WOW! Ocrelizumab effective in primary progressive MS!

Ocrelizumab becomes the FIRST therapy to show positive results in a Phase III clinical trial in PRIMARY PROGRESSIVE multiple sclerosis after numerous other failed trials with other medications.

In the ORATORIA study,  ocrelizumab infusions in the vein reduced the risk of clinical disability progression compared to placebo in patients with primary progressive multiple sclerosis. The most common side effect was mild-to-moderate infusion-related reaction.  The incidence of serious side effects (adverse events), including serious infections, was similar to placebo.

ORATORIO is a Phase III, randomized, double blind trial comparing ocrelizumab infusions to placebo in 732 primary progressive multiple sclerosis.  The primary endpoint of the study was the time to onset of confirmed disability progression, sustained for at least 12 weeks.  Ocrelizumab was given in the vein every 6 months as two 300 mg infusions two weeks apart.

Ocrelizumab targets specifically B-cells, a type of white blood cell lymphocyte.  Another B-cell therapy, rituximab had failed in a previous primary progressive multiple sclerosis trial. Full abstract results coming next week at ECTRIMS in Barcelona.