Real‐world experience of ocrelizumab in multiple sclerosis in a Spanish population

• Main Authors: Eva Fernandez‐Diaz, Jose A. Perez‐Vicente, Ramon Villaverde‐Gonzalez, Leticia Berenguer‐Ruiz, Antonio Candeliere Merlicco, Maria Luisa Martinez‐Navarro, Julia Gracia Gil, Carlos M. Romero‐Sanchez, Arantxa Alfaro‐Saez, Inmaculada Diaz, Juana Gimenez‐Martinez, Maria Angeles Mendez‐Miralles, Jorge Millan‐Pascual, Javier Jimenez‐Pancho, Santiago Mola, Angel P. Sempere
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Wiley 2021-02-01
• Series: Annals of Clinical and Translational Neurology
• Online Access: https://doi.org/10.1002/acn3.51282

Abstract Objective Pivotal trial have shown that patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) receiving ocrelizumab had better outcomes. However, data on ocrelizumab in clinical practice are limited. The aim of this study was to evaluate the preliminary safety profile and effectiveness of ocrelizumab treatment for multiple sclerosis (MS) in a real‐world clinical setting. Methods We conducted a retrospective study including consecutive patients from nine public hospitals in south‐eastern Spain who received ocrelizumab after it was approved. Results A total of 228 MS patients were included (144 with relapsing–remitting MS [RRMS], 25 secondary progressive MS [SPMS], and 59 primary progressive MS [PPMS]). Median follow‐up period was 12 months (range, 1‐32). No evidence of disease activity (NEDA) status at year 1 was achieved in 91.2% of the relapsing MS (RMS) population, while disability progression was detected in 37.5% of the PPMS patients (median follow‐up period, 19 months). The most common adverse events reported were infusion‐related reactions and infections, with the most common infections being urinary tract infections followed by upper respiratory infections and COVID‐19. Interpretation The preliminary results in our real‐world setting show that ocrelizumab presented excellent results in suppressing disease activity with a favorable and consistent safety profile.