Roche's ocrelizumab meets Phase III MS endpoints

Roche (SIX:ROG; OTCQX:RHHBY) said ocrelizumab met the primary endpoints of reducing annualized relapse rates (ARR) in two identically designed Phase III studies, OPERA I and OPERA II, to treat relapsing multiple sclerosis (MS). The trials compared the intravenous second-generation humanized mAb against CD20 vs. Rebif interferon beta-1a, a standard-of-care treatment, in a total of 1,656 patients.

Ocrelizumab also significantly reduced progression of clinical disability, as measured by the Expanded Disability Status Scale, and the number of brain lesions compared with Rebif. Roche said it will present data from the studies at an upcoming medical congress. ...