PPMS Treatment

[Sailorsong]

Today I saw my MS Neuro and I asked about any news on new treatments for PPMS. He told me he is expecting a new treatment will be approved later this year by the FDA. It is a infusion every 6 months. Of course I cant remember the name for the drug and have not been able to find any more information about it on-line either. Does anyone here know any information about this treatment.

My Neuro has had me on a CellCept since  2010 hoping to reduce my progression, which it hasn't as I have dozens of new lesions since 2011. SO I am very interested in trying this new treatment once it is approved.

Dennis

[Sailorsong]

Thanks for the info. I'm not sure if that is the stuff he was talking about or not. I did see some reference to PPMS, but the were talking about 2 doses (day 1 & 15) while my Neuro made it seem like it was just one Infusion twice a year.

[immisceo]

I'm also on a humanised monoclonal antibody, daclizumab. It works on CD25. My neurologist (and principal investigator) believes it will come to market this year on-label, but I've never heard/read it mentioned in relation to PPMS.

[kwarendorf]

Hi Dennis-

Orcelizumab is very similar to Rituxan (rituximab). Both are "CD20" antagonists. CD20 is a protien on the surface of B-cells. B-cells, like T-cells are thought to be demyelination demons.

Rituximab and ocrelizumab wipe out the CD 20 protien. B-cells need th CD20 to survive. Absent the CD20 B-cells are depleted and can't do anymore demyelination damage.

Ocrelizumab is a humanized monoclonal antibody and rituximab is a chimeric monoclonal antibody. The important difference between the two is that Ocrelizumab will have MS "on label", making it much more likely to be covered by insurance.

Kyle

[Corriel]

I have heard about the ocrelizumab that immi has mentioned. I have heard much about it through the MS Society here in Canada. Folks here are quite excited about it.

I hope it gets approved soon.

Corrie

[immisceo]

He may be talking about Biogen/Roche's ocrelizumab formulation. I know the trials of that are being run at my trial site.