in a vial containing 1,008 milligrams (mg) of efgartigimod alfa and 11,200 units of hyaluronidase in 5.6 milliliters (mL) of solution.

Recommended dosage

Vyvgart Hytrulo is used for adults with generalized myasthenia gravis (MG) or chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy (CIDP). The following are commonly used dosages for each condition. However, the dosage you’ll receive will be determined by your doctor.

Dosage for generalized MG

To treat generalized MG, your doctor will likely prescribe one vial per infusion. You’ll receive one infusion of Vyvgart Hytrulo once weekly. Your doctor will likely recommend at least one 4-week treatment cycle of Vyvgart Hytrulo. They’ll determine how many treatment cycles of the drug you may need.

Dosage for CIDP

For the treatment of CIDP, your doctor will likely prescribe one vial per infusion. You’ll receive one infusion of Vyvgart Hytrulo once per week.

Your doctor will determine how long you’ll receive Vyvgart Hytrulo for CIDP.

How Vyvgart Hytrulo is given

Your doctor will explain how Vyvgart Hytrulo will be given to you. They’ll also explain how much you’ll receive and how often.

Vyvgart Hytrulo comes as a liquid solution that’s given as an infusion under your skin.

You’ll receive infusions of Vyvgart Hytrulo at a doctor’s office, clinic, or infusion center. In some cases, a healthcare professional may be able to give you infusions at home.

To learn more about how you’ll receive Vyvgart Hytrulo infusions, talk with your doctor.

Questions about receiving Vyvgart Hytrulo

Here are some common questions about receiving Vyvgart Hytrulo.

  • What if I miss a dose of Vyvgart Hytrulo? If you miss an appointment to receive an infusion of Vyvgart Hytrulo, call your doctor’s office as soon as possible to reschedule. They’ll try to reschedule your infusion within 3 days of the original appointment. If more than 3 days have passed since your original appointment, your doctor can recommend when to restart treatment.
  • Will I need to receive Vyvgart Hytrulo long term? It depends on your condition and how it responds to treatment. Your doctor will monitor the symptoms of your condition and determine how long you’ll use Vyvgart Hytrulo.
  • How long does Vyvgart Hytrulo take to work? Vyvgart Hytrulo begins to work after your first infusion. It may take several weeks for the drug to reduce symptoms of your condition. If you have questions about what to expect from treatment with Vyvgart Hytrulo, talk with your doctor.

You should consider the following important information before receiving Vyvgart Hytrulo.

Interactions

Taking a drug with certain medications, vaccines, foods, and other things can affect how the drug works. These effects are called interactions.

Vyvgart Hytrulo can interact with several other medications. But the drug isn’t known to interact with any supplements or foods.

Before starting Vyvgart Hytrulo treatment, talk with your doctor and pharmacist. Tell them about all prescription, over-the-counter, and other drugs you take. Also, tell them about any vitamins, herbs, and supplements you take. Sharing this information can help you avoid potential interactions.

If you have questions about drug interactions that may affect you, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.

Drug interactions

The following is a list of medications that can interact with Vyvgart Hytrulo. This list does not contain all drugs that may interact with Vyvgart Hytrulo. If you have questions about drug interactions that may affect you, ask your doctor or pharmacist.

Drug group or drug nameDrug examples
monoclonal antibodies• rituximab (Rituxan)
• rozanolixizumab-noli (Rystiggo)
intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG)—

Vyvgart Hytrulo and alcohol

Alcohol is not known to interact with Vyvgart Hytrulo. If you drink alcohol, talk with your doctor to determine whether it’s safe for you to consume it during Vyvgart Hytrulo treatment.

Vyvgart Hytrulo vaccination requirements

You should not receive live vaccines during your Vyvgart Hytrulo treatment. (Live vaccines contain weakened versions of the bacteria or virus that they’re meant to protect against.) This is because getting a live vaccine while you’re receiving Vyvgart Hytrulo may increase your risk of infection.

Examples of live vaccines include chickenpox, measles, mumps, rubella (MMR), and rotavirus.

Before starting treatment with Vyvgart Hytrulo, ask your doctor if you need any vaccines. They may recommend getting the vaccines you need before starting treatment.

If you need to receive a vaccine during your Vyvgart Hytrulo treatment, talk with your doctor first to make sure it’s safe.

Pregnancy and breastfeeding

It’s not known whether it’s safe to receive Vyvgart Hytrulo during pregnancy or while breastfeeding. If you’re pregnant, breastfeeding, or planning for either, talk with your doctor before starting Vyvgart Hytrulo treatment.

If your doctor prescribes Vyvgart Hytrulo during pregnancy, they may advise you to join the drug’s pregnancy registry. This registry collects information on how Vyvgart Hytrulo may affect pregnancy. To learn more, visit the registry website or call 855-272-6524.

Warnings

Vyvgart Hytrulo can sometimes cause harmful effects in people who have certain conditions. This is known as a drug-condition interaction. Other factors may also affect whether Vyvgart Hytrulo is a good treatment option for you.

Talk with your doctor about your health history before you take Vyvgart Hytrulo. Be sure to tell them if any of the following factors apply to you:

Whether you have health insurance or not, cost may be a factor when you’re considering Vyvgart Hytrulo. What you’ll pay for Vyvgart Hytrulo may depend on several factors, including your treatment plan.

If you have questions about how to pay for your prescription, talk with your doctor or pharmacist. A program called My Vyvgart Path may be available.

Learn more about saving on your prescriptions.

Other drugs are available that can treat your condition. If you’d like to explore an alternative to Vyvgart Hytrulo, talk with your doctor. They can tell you about other medications that might work well for you.

The following drugs may be alternative options to Vyvgart Hytrulo:

Disclaimer: Healthline has made every effort to make certain that all information is factually correct, comprehensive, and up to date. However, this article should not be used as a substitute for the knowledge and expertise of a licensed healthcare professional. You should always consult your doctor or another healthcare professional before taking any medication. The drug information contained herein is subject to change and is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. The absence of warnings or other information for a given drug does not indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective, or appropriate for all patients or all specific uses.