Sustained reduction in disability progression with ocrelizumab

Ocrelizumab is a humanised monoclonal antibody (mAb) that targets and selectively depletes CD20-positive B cells. In the phase 3 ORATORIO study, the efficacy and safety of ocrelizumab in primary progressive MS were demonstrated compared with placebo. In the double-blind phase of ORATORIO, ocrelizumab was associated with lower rates of clinical and MRI progression than placebo.

The current analysis, presented by Prof. Jerry Wolinsky (University of Texas, TX, USA), assessed the effect of switching to, or earlier initiation of, ocrelizumab therapy on confirmed disability progression (CDP) for at least 24 weeks, in patients starting or continuing ocrelizumab in the open-label extension of ORATORIO.

After 6.5 study years (312 weeks) of follow-up, CDP outcomes favoured patients receiving earlier and continuous treatment with ocrelizumab in comparison with those with a delayed initiation. Earlier initiation of ocrelizumab therapy significantly reduced the risk of becoming wheelchair-confined by 42% compared with those who switched from placebo. So, the benefit of ocrelizumab in reducing disability progression in patients with primary progressive MS in the ORATORIO study persisted up to 6.5 years of follow-up [1]. “This is the first controlled trial showing positive results in primary progressive MS”, Prof. Wolinsky finished his lecture. “Because the results were durable for up to 6.5 years, it will take some time before these results can be challenged.”

1. Wolinsky JS, et al. ECTRIMS 2019, abstract 159.

Posted on 8 November 201925 March 2024