Annexon Announces Educational Campaign for GBS

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Annexon Biosciences launched a new campaign to raise awareness with HCPs about the risk of Guillain-Barre Syndrome (GBS) and new treatment options.¹ The Move GBS Forward campaign is focused on providing details about the condition that can leave its victims completely paralyzed and dependent on mechanical ventilation. While the disease affects 150,000 people-per-year, it’s not uncommon for HCPs to be unprepared for it.

In a press release, GBS/CIDP Foundation International president and CEO Lisa Butler said, “As a rare disease, GBS is often misunderstood and misdiagnosed contributing to the trauma that patients suffer as they experience the severe weakness and acute paralysis caused by nerve damage. This new education campaign reflects the patient experience and feelings of being trapped. It will help get GBS on the map for many more healthcare providers, so that the GBS community can take a step forward towards a future where patients may have a quicker recovery and better outcomes.”

This announcement was made alongside the reveal of positive Phase 3 results for Tanruprubart, a monoclonal antibody that can block C1q and can potentially halt neuroinflammation and nerve damage in early phases of GBS. Currently, there are no FDA approved treatments for GBS, although Annexon hopes to change that.

In the same press release, University of Minnesota professor of neurology Jeff Allen, MD, said, “After decades without any advancement in treatment or care, there is an urgent need for therapies that work quickly and effectively to treat GBS. Tanruprubart is an exciting and novel therapy that has shown a rapid and durable biological effect that shuts down neuroinflammation and nerve damage, potentially stopping the disease in its tracks. The results of this Phase 3 placebo-controlled study, combined with a real-world study of GBS patients treated with standard therapies underscores the benefits of rapidly blocking neuroinflammation. Tanruprubart has the potential to help patients get better faster and ultimately reach a better state of health than with existing therapies or without treatment, while significantly reducing the burden of care."

Earlier this year, Annexon made moves to expand its board’s experience with global commercial and launch strategies. In January, the company announced the appointment of William “BJ” Jones to its board.² Jones has experience with both large and small pharmaceutical and biotech companies.

In a press release issued at the time, Annexon president and chief executive officer Douglas Love said, “We are thrilled to add BJ to our board of directors at this transformative time for Annexon. His deep commercial expertise and proven experience in scaling large organizations and executing commercialization strategies for novel medicines will be invaluable as ANX005 for Guillain-Barré Syndrome and ANX007 for geographic atrophy approach commercialization.”

In the same press release, Jones said, “Annexon is leading the development of first-in-kind upstream complement medicines with significant opportunities across neuroinflammatory diseases that have yet to be unlocked. I look forward to partnering with Annexon and the board to support them in their mission to deliver a new era of complement targeted therapies.”

Sources

1. Annexon Highlights Pivotal Data on First Potential Targeted Therapy for Guillain-Barre Syndrome (GBS) and Showcases New GBS Education Campaign at American Academy of Neurology (AAN) 2025 Annual Meeting. Annexon Biosciences. April 8, 2025. Accessed April 15, 2025. https://ir.annexonbio.com/news-releases/news-release-details/annexon-highlights-pivotal-data-first-potential-targeted-therapy
2. Annexon Expands Board of Directors with Appointment of Commercial Executive William BJ Jones. Annexon Biosciences. January 10, 2025. Accessed April 15, 2025. https://ir.annexonbio.com/news-releases/news-release-details/annexon-expands-board-directors-appointment-commercial-executive