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