July 7, 2017 News by Patricia Silva, PhD New Ocrevus Findings Show Benefits to Range of MS Patients: Interview with Genentech’s Dr. Hideki Garren Genentech shared new insights into the workings of Ocrevus (ocrelizumab) and its effectiveness in reducing disease activity and slowing progression in relapsing and primary progressive multiple sclerosis (MS) at the recent 3rd Congress of the European Academy of Neurology (EAN). The new findings, previously reported here, built on analyses of information gathered during the three Phase 3 clinical trials assessing Ocrevus' safety and efficacy, as well as through monitoring patients in extension studies. The studies showed that nearly 40 percent of Ocrevus-treated relapsing patients and nearly 30 percent of primary progressive patients achieved NEPAD during the Phase 3 trials. In contrast, only 21.5 percent of those treated with Rebif and 9.4 percent receiving placebo achieved NEPAD ā figures that demonstrate Ocrevusā impact on patientsā lives, as well as Ocrevusā ability to slow the decline in walking ability and other types of disabilities are comparable between patients with relapsing and primary progressive disease ā data that demonstrate that the treatment acts on disease mechanisms that drive disability in both disease forms. How these effects play out in the long-term is the subject of ongoing research, as Genentech continues to follow these patients in an extension study. In addition, Ocrevus' prescription label strongly advises against pregnancy while on the treatment. Despite precautions, some women became pregnant during the trials. One of the meeting presentations narrated outcomes of these pregnancies; one healthy baby born at term and two ongoing pregnancies in women exposed to the drug. But while Genentech monitors women who become pregnant while on Ocrevus, the number of reported pregnancies is too small to draw conclusions about the treatmentās safety in pregnancy, and researchers do not know if Ocrevus also depletes B-cells in the fetus or in the baby born to a treated woman.
June 23, 2017 News by Janet Stewart, MSc Genentech to Report on Ocrevus Success in Reducing Disease Progression in Relapsing and Primary Progressive MS at EAN Congress OcrevusĀ (ocrelizumab) significantly reduces disease activity and disability progression in patients with relapsing multiple sclerosis (MS) and primary progressive MS (PPMS), according to results of post-hoc analyses ofĀ Genentechās Phase 3 clinical trial program assessing the drug.
June 22, 2017 News by Alice MelĆ£o, MSc MS Researcher Stephen Hauser, MD, Awarded the 2017 Taubman Prize Stephen L. Hauser, MD, director of theĀ University of California, San Francisco (UCSF)‘s Weill Institute for Neurosciences,Ā has been awarded the 2017 Taubman Prize for Excellence in Translational Medical Research. Recognized for scientific work that challenged the way multiple sclerosis (MS) is regarded, Hauserās discoveries have opened new therapeutic…
June 12, 2017 Columns by Ed Tobias MS News That Caught My Eye: New Ocrevus Study, Minority Patients, Zocor, MS and the ‘Social Brain’ In case you missedĀ them, here are some news stories that appeared in MS News Today that caught my eye over the past week. Ocrevus Phase 3 Trial Will Explore How Treatment Works by Viewing Changes in Spinal Fluid This new clinical study will try to…
June 6, 2017 News by Patricia Silva, PhD Ongoing Ocrevus Trials Seek More Knowledge of Treatment Effects and MS Patients’ Benefits Ocrevus (ocrelizumab), a recently approvedĀ therapy for relapsing and primary progressive multiple sclerosis (MS),Ā is now on the U.S. market, but research intoĀ itsĀ use is far from over. Several clinical trials, sponsored by Ocrevus’ developer Genentech or its parent company Roche, are looking at various aspectsĀ of the treatment. Multiple Sclerosis…
May 30, 2017 Columns by Ed Tobias MS News That Caught My Eye: A New Study about Lemtrada, An Easy Way to Improve Balance, A New PML Case Reported and Kudos to Us Relapse after First Lemtrada Course No Indication of Poor Long-Term Outcome, Study Finds Some MS patients being treated with Lemtrada report new exacerbation after they complete round one of the drug, and they wonder if this means the drug isn’t working.
