Ocrevus, or ocrelizumab, is a medication that helps with the treatment of early primary progressive Multiple Sclerosis. It is available as an intravenous injection that is administered by a doctor or a professional healthcare provider.
Primary progressive Multiple Sclerosis affects an estimate of nearly 10 to 15% of all Canadians who have Multiple Sclerosis.
Health Canada recently approved of Ocrevus to Roche Canada, a division of the Swedish-based pharmaceutical company Roche, in February 2018.
According to the Multiple Sclerosis Society of Canada, Ocrevus is the first treatment for primary progressive MS in Canada.
Karen Lee, the Vice President of Research at the Multiple Sclerosis Society of Canada, said that the approval of Ocrevus (ocrelizumab) “is exciting news for the MS community.”
The Ocrevus Ocrelizumab Multiple Sclerosis Treatment
The approval was based on the overall safety results of phase III clinical trials of the medication. The trial, which included 723 patients with primary progressive Multiple Sclerosis who were between the ages of 18 and 55, showed improvement while taking Ocrevus.
Patients were randomly divided into two possible groups. 2:1 ratio of two intravenous infusions of 300mg or a placebo were given two weeks apart.
The majority of patients taking Ocrevus recorded that the time it took them to walk 25 feet reduced.
Lee has also stated that “Ocrevus is a much-needed treatment for the PPMS community because, for some people living with PPMS, Ocrevus may help control, and even slow disease progression.”
Side effects of this medication include reactions related to the injection and infections, such as nasopharyngitis, urinary tract infections, influenza and upper respiratory tract infections.
Be sure to talk with your doctor or healthcare professional before you decide to take Ocrevus. This medication must be prescribed by a doctor who has assessed your condition of Multiple Sclerosis.
He or she will prescribe Ocrevus to you if they decide it will benefit you and help reduce symptoms.
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