BRIEF—Roche stresses importance of Ocrevus data

Roche has claimed that new data presented at the European Committee for Treatment and Research in Multiple Sclerosis meeting in Paris on Ocrevus (ocrelizumab) advances clinical understanding of underlying progression in multiple sclerosis (MS).

The Swiss pharma giant has presented findings showing superiority of Ocrevus compared to Rebif (interferon beta-1a), a treatment co-marketed by Merck KGaA and Pfizer in significantly reducing disability progression independent of relapse activity in people with relapsing MS.

Ludwig Kappos, chair of the Department of Neurology, University Hospital, Basel, Switzerland, said: “These new analyses of data from the large controlled studies with Ocrevus help advance our understanding of how in relapsing MS the disease may progress independent of relapses.

“These insights have implications for daily decisions made together with patients.”