May 30, 2017 News by Patricia Inacio, PhD #CMSC17 – Ocrevus Lowers MS Relapse Rates Even Further in Extension Study Multiple sclerosis patients who benefited fromĀ Ocrevus (ocrelizumab)Ā in two Phase 3 clinical trials continued to benefit when they extended their treatment, researchers reported. In fact, their annual relapse rates have fallen even further during the extension study than during the trials. The study, āPreliminary Results of the OPERA I and…
May 25, 2017 News by Patricia Silva, PhD PML Found in Ocrevus-Treated Patient Who Had Used Tysabri for 3 Previous Years A multiple sclerosis (MS) patient treated in Germany withĀ Ocrevus (ocrelizumab)Ā has developed the dreaded brain infection progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML).Ā But it is not clear whether the recently approvedĀ Genentech/Roche-developed treatmentĀ is the cause. The patient took the last dose of a three-year course of Tysabri (natalizumab)Ā in February. Tysabri is…
May 22, 2017 Columns by Ed Tobias MS News that Caught My Eye: Risk Factors, Biotin and Symptoms, Pills, Shots or IVs, and More In case you missedĀ them, here are some news stories that appeared in MS News Today that caught my eye over the past week. Ocrevus Market Entry Already Changing Dynamics in MS Treatment Choices, Spherix Analysis Suggests Are pills, shots, or infusions the therapy…
May 18, 2017 News by Patricia Silva, PhD Ocrevus Market Entry Already Changing Dynamics in MS Treatment Choices, Spherix Analysis Suggests Multiple sclerosis (MS) patients are largely moving away from injectable drugs and towards oral treatments when they switch from first to second-line MS therapies. ButĀ that might change with theĀ introduction of Ocrevus (ocrelizumab), whichĀ has becomeĀ the drug of choice for manyĀ neurologists advising patients on drug switches. The real-world analysis by…
May 15, 2017 Columns by Ed Tobias MS News That Caught My Eye: Ocrevus Q&A, Cheap SPMS Therapy in Testing, and New Research In case you missedĀ them, here are some news stories that appeared in MS News Today that caught my eye over the past week. MSAAās Dr. Jack Burks Responds to Readersā Questions About Ocrevus and Its Use All over the internet MS patients are asking questions about…
May 12, 2017 News by Patricia Silva, PhD MSAA’s Dr. Jack Burks Responds to Readers’ Questions About Ocrevus and Its Use Recently approved, Ocrevus (ocrelizumab) should now be available nationwide for patients prescribed the therapy. But as with any new treatment, concerns about safety and practical issues are on many patientsā minds. Multiple Sclerosis News Today asked Dr. Jack Burks ā a neurologist and researcher who servesĀ as chief…
May 8, 2017 Columns by Ed Tobias MS News That Caught My Eye: Cannabis Gum, Ocrevus, Misdiagnosis and Other Stories The MS Wire is adding a third weekly item, beginning today. It’s a list of several news items that appeared in MS News Today over the preceding week and that caught my eye. Axim Signs Deal to Advance Clinical Trials of Cannabis-based MedChew Rx Gum to…
May 5, 2017 News by Patricia Silva, PhD Switching from Rituxan to Ocrevus: An Interview with Dr. Timothy Vollmer on Both MS Treatments A multiple sclerosis (MS) trial now underway in Colorado is assessing the safety and tolerability ofĀ switching fromĀ Rituxan (rituximab)Ā toĀ Ocrevus (ocrelizumab),Ā and its lead investigator, Dr. Timothy L. Vollmer, largely expects no problems. The neurologist believes the two GenentechĀ therapies āĀ both antibody-based drugsĀ that target the CD20 molecule on B-cells ā…
April 28, 2017 News by Larry Luxner Two Women with Different Forms of Multiple Sclerosis Call Ocrevus a Lifesaver Pamela Arterbridge noticed something was wrong back in 2013 when she woke up one morning, and her legs and feet were tingling. Two years later, Lorraine Lee knew she had a problem when her right leg became extremely fatigued after every workout. Neither realized their eventual diagnosis would be multiple…
April 28, 2017 News by Patricia Silva, PhD Lemtrada Might Outperform Ocrevus in Preventing MS Relapses, Italian Researchers Say Lemtrada (alemtuzumab) may be more effective in preventing relapses in multiple sclerosis patients than the newly approved Ocrevus (ocrelizumab), according to a study presented April 28Ā atĀ the American Academy of Neurology (AAN) 2017 Annual MeetingĀ in Boston. TheĀ study, supported by Sanofi Genzyme and Bayer HealthCare Pharmaceuticals, compared…
April 27, 2017 News by Patricia Silva, PhD Genentech Highlights Rapid Actions of MS Therapy Ocrevus at AAN Meeting Within the first two months of treatment, Ocrevus (ocrelizumab) reduced relapses in multiple sclerosis (MS) patients by more than half compared to those on Rebif, and almost completely prevented new brain lesions, according to data underscoring the drug’s rapid effects. Researchers from San Francisco-basedĀ Genentech and its Swiss parent…
April 20, 2017 News by Patricia Silva, PhD AAN Annual Meeting Offers First Ocrevus Data Update Since MS Therapy’s Approval by FDA New data on the recently approved multiple sclerosis (MS) drug Ocrevus (ocrelizumab) will be presented at the upcoming American Academy of Neurology (AAN) Annual Meeting 2017, which will take place April 22-28 in Boston. The meeting is the first scientific conference focusing on neurology since the U.S.
