Will Reduced Treatment Time Keep Ocrevus Competitive?

I have been living with MS since 2003. My first treatment was the initial study for Lemtrada (during the study is was called Campath), this was a yearly infusion that had some side effects that resolved for me after a few weeks, after the study I have tried the injections and pills (tecfidera) both which the side effects for me were not worth the treatment. Now currently on ocrevus and have been for past 3 years, no problems with ocrevus and no relapses for past 2 years. Excited that the infusion time decreased but 2 times a year is manageable. Easier for me as I am not a good pill taker because I forget to take it and forget if I took it or not :)

I was diagnosed with MS in 2003 after over 20 years of misdiagnoses for my many (typical) MS symptoms. I was on Betaseron and Extavia for 14 years, which worked well even with my very busy work travel. But I started to have side effects after 14 years and switched to Ocrevus. I too have done well with the treatment with even a little improvement in my MS. I am now retired so two days a year to schedule around is not too difficult. Injections did not bother me, but it was a lot to carry around all the time. Pills would be okay as I create weekly pill packs and I only forget to take pills maybe once or twice a year at most. But I am happy with Ocrevus and do not see any reason to switch at this time.

I was diagnosed with RRMS about 3.5 years ago and was on Tysabri for the first 7-8 months to try to bring things under control. The 1x a month infusion was effective but hard to deal with psychologically due to JC+ status and the constant fear of PML. Switching over to Ocrevus was a big leap forward. It has been super-effective, with some fatigue around infusions but overall - really quite manageable. Currently playing around with infusion intervals; some studies show (and my personal case attests) that a longer window than 1x every 6 months for the treatment is quite doable provided specific lymphocyte markers show one is still below average ranges. No guarantees of course, but life is a gamble and I am a big believer in exploring what works for one's own body. So far so good; I am grateful to the makers of Ocrevus. But I personally will not take it according to their protocol; I don't think they leave any room at all for the regenerative capabilities of our bodies. It has been over 12 months out since last infusion and I will wait another month or two before sitting for another one. I am lucky my neuro grudgingly allows for this. I have had no episodes/flares since diagnosis and last MRI results show that some lesions have even all but disappeared. Gradually, I will unravel the storm of MS on my own terms and reverse this condition. Til then, ocrevus is a great support.

I've been on Ocrevus around two years now. Funnily, the longer infusion time didn't bother me as much as the shorter time. I think it is the same amount of fluid dripping in at a faster rate, and in my case it seems to go straight to my bladder, so I don't want it all at once.

Last time I had bladder urgency during the infusion. It seemed for one stretch I was continually getting up to go to the bathroom with the infusion stand in tow. Add to this I am a disabled walker - at the least I need a crutch to support me and a helping hand or wall to steady me (or a walking frame). I needed to ask a nurse to help me several times in quick succession.

I have asked my neurologist about switching to siponimod. He wants to stay with Ocrevus, but I think I will keep asking in future.

I have been on Ocrevus for almost 3 years. Doing an infusion twice a year was the main game changer for me. I was doing self injections 3 times a week, for 10 years. During that time, my treatments were always on my mind. Also, it was beginning to affect my injection spots. Now, I go twice a year, and can kind of forget about it for a while. Taking 2 days out of a year for infusion is no problem. I even look forward to it, because I get to rest during the treatment, which is a rare thing otherwise.

Ed, I continue to be amazed by the belief that people think they are majorly inconvenienced by the long Ocrevus infusion times. I am more likely to believe that infusion centers don't like having their chairs tied up for a whole day and are asking for shorter infusion times. Quicker turn-around times for chairs mean more $$ for the provider!

I have been on O for the last 3 years and I don't think the long infusion time is a big deal. It's like 2 guaranteed vacation days for me each year and much less inconvenient than remembering a pill each day.

Hello, I am in the UK, rely on the NHS for treatment and have had MS for 21 years. Initially I was told to 'wait and see what happens'. After 7 years of that (and 3 relapses), I was given my first DMT, which was Avonex. I was sort of okay with the injections, as it is only once a week. However the side-effects were pretty bad. Saying they are 'flu-like' doesn't really cover it. But I persevered, because there didn't appear to be anything else at the time. Gradually my body got used to the side-effects, but I kept looking out for alternatives. As soon as I saw there were oral DMT's available, I began to nag my Neurologist for one of these. At each consultation I was battered away with the line 'but you are doing so well on Avonex'. Eventually after several years of this (and 10 years of weekly injections), I was put on Tysabri. This worked really well for me for 3 years until my lymphocyte count dropped, and I was taken off of it. Two options were offered to me; Brabio (a 3 times a week injection) or a return to Avonex. I refused both and just kept on asking for something more effective. After taking nothing for a year (a bit of a risk I think), I was finally offered Ocrevus. I had my first two half infusions earlier this year, and already feel I can think more clearly and even walk a bit farther and for longer. I wanted Ocrevus because 1. it's not an injection 2. the side-effects are manageable but most important 3. it is one of the more effective DMT's available. I have had to fight all the way for where I am today. Having different Neurologists over the years (I am on my 11th now) hasn't helped, as they can't see how I have declined over the years (how many consultants take the time to go back through a patient's notes and read them properly?). I hope others get the DMT of their choice, and don't have to fight for it like I have. If you do have a fight on your hands, don't give up! Exhausting as it has been, I am so glad I kept on asking (begging sometimes!) and got what I wanted in the end.