Myasthenia gravis (MG) is a chronic autoimmune neuromuscular disease that can cause muscle weakness, fatigue, and difficulty swallowing, which can make mealtimes especially difficult for people with MG.
According to the Myasthenia Gravis Foundation of America, households with MG often struggle to prepare regular, healthy meals because the disease can make cooking and eating difficult for family members with MG. These challenges can be exacerbated for families living in areas considered nutritional deserts or facing food insecurity, increasing the risk of poor health outcomes.
To help with this, UCB has partnered with the Myasthenia Gravis Foundation of America and meal prep company Factor Meals to ease the burden of creating nutritious meals.
The partnership, known as the MGFA Food Support Program, delivers prepared and packaged meals directly to the homes of MG patients. The goal is to have MG patients apply within the next month, with births starting in June. The foundation said it plans to support 250 families in 2026 and will close registration once the goal is reached.
“If we want to help improve health outcomes, we must address the barriers that exist outside of the medical setting,” April Lane, UCB’s Rare Disease U.S. Advocacy Leader, said in an April 20 release.
“Working with MGFA is an example of how we can build leadership and partnership differently by co-creating programs that support the whole person, not just the diagnosis.”
UCB sells Rystiggo and Zilbrysq for certain MG patients, with sales of 332 million euros and 217 million euros, respectively, in 2025.
