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Extended interval dosing of ocrelizumab in patients with multiple sclerosis is not associated with meaningful

Nicole Bou Rjeily1, Kathryn C Fitzgerald1, Ellen M Mowry1

  • 1Department of Neurology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA.

Multiple Sclerosis (Houndmills, Basingstoke, England)
|November 9, 2023
PubMed

Insights

Extended interval dosing (EID) of ocrelizumab for multiple sclerosis (MS) appears effective, even with longer infusion intervals up to 12 months. This approach maintained treatment efficacy during pandemic-related delays.

Area of Science:

  • Neurology
  • Immunology
  • Pharmacology

Background:

  • The COVID-19 pandemic prompted delays in ocrelizumab infusions for multiple sclerosis (MS) patients, leading to the adoption of extended interval dosing (EID).
  • Concerns arose regarding the efficacy of EID compared to standard interval dosing (SID) in maintaining disease control.

Approach:

  • A retrospective review of medical records for 361 patients treated with ocrelizumab was conducted.
  • Patients were categorized into SID and EID groups based on infusion intervals (⩾8 months or ⩾12 months for EID).
  • Demographics, clinical profiles, and rates of breakthrough disease activity were compared between groups.

Key Points:

  • 64% of patients received at least one infusion with intervals of ⩾8 months, and 34% had intervals of ⩾12 months.
  • No significant differences in demographics or clinical characteristics were found between SID and EID groups.
  • Breakthrough disease activity rates were similar between patients on SID (3 events) and EID (7 events).

Conclusions:

  • Extended interval dosing (EID) of ocrelizumab is a viable strategy for managing multiple sclerosis, particularly during situations necessitating longer infusion schedules.
  • EID maintains treatment effectiveness and does not appear to increase the risk of disease activity in relapsing-remitting MS patients compared to standard dosing.
Keywords:
Multiple sclerosisextended interval dosingocrelizumabocrevus

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