Comparing Rituximab to Ocrelizumab for Relapsing-Remitting Multiple Sclerosis

Clinical Takeaway

: After 2 years of treatment in a randomized, head-to-head comparison, rituximab and ocrelizumab similarly suppressed imaging evidence of disease activity in newly diagnosed patients.

Context

Anti-CD20 monoclonal antibody therapies are effective in the treatment of relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS). Ocrelizumab is approved by the FDA, and rituximab has been demonstrated as similarly efficacious, but direct comparisons have been limited to observational studies. Now, researchers have directly compared the two drugs in a phase 3 trial across 12 centers in Norway and Sweden, randomizing patients with newly diagnosis RRMS to receive either rituximab (N=132) or ocrelizumab (N=84) for 2 years.

Key Results

Similarly high percentages of each treatment group had no new or enlarging lesions on MRI after 6, 12, and 24 months of treatment, the primary endpoint (rituximab, 89%; ocrelizumab, 93%).
Disability improvement that w…

Reviewing Author

John C. Probasco, M.D.

Disclosures

Editorial BoardsThe Neurohospitalist

Grant Recipient/Research SupportGenentech/Roche

Leadership Positions in Professional SocietiesNeurohospitalist Society (Immediate Past President; Chair, Research Subcommittee)