April 19, 2017 News by Patricia Silva, PhD Are Ocrevus and Rituxan Similar? Neurologists Respond to Patients’ Concerns While manyĀ multiple sclerosis patients celebrated the recent approval of Ocrevus (ocrelizumab), others argued that the drug is largelyĀ a rebranded version ofĀ rituximab. Rituximab ā sold as Rituxan for indications like non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma,Ā chronic lymphocytic leukemia, andĀ rheumatoid arthritis ā is used off-label to treat relapsing MS. In online forums and social media,…
April 18, 2017 Social Clips by admin 4 Ways Ocrevus Can Improve Your Life It’s been less than a month since Ocrevus was approved by the FDA, and the buzz hasn’t died down. Though there is some trepidation, the MS community is incredibly excited about what the new “game-changing”Ā medication can do for patients all across the country. Here are just a few…
April 12, 2017 News by Patricia Silva, PhD Firefighter with Relapsing MS on Ocrevus: ‘I Have Really Good Days and I Have Bad Days’ Texas firefighter Wayne Donovan is amongĀ theĀ estimatedĀ 250,000 to 350,000 Americans with multiple sclerosis (MS). He enrolled in a clinical trial testing Ocrevus (ocrelizumab), which theĀ Ā U.S. Food and Drug Administration recentlyĀ approvedĀ as the first therapyĀ for both relapsing and primary progressive forms of MS. Donovan was diagnosed in 2011 at…
April 6, 2017 News by Patricia Silva, PhD ‘Adequate and Rapid Delivery’ of Ocrevus Expected, Says Genentech Director in Interview Ocrevus (ocrelizumab),Ā now approved for both relapsing and primary progressive multiple sclerosis (MS), is expected to become available in the coming week. While patients and neurologists are waiting, Multiple Sclerosis News Today spoke to Genentech about the treatment’s approval, future research plans, and what patients can expect in terms…
April 5, 2017 News by Joana Fernandes, PhD UCSF Neurologist Played Key Role in MS Research Turning to B-Cells, Essential Step to Ocrevus Dr. Stephen Hauser, chair of the neurology department at the University of California San Francisco, was instrumental in the early research and laterĀ clinical trials that ultimately led toĀ Ocrevus (ocrelizumab), the first therapyĀ approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)Ā for bothĀ relapsing MSĀ (RMS) and primary progressive multiple sclerosis…
April 4, 2017 News by Patricia Silva, PhD Transcript of Interview with Dr. Robert Lisak, a Neurologist and MS Expert, About Ocrevus Here is a transcript of the Multiple Sclerosis News Today interview about Ocrevus (ocrelizumab) with Dr. Robert Lisak of the Consortium of Multiple Sclerosis Centers (CMSC). Lisak, a professor of neurology and of immunology and microbiology at Wayne State University School of Medicine, is aĀ former…
April 4, 2017 News by Patricia Silva, PhD Ocrevus Holds Promise, But Needs to Prove Itself in ‘Long Term,’ Says Dr. Robert Lisak with CMSC Interest inĀ Ocrevus (ocrelizumab), the first FDA-approved treatment for bothĀ relapsing and primary progressive multiple sclerosis, isĀ running high among patients and the organization representing them ā as, arguably, are expectations ofĀ its use. But how do physicians involved in MS care view the newcomer? Dr. Robert Lisak (Photo courtesy…
April 3, 2017 Columns by admin MS Patient’s Pick of the Week’s News: Ocrevus and Its Approval, Reactions, Development, Dispensing, Other Countries Today, myĀ Pick of the Week’s News is devoted to various news stories,Ā all published by Multiple Sclerosis News Today,Ā about FDA approval of Genentech’s OcrevusĀ as an MS treatment. FDA Approves Ocrevus as 1st MS Treatment for Both Relapsing and Primary Progressive Forms Last weekās approval of Ocrevus (ocrelizumab) by…
April 3, 2017 News by Patricia Silva, PhD What Every MS Patient Should Know About Ocrevus and Its Use With the recent approval of Ocrevus (ocrelizumab) for both primary progressive and relapsing multiple sclerosis (MS), interest in the medication is peaking.Ā To helpĀ readers of Multiple Sclerosis News TodayĀ better understandĀ this new medication and how it works, as well issues dealingĀ with access, use, and potential side effects, here is aĀ summary…
March 31, 2017 News by Patricia Silva, PhD Diplomat Pharmacy Chosen to Dispense Ocrevus to MS Patients Across US Diplomat Pharmacy, the largest independent specialty pharmacy in the U.S., has been selected to dispenseĀ Ocrevus (ocrelizumab), a limited-distribution drug,Ā to people withĀ relapsingĀ andĀ primary progressive multiple sclerosis. Ocrevus was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration on March 28, becoming the first therapy approved for both RMS and…
March 30, 2017 News by Patricia Silva, PhD Hope, But No Cheers Yet, Voiced by MS Groups in Europe and Canada Waiting on Own Ocrevus Decision American patient groupsĀ and neurologists haveĀ clearly been giving Ocrevus (ocrelizumab) plenty of attention since news of its approval landed, as a sweep of U.S. reaction to the FDA’s decision showed. But what is happening elsewhere in regard to this firstĀ treatment for both primary progressive and relapsing multiple sclerosis (MS)?…
March 29, 2017 News by Patricia Silva, PhD Excitement to Cautious Optimism ā Reactions to Approval of Ocrevus TheĀ historic approval of Ocrevus (ocrelizumab), the first-ever treatment for primary progressive multiple sclerosis (MS), set off ripples in the relatively calm waters of MS news reporting. The drug, which was also approved Tuesday as an unusually effective and safe treatment for relapsing MS, is viewed as a game-changer…