articleNew England Journal of MedicineDec 21, 2016BRONZE OA

Ocrelizumab versus Interferon Beta-1a in Relapsing Multiple Sclerosis

University of California, San Francisco · Düsseldorf University Hospital · +12 more institutions

PubMed
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Abstract

Background

B cells influence the pathogenesis of multiple sclerosis. Ocrelizumab is a humanized monoclonal antibody that selectively depletes CD20+ B cells.

Methods

In two identical phase 3 trials, we randomly assigned 821 and 835 patients with relapsing multiple sclerosis to receive intravenous ocrelizumab at a dose of 600 mg every 24 weeks or subcutaneous interferon beta-1a at a dose of 44 μg three times weekly for 96 weeks. The primary end point was the annualized relapse rate.

Results

-weighted magnetic resonance scan was 0.02 with ocrelizumab versus 0.29 with interferon beta-1a in trial 1 (94% lower number of lesions with ocrelizumab, P

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