Twice-yearly SC Ocrevus not inferior to IV formulation

Roche (SIX: ROG) has announced that the Phase III OCARINA II trial evaluating OCREVUS (ocrelizumab) as a twice-yearly 10-minute subcutaneous (SC) injection met its primary and secondary endpoints in relapsing forms of multiple sclerosis (MS) or primary progressive MS (RMS or PPMS).

The SC injection was shown to be non-inferior to Ocrevus given by intravenous infusion (IV), as measured by pharmacokinetics over 12 weeks. It was also comparable with the IV formulation in controlling magnetic resonance imaging lesion activity in the brain over 12 weeks. The safety profile was consistent with that of the IV version, too.

Combining Ocrevus with Halozyme Therapeutics’ (Nasdaq: HALO) Enhanze drug delivery technology, the 10-minute injection has the potential to expand the usage of Ocrevus in MS centers without IV infrastructure or those with IV capacity limitations.