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Earlier Start, Less MS Disability at 10 Years
Developing
In Short: Those who started with ocrelizumab had a 24% lower risk of disability progression confirmed for 48 weeks and a 43% lower risk of needing a walking aid compared to those who initially received interferon beta-1a.
Researchers found that early treatment with ocrelizumab, a drug used to manage multiple sclerosis (MS), significantly reduced the risk of disability progression over a 10-year period.
In the OPERA I and II trials, 1656 adults with relapsing MS were randomly assigned to receive either ocrelizumab or interferon beta-1a for two years.
The study also showed that early continuous ocrelizumab treatment reduced the hazard of reaching key disability milestones, such as an Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) score of 4.0 and 6.0.
Over the 10-year follow-up, 82.2% of patients who were assigned to ocrelizumab from the outset remained free of disability progression confirmed for 48 weeks.
The number of relapses decreased over time, with only about one in 100 patients experiencing a relapse in year 10.
Additionally, 73.0% of patients receiving continuous ocrelizumab remained free from relapse, compared to 63.2% of those who initially received interferon beta-1a, indicating a 38% reduction in relapse risk.
What's still developing
- A total of 1325 patients entered the extension phase, and all received ocrelizumab for up to 8 more years.
Sources
- Medscapelink