Ocrevus (ocrelizumab) is a brand-name intravenous (IV) infusion prescribed for MS. This article covers topics such as dosage, side effects, and how Ocrevus works.

Ocrevus comes as an IV infusion. It also comes as a subcutaneous injection called Ocrevus Zunovo. This article only focuses on Ocrevus. For information about Ocrevus Zunovo, talk with your doctor.

Ocrevus is a biologic and belongs to a drug class called monoclonal antibodies. The medication is not available in a biosimilar version.

Read on for more information about Ocrevus for MS.

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic (long-term) disease of the central nervous system (CNS). (Your CNS consists of your brain and spinal cord.)

MS is believed to be an autoimmune disorder where the immune system mistakenly attacks healthy tissue. With MS, the immune system attacks the myelin sheath (a protective coating around the nerves) in the CNS. This causes inflammation and scarring in your brain and spinal cord.

Symptoms of MS

MS can affect many parts of the body. Common symptoms may include:

These are just some of the symptoms MS can cause. The condition affects everyone differently. Some people have mild symptoms that progress slowly over months or years. Others have symptoms that progress rapidly within weeks or months.

Who Ocrevus is prescribed for

Ocrevus is prescribed to treat the following conditions in adults:

Ocrevus is not approved for use in children.

Ocrevus is used to treat certain types of MS in adults. It belongs to the monoclonal antibody drug class.

The way Ocrevus works

Researchers believe high levels of B cells (a type of immune system cell) cause MS relapses. (An MS relapse is when the disease causes symptoms to flare up).

Ocrevus works by decreasing the levels of B cells in your body. This helps relieve your MS symptoms and lowers the risk of an MS relapse occurring.

In clinical trials, Ocrevus has been shown to be effective when compared to Rebif. (Rebif is another drug approved to treat RRMS and other forms of MS.)

In two clinical trials, Ocrevus reduced relapses and slowed disability progression over 2 years of treatment. (Disability progression is the increase in physical disabilities caused by MS over time.)

Clinical trials have also found Ocrevus to be effective for treating PPMS. People with PPMS who received Ocrevus were less likely to have disability progression than those taking a placebo (a treatment with no active medication).

To find out more about how Ocrevus performed in studies, see the prescribing information or talk with your doctor.

Here is some dosage information to consider if you’re prescribed Ocrevus.

Dosage of Ocrevus

The recommended starting dose of Ocrevus is 300 milligrams (mg). The IV infusion usually takes about 2.5 hours or longer. You will receive the second dose of 300 mg 2 weeks later.

After these initial doses, you’ll likely receive an infusion of 600 mg once every 6 months. These infusions usually take around 3.5 hours or longer.

How to receive Ocrevus

Ocrevus is given as an IV infusion, which means you receive the medication by an injection into your vein over time. A doctor or another healthcare professional will always administer the infusion. You’ll receive infusions at an infusion center, doctor’s office, or at home.

Your doctor will explain the infusion process before your first dose. They may also give you medications before the infusion to help prevent infusion reactions. They’ll also monitor you closely during and after the infusion for at least 1 hour.

How often to receive Ocrevus

You will receive the first two doses of Ocrevus 2 weeks apart. Afterward, you’ll likely receive Ocrevus once every 6 months.

The use of Ocrevus for MS may cause side effects that are mild or serious.

The following lists include some of the main side effects that people using Ocrevus have reported. For information about other potential side effects of the drug, talk with your doctor or pharmacist. You can also refer to Ocrevus’s prescribing information.

Note: After the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approves a drug, it tracks and reviews side effects of the medication. Sharing your experience helps make medications safer for everyone by giving doctors and researchers more information about how the drug works in real life. If you develop a side effect during Ocrevus treatment and want to tell the FDA about it, visit MedWatch or call 800-FDA-1088.

Mild side effects of Ocrevus

Ocrevus may cause mild side effects in some people.

Mild side effects that occurred in people receiving Ocrevus for PPMS include:

Mild side effects that occurred in people receiving Ocrevus for RRMS include:

  • upper or lower respiratory infections, such as the common cold or pneumonia
  • herpes infections, including oral herpes or shingles
  • depression
  • back, arm, or leg pain

These side effects of Ocrevus may be temporary, lasting a few days to weeks. But if they last longer than this, bother you, or become severe, it’s important to talk with your doctor or pharmacist.

Serious side effects of Ocrevus

Ocrevus may also cause serious side effects.These may include:

Call your doctor right away if you develop serious side effects during Ocrevus treatment. If the side effects seem life threatening or you think you’re having a medical emergency, call 911 or your local emergency number immediately.

ALLERGIC REACTION

For some people, Ocrevus can cause an allergic reaction. But it’s unclear whether this side effect occurred in the drug’s studies.

In general, symptoms of allergic reaction can be mild or serious.

Ways to manage

For mild allergic reaction symptoms, such as a mild rash, call your doctor right away. They may recommend treatments to help manage your symptoms. They’ll also let you know whether you should continue treatment.

For severe allergic reaction symptoms, such as swelling or trouble breathing, call 911 or your local emergency number right away. These symptoms require immediate medical care as they can become life threatening. If you’ve had a serious allergic reaction to Ocrevus, your doctor may recommend a different medication instead.

Before you receive Ocrevus, there’s some important information to keep in mind. The drug may not be a safe option if you have certain medical conditions or other factors that affect your health. The following list highlights some of these.

Warnings

Ocrevus has the following warnings.

If any of the following medical conditions or other health factors apply to you, talk with your doctor before receiving Ocrevus:

  • if you have a current infection
  • if you have a history of hepatitis B
  • if you have recently received live vaccines
  • if you’re pregnant or planning a pregnancy
  • if you’re breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed
  • alcohol consumption
  • if you’ve had an allergic reaction to Ocrevus or any of its ingredients

Here are answers to some frequently asked questions about Ocrevus.

How long can you stay on Ocrevus for MS?

It depends. Ocrevus is typically used long term to treat MS (a chronic [long-term] disease). If you and your doctor decide it’s safe and effective for you, you’ll likely receive Ocrevus long term.

To learn more about how long you’ll stay on Ocrevus, talk with your doctor.

What is the success rate of Ocrevus for MS?

In clinical trials, Ocrevus has been shown to be effective for certain types of relapsing-remitting MS (RRMS) and primary progressive MS (PPMS). Specifically:

  • For RRMS, Ocrevus reduced relapses by 46% compared with Rebif, another MS drug.
  • For PPMS, people taking Ocrevus were 24% less likely to have disability progression than those taking a placebo.

For more information about the effectiveness of Ocrevus, see the “How well Ocrevus works for MS” section or talk with your doctor.

The cost of Ocrevus depends on several factors, including your prescribed treatment regimen, your insurance plan, and your location. The price also depends on the cost of the appointment to receive doses of Ocrevus from a healthcare professional.

Ocrevus is a brand-name drug. It doesn’t come in a generic version. Brand-name drugs usually cost more than generics.

Disclaimer: Medical News Today has made every effort to make certain that all information is factually correct, comprehensive, and up to date. However, this article should not be used as a substitute for the knowledge and expertise of a licensed healthcare professional. You should always consult your doctor or another healthcare professional before taking any medication. The drug information contained herein is subject to change and is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. The absence of warnings or other information for a given drug does not indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective, or appropriate for all patients or all specific uses.