Additional MS data for ocrelizumab

Biogen Idec Inc. (NASDAQ:BIIB) and Roche (SIX:ROG; OTCQX:RHHBY) reported additional data from a Phase II trial of ocrelizumab to treat relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS). Low- and high-dose ocrelizumab (600 and 2,000 mg) significantly reduced the number of gadolinium-enhancing T1 lesions relative to placebo at week 24, the primary endpoint, by 89% and 96%, respectively (p<0.0001 for both). Both doses of the second-generation humanized mAb against CD20 also met the secondary endpoint of significantly reducing annualized relapse rate relative to placebo at week 24 (80% and 73%, respectively; p=0.0005 and p=0.0014). Roche previously reported that both doses of ocrelizumab met the primary endpoint at weeks 12, 16, 20 and 24. Biogen Idec was up $0.68 to $57.66 on Friday. ...