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NeurologyLive® first published this article. This version has been lightly edited.

Recently reported data from the phase 2 portion of the KYSA-6 trial (NCT06193889) show that treatment with investigational KYV-101 (Kyverna Therapeutics), a CD19 chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapy, led to clinically meaningful responses in efficacy end points for patients with generalized myasthenia gravis (gMG). Overall, the data reinforce the potential of this novel therapeutic, which continues to be studied in the ongoing phase 3 portion of KYSA-6.^1,2

The trial, which was previously a phase 2 study but amended to phase 2/3, included patients aged 18 to 75 years with gMG, a history of acetylcholine receptor or muscle-specific kinase autoantibodies, and a Myasthenia Gravis-Activities of Daily Living (MG-ADL) score of at least 6. Presented at the 2025 American Association of Neuromuscular & Electrodiagnostic Medicine Annual Meeting, held October 29 to November 1, 2025, in San Francisco, California, the presentation featured 6 patients with moderate to severe gMG and an average disease duration of 5.3 years (range, 1.7-13.3) who were treated with a single dose of 1×108 KYV-101 CAR T cells.

At data cutoff, or up to 36 weeks, the 6 patients achieved clinically meaningful, robust, rapid, and sustained reductions in MG-ADL and Quantitative Myasthenia Gravis (QMG) scores, the dual primary outcomes, regardless of prior biologic exposure. Specifically, treated patients demonstrated mean reductions of –8.0 points on MG-ADL and –7.7 points on QMG at 24 weeks, with effects observed as early as 2 weeks post infusion.

“These unprecedented results validate our phase 3 trial design and underscore KYV-101’s potential to deliver durable, drug-free, disease-free remission by targeting the disease at its source through deep B-cell depletion,” Naji Gehchan, MD, MSc, MBA, chief medical and development officer at Kyverna, told NeurologyLive. “We’re eager to continue this progress to help address unmet needs for patients living with generalized myasthenia gravis.”

Efficacy data showed that all patients achieved at least a 3-point reduction in both MG-ADL and QMG, in addition to achieving a clinically meaningful response on Myasthenia Gravis Composite (MGC) scores. At 12 weeks, patients showed a mean reduction of –12 points on their MGC score, all while being free of nonsteroidal immunosuppressants, high-dose steroids, and neonatal Fc receptor and complement inhibitors.

In terms of safety, KYV-101 was shown to be well tolerated, with no new safety signals and 1 case of a serious adverse event (grade 4 neutropenia), which improved with standard supportive care and was downgraded to grade 1 at data cutoff. Notably, patients on the CAR T-cell therapy did not experience any high-grade cytokine release syndrome or immune effector cell–associated neurotoxicity syndrome events throughout the study period.

Gehchan added, “While there are many approved therapies and new therapies under development for gMG, none have been able to address the underlying disease on a mechanistic level. With KYV-101, we are taking a novel, upstream approach to directly target the disease source by tapping into the patient’s own immune cells to fight disease.

“As an investigational CAR T-cell therapy, KYV-101 directly targets the disease source by deeply depleting the autoreactive B cells in tissues. In addition, KYV-101 has been shown to have a positive impact on a broader set of immune cell types and, in particular, regulatory T cells, which are essential for keeping the immune system in check.”

KYV-101, which is also being studied for other diseases, including progressive multiple sclerosis, received a regenerative medicine advanced therapy designation from the FDA in August 2024, further recognizing it as a promising treatment for gMG. The CAR in KYV-101 was designed by the National Institutes of Health to improve tolerability and was tested in a phase 1 trial (NCT02659943) in oncology with results published in Nature in 2020.³

The first-in-human study enrolled 20 patients with B-cell lymphoma and was designed primarily to evaluate safety and feasibility, with secondary assessments focused on blood levels, antilymphoma activity, the potential for second infusions, and immunogenicity. At the time known as Hu19-CD828Z T-cell therapy, KYV-101 met all of its study objectives. Patients treated with the therapy showed lower cytokine levels compared with those who received FMC63-28Z T cells, a finding investigators suggested could account for the reduced neurologic toxicity observed with the agent.

