Related Experiment Video
Updated: Mar 9, 2026
A Method of Trigonometric Modelling of Seasonal Variation Demonstrated with Multiple Sclerosis Relapse Data
Published on: December 9, 2015
Ocrelizumab versus Placebo in Primary Progressive Multiple Sclerosis
Xavier Montalban1, Stephen L Hauser1, Ludwig Kappos1
1From Hospital Vall d'Hebron University, Barcelona (X.M.); University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco (S.L.H.), and Genentech, South San Francisco (D.M., H.G., P.C.) - both in California; University Hospital Basel, University of Basel (L.K.), and F. Hoffmann-La Roche (A.S., P.F., S.B., N.M.), Basel, Switzerland; McGill University (D.L.A., A.B.-O.) and NeuroRx Research (D.L.A.), Montreal, and University of British Columbia, Vancouver (A.T.) - both in Canada; University Vita-Salute San Raffaele, Milan (G.C.); University Hospital of Strasbourg, Clinical Investigation Center (INSERM Unité 1434), Fédération de Médecine Translationnelle de Strasbourg, Strasbourg, France (J.S.); Barts and the London School of Medicine and Dentistry, London (G.G.); Medical Faculty, Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf (H.-P.H.), and Technical University of Munich and Munich Cluster for Systems Neurology, Munich (B.H.) - both in Germany; Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York (F.L.); University of Miami, Miami (K.W.R.); Medical University of Łódź, Łódź, Poland (K.S.); and McGovern Medical School, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston (J.S.W.).
Ocrelizumab significantly reduced disability progression in primary progressive multiple sclerosis patients. This B-cell depleting therapy demonstrated improved clinical and MRI outcomes compared to placebo, offering a new treatment avenue.
Area of Science:
- Neuroimmunology
- Clinical Neurology
- Pharmacology
Background:
- Multiple sclerosis (MS) pathogenesis involves B cells, suggesting B-cell depletion as a therapeutic strategy.
- Ocrelizumab is a humanized monoclonal antibody targeting CD20-expressing B cells.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the efficacy and safety of ocrelizumab in patients with primary progressive multiple sclerosis (PPMS).
Main Methods:
- A Phase 3, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial (ORATORIO) involving 732 PPMS patients.
- Patients received intravenous ocrelizumab (600 mg) or placebo every 24 weeks for at least 120 weeks.
- Primary endpoint: percentage of patients with 12-week confirmed disability progression.
Main Results:
- Ocrelizumab reduced 12-week confirmed disability progression (32.9% vs 39.3%, P=0.03) and 24-week progression (29.6% vs 35.7%, P=0.04).
- Significant improvements observed in timed 25-foot walk, brain lesion volume (T2-weighted MRI), and brain volume loss.
- Higher incidence of infusion-related reactions, upper respiratory tract infections, and oral herpes with ocrelizumab; no significant difference in serious adverse events or infections.
Conclusions:
- Ocrelizumab demonstrated significant clinical and MRI benefits in PPMS patients compared to placebo.
- Long-term safety and efficacy require further investigation.
- Ocrelizumab represents a promising therapeutic option for primary progressive multiple sclerosis.
More Related Videos
11:17Protocol for Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation with Symptom Provocation to Treat Obsessive-compulsive Disorder
Published on: November 25, 2025
09:38Determining Immune System Suppression versus CNS Protection for Pharmacological Interventions in Autoimmune Demyelination
Published on: September 12, 2016
Related Concept Videos
01:29Drugs for Treatment of Crohn's Disease in IBD Using Immunomodulatory Agents
01:21Drugs for Treatment of Crohn's Disease in IBD Using Glucocorticoids
01:24Drugs for Treatment of Crohn's Disease in IBD Using Biologic Agents: Anti-TNF
01:16Clinical Trials
There are four phases in a clinical trial. A phase one...
01:29Drugs for Treatment of Ulcerative Colitis in IBD
01:11Clinical Trials: Overview