OCREVUS

Ocrevus isn’t a type of chemotherapy, but it is an immunosuppressant drug. Chemotherapy works by destroying cells that grow more rapidly than healthy cells, such as cancer cells. Immunosuppressant drugs work by lessening the activity of your immune system.

Is weight gain a side effect of Ocrevus? No, weight gain hasn’t been reported as a side effect in people taking Ocrevus. However, in clinical trials, some people taking Ocrevus for primary progressive multiple sclerosis (PPMS) reported swelling in their arms and legs. Sometimes, this swelling can cause weight gain.

This ability will be further compromised if the person is also taking other drugs that suppress the immune system, such as chemotherapy agents, immune-modulating therapies, or other immunosuppressants. This immune-suppressing effect will persist for a few months after stopping Ocrevus treatment.

Ocrelizumab sticks to one type of these cells called B cells and helps kill them. This stops them getting into your brain and spinal cord where they would attack the myelin covering around your nerves. This stops inflammation and damage to the nerve. You’re given this drug through a drip (an ‘infusion’) in hospital.

All participants will take Ocrevus​ every 24 weeks for four years. Progression of disability will be assessed using a combination of measures.

Malignancies. An increased risk of malignancy with OCREVUS may exist. In controlled trials, malignancies, including breast cancer, occurred more frequently in OCREVUS-treated patients. Breast cancer occurred in 6 of 781 females treated with OCREVUS and none of 668 females treated with REBIF or placebo.

Hair loss is not a side effect of Ocrevus and was not seen during clinical trials. However, some other medications used to treat MS, such as methotrexate (Trexall) or azathioprine (Imuran), may cause hair loss. Stress can also contribute to hair loss.

Ocrelizumab is given in hospital through a drip (an ‘infusion’). Before your infusion you’re given steroids and antihistamine to reduce any reactions the infusion might trigger.

Ocrevus contains the active ingredient ocrelizumab, and it’s available only as a brand-name biologic drug. It doesn’t come in a biosimilar version. A biosimilar medication is a drug that’s similar to a brand-name biologic drug (the parent drug). Also, biosimilars tend to cost less than brand-name medications.

Do not drive, use machinery, or do anything that needs alertness until you can do it safely. Limit alcoholic beverages. Talk to your doctor if you are using marijuana (cannabis). Ocrelizumab can make you more likely to get infections or may make current infections worse.

Research indicates they can have life threatening side effects. In contrast, multiple sclerosis medications with the safest profile are interferon-β preparations, such as Avonex, and glatiramer acetate (Copaxone).

The current list price of OCREVUS is $75,102 annually, but most people will not pay this amount. The amount you pay for OCREVUS depends on a variety of factors, including your insurance coverage. Below, you can learn more about how we may be able to help you pay for OCREVUS. What type of insurance do you have?

It targets a type of immune cell called a CD20-positive B cell that plays a key role in the disease. OCREVUS is approved by the FDA to treat relapsing or primary progressive forms of multiple sclerosis (MS). OCREVUS is given once every six months by an intravenous (IV) infusion.

OCREVUS increases your risk of getting upper respiratory tract infections, lower respiratory tract infections, skin infections, and herpes infections. Infections are a common side effect, which can be serious.

Stay away from anyone who has an infection that may easily spread (such as chickenpox, COVID-19, measles, flu). Talk to your doctor if you have been exposed to an infection or for more details. Tell your health care professional that you are using ocrelizumab before having any immunizations/vaccinations.

After a first Ocrevus infusion in November, she said she started feeling better immediately. She called it the first medication in more than 15 years, other than baclofen, that helped to stop cramps. “I can stay up and do more things, but I just feel better all over.

Research indicates they can have life threatening side effects. In contrast, multiple sclerosis medications with the safest profile are interferon-β preparations, such as Avonex, and glatiramer acetate (Copaxone).

Could I experience weight gain during my Ocrevus treatment? It’s not likely. In studies, weight gain wasn’t reported in people who used Ocrevus for multiple sclerosis (MS). Some people who received Ocrevus for primary progressive MS reported swelling in their arms or legs.

Check with your doctor if you have weakness on one side of the body, clumsiness, blurred vision, changes in thinking, memory problems, confusion, or personality changes. These could be symptoms of a serious and rare brain infection called progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML).

Ocrelizumab has not been associated with serum enzyme elevations during therapy nor with instances of idiosyncratic liver injury, but has been linked to cases of reactivation of hepatitis B in susceptible patients.

In a clinical trial, people who took Ocrevus were less likely to have their MS-related disabilities get worse compared with people who took a placebo.

There’s no standard timeline for how long ocrelizumab takes to work. But the 2016 study comparing ocrelizumab to interferon beta-1a (Rebif) found that: slowed disability progression was seen within 12 weeks of treatment. reduced size of brain lesions was seen within 24 weeks of treatment.

An increased risk of malignancy with OCREVUS may exist. In controlled trials, malignancies, including breast cancer, occurred more frequently in OCREVUS-treated patients. Breast cancer occurred in 6 of 781 females treated with OCREVUS and none of 668 females treated with REBIF or placebo.

Could I experience weight gain during my Ocrevus treatment? It’s not likely. In studies, weight gain wasn’t reported in people who used Ocrevus for multiple sclerosis (MS). Some people who received Ocrevus for primary progressive MS reported swelling in their arms or legs.

Premedicate with 100 mg of methylprednisolone (or an equivalent corticosteroid) administered intravenously approximately 30 minutes prior to each OCREVUS infusion to reduce the frequency and severity of infusion reactions.

Ocrelizumab has not been associated with serum enzyme elevations during therapy nor with instances of idiosyncratic liver injury, but has been linked to cases of reactivation of hepatitis B in susceptible patients.

Analysis of follow-up data from three phase 3 open-label extension trials demonstrated that 77% of patients with RMS had no disability progression, and 92% still walked unassisted after 10 years of continuous Ocrevus treatment.

increased risk for mild herpes infections, such as oral herpes (cold sores) or shingles.upper or lower respiratory infections,* such as the common cold or pneumonia.

Response and effectiveness. Ocrevus has some effect at reducing disability progression within about 12 weeks; however, it may take at least 6 months or possibly longer for the full effects to be seen. 82% to 83% of people taking Ocrevus were relapse-free after 24 weeks compared to 71% to 72% of those taking REBIF.

An IV infusion needle will be placed in your arm and connected to an infusion pump. The infusion will last at least 2.5 hours but may last longer if you develop an infusion reaction and your health care team needs to slow or stop your infusion.

For RMS patients, Kesimpta can be a very effective option with the convenience of self-administered monthly injections. It may be preferred over Ocrevus for those wanting to avoid infusions or with high Ocrevus copays. Frequent monitoring is not required.

I learned that some treatment options are taken daily, while others are monthly or less often, such as infusions which are every 6 months. Side effects vary across the different options, but common ones include flu-like symptoms, fatigue, and allergy-like symptoms.

Ocrelizumab sticks to one type of these cells called B cells and helps kill them. This stops them getting into your brain and spinal cord where they would attack the myelin covering around your nerves. This stops inflammation and damage to the nerve. You’re given this drug through a drip (an ‘infusion’) in hospital.

OCREVUS REDUCED RELAPSES AND SLOWED DISABILITY PROGRESSION IN RELAPSING MS.

CDA, PIRA, and RAW in ocrelizumab-treated patients Three patients had a RAW event (3.1% of the total population of 97 patients, three patients one relapse each), and 20 patients had a PIRA event (20.6% of the analyzed 97 patients).