In early 2024, Kyverna reported the first individual treatments with KYV-101 in 2 patients with progressive multiple sclerosis. The therapy was well tolerated in the short term, showing CAR T-cell expansion in the cerebrospinal fluid without neurotoxicity and a reduction in intrathecal antibody production in 1 patient. Although both had previously received ocrelizumab, circulating B cells were detected only in patient 1, whose remaining B-cell population was depleted by day 2 and remained absent through day 100. Patient 1 also experienced a drop in oligoclonal bands (OCBs) from 13 to 6 by day 64, while patient 2 showed no changes in OCBs or intrathecal immunoglobulin levels.⁴

Gehchan concluded, “We believe KYV-101’s clinical profile provides us with an advantage. We anticipate a large effect size based on the first patients in the compassionate use pathway that has now been confirmed in this interim phase 2 readout. This enables us to have a more efficient study design with only about 60 patients to be randomized between standard of care and KYV-101. We are also including important [pharmokinetic] and [pharmacodynamic] end points like B-cell depletion and looking at effects on immune cell populations to help support our mechanistic approach that complements the other outcome assessments.”

References
1. Kyverna Therapeutics announces positive interim phase 2 data from the KYSA-6 study of KYV-101 in generalized myasthenia gravis at AANEM 2025. News release. Kyverna Therapeutics. October 29, 2025. Accessed November 19, 2025. https://ir.kyvernatx.com/news-releases/news-release-details/kyverna-therapeutics-announces-positive-interim-phase-2-data
2. Muppidi S, Hunter MC, Hoffmann S, et al. Update on the phase 2 part of KYSA-6, an open-label, single-arm, multicenter study of KYV-101, a fully human CD19 chimeric antigen receptor T-cell therapy in generalized myasthenia gravis. Presented at: 2025 AANEM Annual Meeting. October 29-November 1, 2025; San Francisco, CA. Abstract 106.
3. Brudno JN, Lam N, Vanasse D, et al. Safety and feasibility of anti-CD19 CAR T cells with fully human binding domains in patients with B-cell lymphoma. Nature Med. 2020;26(2):270-280. doi:10.1038/s41591-019-0737-3
4. Fischbach F, Richter J, Pfeffer LK, et al. CD19-targeted chimeric antigen receptor T cell therapy in two patients with multiple sclerosis. Med. 2024;5(6):550-558.e2. doi:10.1016/j.medj.2024.03.002

Founded in 1869, Goldman Sachs is the world’s second-largest investment bank by revenue and is ranked 55th on the Fortune 500 list of the largest United States corporations by total revenue. The Wall Street white-glove giant offers financing, advisory services, risk distribution, and hedging for the firm’s institutional and corporate clients. We review the firm’s Conviction List of top stock ideas monthly, seeking companies with the highest dividends and the safest profiles. With the year winding down, we decided to review the current list of high-yielding stocks that can provide secure, reliable passive income.

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• Goldman Sachs Conviction List: the highest-yielding stocks have huge total return potential.

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The Goldman Sachs Conviction List is a curated list of stocks that the firm’s research team believes have a high likelihood of outperforming the market. It’s a tool for investors to identify stocks with strong growth potential, frequently updated to reflect changes in market conditions and company performance. The list aims to identify stocks where Goldman Sachs analysts have the “highest level of conviction” in their outperformance. We screened the list for dividend-paying stocks likely to receive a significant tailwind as the Federal Reserve continues on a rate-cutting cycle, and five are outstanding stocks with big, reliable dividends and strong total return potential.

Goldman Sachs is the acknowledged leader in the investment landscape on Wall Street and worldwide. The firm’s top-notch research department continues to provide institutional and high-net-worth clients with the best ideas across the investment spectrum. It is likely to continue doing so for years.

This quality REIT offers steady, reliable income, a portfolio of outstanding properties, and a rich 4.40% dividend. Brixmor Property Group (NYSE: BRX) is an internally managed real estate investment trust (REIT). The Company conducts its operations primarily through Brixmor Operating Partnership LP and subsidiaries (collectively, the Operating Partnership).

The Company owns and operates open-air retail portfolios by gross leasable area (GLA) in the United States, comprised primarily of community and neighborhood shopping centers. The Company’s portfolio consists of approximately 360 retail centers (the Portfolio) totaling over 64 million square feet of GLA.

Brixmor Property Groups’ projects include:

• Dickson City Crossings

• East Port Plaza

• Fox Run

• Gateway Plaza

• Old Bridge Gateway

• Pointe Orlando

• Shops at Palm Lakes

• Stewart Plaza

• Tinley Park Plaza

• Tyrone Gardens

• Vail Ranch Center

• Venice Village

• Village at Mira Mesa

• Westminster City Center

The Company’s national portfolio is primarily located within established trade areas in the top 50 Core-Based Statistical Areas (CBSAs) in the United States.

