Ocrelizumab Demonstrates Superiority to Interferon in Relapsing Multiple Sclerosis

For this multicenter, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, manufacturer-sponsored, phase III study of the investigational drug ocrelizumab (see also NEJM JW Neurol Mar 2017 and N Engl J Med 2017; 376:280), investigators recruited 1656 patients with relapsing multiple sclerosis (MS) and recent disease activity. Two independent but similar trials (OPERA I and OPERA II) were pooled for analysis. Patients received either ocrelizumab (two 300-mg doses separated by 2 weeks, followed by one 600-mg dose every 6 months) or thrice-weekly interferon β-1a (IFN).

During the 96-week trial period, the annualized relapse rate was reduced by 47% with ocrelizumab versus IFN. Confirmed disability worsening was reduced by 40%. No evidence of disease ac…