Ocrelizumab Shines At ECTRIMS With Standout Data

Ocrelizumab (Roche AG) was the undisputed main attraction of the 2015 European Committee for Treatment and Research in Multiple Sclerosis (ECTRIMS) annual meeting, which was held on Oct. 7–10 in Barcelona, Spain. Roche presented detailed clinical data for the drug from three Phase III trials: OPERA I and II in relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS) patients and ORATORIO in primary progressive multiple sclerosis (PPMS) patients. The CD20 antibody showed impressive efficacy across the entire pivotal clinical trial program, with the PPMS data most notable considering the absence of any approved treatment options in this patient population. With no safety signal yet emerging that might jeopardize its regulatory approval, Datamonitor Healthcare now expects ocrelizumab to be a very competitive drug for RRMS patients, where it will predominantly target the $2bn market segment currently occupied by Biogen's Tysabri (natalizumab). Furthermore, as the first effective drug for PPMS patients, ocrelizumab will provide true growth to the wider market and reinvigorate drug development for this underserved population.