Goldman Sachs has a $32 target price for the stock, representing 22% upside.

Duke Energy is an American electric power and natural gas holding company headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina. It is located in a growing part of the country and pays a hefty 3.44% dividend. Duke Energy Corporation (NYSE: DUK) and its subsidiaries operate as energy companies in the United States.

It operates through two segments:

The EU&I segment generates, transmits, distributes, and sells electricity in the Carolinas, Florida, and the Midwest.

To develop electricity, Duke Energy uses the following:

• Coal

• Hydroelectric

• Natural gas

• Oil

• Solar and wind sources

• Renewables

• Nuclear fuel

This segment also sells electricity to municipalities, electric cooperative utilities, and load-serving entities.

The GU&I segment distributes natural gas to

The segment also invests in pipeline transmission projects, renewable natural gas projects, and natural gas storage facilities.

Goldman Sachs’ price target for the company is $138, representing an 11% gain from current trading levels.

With Christmas right around the corner, this is an excellent idea for growth and income investors with a solid 2.91% dividend. The Hershey Company (NYSE: HSY) is a snacks company.

The Company’s segments include:

The North America Confectionery segment is responsible for its traditional chocolate and non-chocolate confectionery market position in the United States and Canada.

This includes its business in:

• Chocolate and non-chocolate confectionery

• Gum and refreshment products

• Protein bars

• Spreads

• Snack bites and mixes

• Pantry and food service lines

This segment also includes its retail operations.

The North America Salty Snacks segment is responsible for its salty snacking products in the United States. This includes ready-to-eat popcorn, baked, trans-fat-free snacks, pretzels, and other snacks.

The Company’s portfolio includes chocolate and confectionery brands such as:

The Goldman Sachs target price for the stock is $220, representing a massive 30% gain for investors.

This is a way to play the energy sector on the services side, and the company pays shareholders a massive 5.15% dividend. Kodiak Gas Services, Inc. (NYSE: KGS) is a contract compression service provider in the United States, serving as a vital link in the infrastructure that enables the production, transportation, and distribution of natural gas and oil.

The Company’s segments include Contract Services and Other Services.

The Contract Services segment comprises operating Company-owned and customer-owned compression, gas treating, and cooling infrastructure that enable the production, gathering, processing, and transportation of natural gas and oil.

The Other Services segment consists of a broad range of services to support the needs of its customers, including:

• Station construction

• Customer-owned compression maintenance and overhaul,

• Freight and crane charges

• Parts sales

• Ancillary time and material-based offerings

Kodiak Gas Services offers its services to:

• Oil and gas producers

• Midstream customers in high-volume gas gathering systems

• Processing facilities

• Multi-well gas lift applications

• Natural gas transmission systems

Hitting the Goldman Sachs $42 target would be almost a 14% gain.

This is one of the safest ways for investors to play the energy sector, as refining capacity has shrunk while supply has increased. Valero Energy Corporation (NYSE: VLO), through its subsidiaries, is a multinational manufacturer and marketer of petroleum-based and low-carbon liquid transportation fuels, as well as petrochemical products, and pays a dependable 2.56% dividend.

The Company sells its products primarily in:

• The United States

• Canada

• The United Kingdom

• Ireland

• Latin America

Valero operates through three segments:

• Refining

• Renewable Diesel

• Ethanol

The Refining segment encompasses the operations of its petroleum refineries, the associated marketing activities for its refined petroleum products, and the logistics assets that support these operations.

The Renewable Diesel segment encompasses Diamond Green Diesel (DGD) and its associated activities, including marketing renewable diesel and renewable naphtha.

The Ethanol segment includes the operations of its ethanol plants and the associated activities involved in marketing its ethanol and co-products.

Valero Corporation owns over 15 petroleum refineries located in the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom.

Goldman Sachs has set a target price of $197 for the stock, a gain of 16%

The fact is there are two totally different investment paths you can take right now. And while either can make you some money, choosing the right one at the right time can mean the difference between just getting by and getting truly rich. Most people don’t even realize the difference, and that mistake can be devastating for your portfolio. Whether you’re investing $1,000, or $1,000,000 today, learn the difference and put yourself on the right path. See the report.