Ocrevus

Hydroxychloroquine Shows Potential to Treat PPMS in Phase 2 Trial

Treatment with hydroxychloroquine, an anti-malaria medication, appeared to help slow disability progression among people with primary-progressive multiple sclerosis (PPMS) in a small, proof-of-concept clinical trial. Hydroxychloroquine “is a promising treatment candidate for PPMS and should be investigated further in randomized controlled clinical trials,” its researchers wrote. Results ofĀ the study…

1 Year of Ocrevus Not Linked to Higher Risk of Brain Infection PML

One year of Ocrevus (ocrelizumab) treatment does not increase the risk for a rare brain infection ā€” called progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML) ā€” in people with multiple sclerosis (MS), a study suggests. The study, ā€œRisk Assessment of Progressive Multifocal Leukoencephalopathy in Multiple Sclerosis Patients during…

Anti-CD20 Therapies Show Similar Safety, Efficacy in RRMS

Anti-CD20 antibody therapies that target B-cells are highly effective for reducing the risk of relapses in people with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS), a new analysis confirms. The analysis did not find any significant differences in efficacy or safety among the anti-CD20 therapies currently approved to treat RRMS, though…

Ocrevus Reduces MS Relapse Risk, But Linked to More Hospitalizations

Ocrevus (ocrelizumab) reduces relapse risk and slows disability progression inĀ multiple sclerosis (MS) but also is associated with higher hospitalization rates in older people with relapsing forms of the disease, a new observational study reports. Hospitalizations ā€” which occurred mainly due to urinary tract infections ā€” were more frequent…

Trial Will Test Ocrevus on Arm, Hand Function in PPMS

A Phase 3 clinical trial testing the effect of Ocrevus (ocrelizumab) on upper limb disability progression in people with primary progressive multiple sclerosis (PPMS) is recruiting participants. The trial, called O’HAND (NCT04035005), expects to enroll approximately 1,000 adults with PPMS, ages 18 to 65, at more than…

Ocrevus Effective in RRMS Patients With Poor Responses to Prior DMTs

Ocrevus (ocrelizumab) safely and effectively prevents relapses and disease progression in relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS) patients who responded poorly to other disease-modifying therapies (DMTs), final two-year data from the CHORDS Phase 3b clinical trial show. Notably, these benefits also were observed among patients who enrolled in the study…

Early Use of High-efficacy DMTs Favor Lesser Disability Over Time

Long-term disability outcomes tend to be better in people with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS) who are treated early on with highly effective therapies, a study based on patient registry data indicates. The study, “Long-term disability trajectories in relapsing multiple sclerosis patients treated with early intensive or…

Mayzent, Zeposia May Lose Ground in Canada, Report Finds

Mayzent (siponimod) and Zeposia (ozanimod), the two sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P) receptor modulators most recently approved in Canada for treatingĀ multiple sclerosis (MS), showed strong launches in the country, according to the latest Spherix Global Insightsā€™ report. However, due to several internal and external factors, sustained relevance of these…

#AANAM – Early Ocrevus Treatment Helps to Protect Nervous System

Editorā€™s note: TheĀ Multiple Sclerosis News TodayĀ team is providing in-depth coverage of the 2021 Virtual AAN Annual Meeting, April 17ā€“22. GoĀ hereĀ to read the latest stories from the conference. TreatingĀ multiple sclerosis (MS) in its earlier stages with Ocrevus (ocrelizumab) can substantially lower disease activity and lessen damage…

Overall Cost of DMTs Stable 2018ā€“2020, Study Finds

The overall cost of disease-modifying therapies for multiple sclerosis (MS) in the U.S. remained stable from 2018 to 2020, according to pharmacy and medical claims data from Prime Therapeuticsā€™ insured members. This stabilization derived from a balance between a reduction in Copaxone (glatiramer acetate injection) use due…