Recent reports on the long-term efficacy and safety of ocrelizumab in the relapsing and primary progressive multiple sclerosis Review article

Abstract

Ocrelizumab, a recombinant humanized monoclonal antibody against CD20 antigen on B lymphocytes, is the first therapeutic option for both patients with relapsing and primary progressive forms of multiple sclerosis. The efficacy and safety of the use of ocrelizumab in relapsing multiple sclerosis was determined based on two parallel, multicentre phase III studies with the active comparator interferon β-1a. The efficacy and safety of ocrelizumab in the form of primary progressive multiple sclerosis was determined based on the results of the Phase III placebo-controlled study. Patients were then observed in the extended phase of the open-label OLE study. In the three-year follow-up period, the high efficacy of ocrelizumab therapy has been demonstrated, especially in patients who have been taking ocrelizumab since the beginning of the study. In the group of patients switching from interferon β-1a to ocrelizumab, a significant improvement in the disease activity was observed in the first year of the OLE phase and this effect was sustained until the end of the observation. In primary progressive multiple sclerosis, the suppression of disease progression seen in the phase of the placebo-controlled study persisted until the end of OLE phase. Ocrelizumab also has a favorable safety profile in long-term observation.