AAN 2024: Subcutaneous Ocrelizumab Noninferior to IV for Patients With Multiple Sclerosis
The treatment resulted in near-complete suppression of relapses and MRI lesions
TUESDAY, April 23, 2024 (HealthDay News) -- Subcutaneous ocrelizumab, administered twice yearly, led to near-complete suppression of relapse activity and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) lesions through week 48 among patients with multiple sclerosis (MS), according to study findings presented at the annual meeting of the American Academy of Neurology, held from April 13 to 18 in Denver.
Scott Newsome, D.O., of Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine in Baltimore, and colleagues conducted the phase 3 OCARINA II study of ocrelizumab, given twice yearly in 10-minute subcutaneous injections. Patients with relapsing and primary progressive MS were randomly assigned 1:1 to receive ocrelizumab 600 mg intravenously or ocrelizumab 920 mg subcutaneously. The study included 118 patients who received the intravenous treatment and 118 who received the subcutaneous treatment. Study end points included MRI lesion activity, number of relapses, immunogenicity, B-cell depletion, and safety.
The researchers found that 97.2 percent of patients in the subcutaneous treatment arm experienced no relapse during treatment, and there was also near-complete suppression of MRI lesions. In both arms, the treatment led to rapid and sustained B-cell depletion, and the safety profile of the subcutaneous treatment was similar to that of the intravenous treatment. The most common adverse event in the subcutaneous group was injection reactions.
“Updated results from the OCARINA II further underline the potential benefits of subcutaneous ocrelizumab for patients with both relapsing and progressive forms of MS,” Newsome said in a press release. “Patients treated with subcutaneous ocrelizumab experienced appropriate B-cell suppression and impressive near-complete suppression of new inflammatory disease activity. These results demonstrate the potential of subcutaneous ocrelizumab as a treatment option that can be matched to the individual needs of people with MS and health care professionals.”
Several authors reported financial ties to the pharmaceutical industry.
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