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The MS Trust is pleased that Ocrevus (ocrelizumab) has been approved by NICE for NHS treatment of primary progressive and inflammatory MS.
NICE has approved Ocrevus for people with primary progressive MS if they:
- have symptoms of primary progressive MS for 15 years or less and
- are able to walk 20 meters or more, with or without walking aids (up to EDSS 6.5) and
- have evidence of MS activity on MRI exams
This cancels an earlier decision by NICE to reject Ocrevus for PPMS. The final publication of this decision has been suspended to allow time for further discussions between NICE, NHS England and drug manufacturer Roche.
This is good news. We applaud the willingness of all three parties to find a solution that allows people with inflammatory primary progressive MS to have access to treatment that will allow them to continue working and maintain their independence longer.
But we know that this is only the beginning. We still desperately need more treatment for progressive MS and we will continue to fight so that all people with MS can access the treatments they need.
– David Martin, Managing Director, MS Trust
I can not tell you how exciting it is to have the first drug to treat, PPMS, Ocrevus, approved for use within the NHS. I know of course there are strict constraints on who Ocrevus can be prescribed from, and the research that comes from, researchers who benefit from it, but I hope desperately that I am one of them. Controlling my deterioration will give me optimism about a future I did not dare to dream about.
– Yvonne Pettigrew, with primary progressive MS
This decision applies first in England, but Roche is working with the NHS of Wales and Northern Ireland and the Scottish Medicines Consortium to make Ocrevus available throughout the UK.
The first NHS approved treatment for progressive MS, this is a landmark decision made possible through the collective efforts and dedication of the entire MS community. MS Trust contributed to the evaluation of NICE. Before preparing our submission to NICE, we conducted a survey to gather the views of those affected by the MSPP. We received almost 500 responses from individuals with PPS, their families, and MS health professionals. We are very grateful to all the people who brought their experiences, which clearly demonstrate the challenges of life with the PPMS.
Following NICE's approval, the NHS in England will have three months to prepare for the prescription of the drug. After that, NHS is expected to fund the treatment if a doctor deems it appropriate.
New clinical trial announced for Ocrevus on primary progressive MS
Oratorio-MAIN is a new clinical trial to test the effect of Ocrevus on the function of the hands and arms. The study will recruit 1,000 people with a more advanced disability, including those requiring a wheelchair and under 65 years of age. The detailed planning of the study is still underway, but it is expected that recruitment will begin later this year in study centers around the world, including the United Kingdom.
About Ocrevus
Ocrevus is the first treatment to have been approved for the treatment of primary progressive MS by the NHS. People with this form of MS have a disability faster than others. Clinical trials have shown that Ocrevus can slow the worsening of disability in cases of early inflammatory SPPP, with the potential to delay the need for a wheelchair for seven years.
Ocrevus is taken as an intravenous infusion. The first dose is given as two separate infusions, two weeks apart. Additional doses are given as an infusion every six months. The most common side effects are infusion-related reactions such as headache, rash, fever and nausea. Other side effects include infections such as coughs, colds, lung infections and herpes virus infections (such as cold sores or shingles).
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