The FDA has approved a brand new injectable type of the multiple sclerosis drug ocrelizumab to be used in adults with relapsing and progressive types of the disease.
Multiple sclerosis occurs when the body's immune system mistakenly attacks the protective covering of the nerves within the brain and spinal cord. The recent FDA-approved drug combines ocrelizumab with hyaluronidase, an enzyme that breaks down substances within the body. While ocrelizumab slows the immune attack, hyaluronidase, when injected under the skin, makes the drug easier to soak up. This treatment should be carried out twice a 12 months, with the injection of the drug taking about 10 minutes, in line with the drug's manufacturer.
Genentech, the drug's manufacturer, said in a news release that clinical trials have shown that the drug, to be marketed under the brand name Ocrevus Zunovo, achieves comparable levels of ocrelizumab within the blood when administered subcutaneously. The treatment is as protected and effective as standard intravenous treatment, the corporate said.
This recent treatment may offer “more flexibility for healthcare providers and people with multiple sclerosis based on their individual treatment needs,” said Dr. Levi Garraway, Genentech's chief medical officer and head of world product development.