Ocrevus

Generic name: ocrelizumab
Dosage form: intravenous (infusion) injection
Drug class: CD20 monoclonal antibodies

Medically reviewed by Philip Thornton, DipPharm. Last updated on Apr 4, 2023.

What is Ocrevus?

Ocrevus (ocrelizumab) is a monoclonal antibody used for the treatment of a central nervous system (CNS) disorder called multiple sclerosis (MS).

It's not known exactly how Ocrevus works in people with MS, but it targets and binds to B-cells expressing CD20 on their surface, which results in their destruction via antibody-dependent cellular cytolysis and complement-mediate lysis. B cells are a type of white blood cell that contributes to the development and ongoing disease process involved in MS in a number of ways. The CD20 antigen is mainly found on the surface of B cells, which are also known as B lymphocytes, making it a good target for MS and certain other conditions affecting B cells.

Ocrevus was approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in March 2017.

What is Ocrevus used for?

Ocrevus is a prescription medicine used to treat:

relapsing forms of MS, to include clinically isolated syndrome, relapsing-remitting disease, and active secondary progressive disease, in adults.
primary progressive MS, in adults.

It is not known if it is safe and effective in children.

Important information

Ocrevus can cause serious side effects, including:

Infusion reactions: Infusion reactions are a common side effect of this medication, which can be serious and may require you to be hospitalized. You will be monitored during your infusion and for at least 1 hour after each infusion for signs and symptoms of an infusion reaction. Tell your healthcare provider or nurse if you get any of these symptoms:
- itchy skin
- rash
- hives
- tiredness
- coughing or wheezing
- trouble breathing
- throat irritation or pain
- feeling faint
- fever
- redness on your face (flushing)
- nausea
- headache
- swelling of the throat
- dizziness
- shortness of breath
- fatigue
- fast heart beat
  
  These infusion reactions can happen for up to 24 hours after your infusion. It is important that you call your healthcare provider right away if you get any of the signs or symptoms listed above after each infusion.
  If you get infusion reactions, your healthcare provider may need to stop or slow down the rate of your infusion.
Infection:
- Ocrevus increases your risk of getting upper respiratory tract infections, lower respiratory tract infections, skin infections, and herpes infections. Infections are a common side effect, which can be serious. Tell your healthcare provider if you have an infection or have any of the following signs of infection including fever, chills, or a cough that does not go away.
  - Signs of herpes infection include:
    - cold sores
    - shingles
    - genital sores
    - skin rash
    - pain
    - itching
  - Signs of a more serious herpes infection include:
    - changes in vision
    - eye redness or eye pain
    - severe or persistent headache
    - stiff neck
    - confusion
      
      Signs of infection can happen during treatment or after you have received your last dose of this medication. Tell your healthcare provider right away if you have an infection. Your healthcare provider should delay your treatment with Ocrevus until your infection is gone.
- Hepatitis B virus (HBV) reactivation: Before starting treatment with this medication, your healthcare provider will do blood tests to check for hepatitis B viral infection. If you have ever had hepatitis B virus infection, the hepatitis B virus may become active again during or after treatment with Ocrevus. Hepatitis B virus becoming active again (called reactivation) may cause serious liver problems including liver failure or death. Your healthcare provider will monitor you if you are at risk for hepatitis B virus reactivation during treatment and after you stop receiving this medication.
- Weakened immune system: Ocrevus taken before or after other medicines that weaken the immune system could increase your risk of getting infections.
Progressive Multifocal Leukoencephalopathy (PML): PML is a rare brain infection that usually leads to death or severe disability, and has been reported with this medication. Symptoms of PML get worse over days to weeks. It is important that you call your healthcare provider right away if you have any new or worsening neurologic signs or symptoms that have lasted several days, including problems with:
- thinking
- eyesight
- strength
- balance
- weakness on 1 side of your body
- using your arms or legs
Decreased immunoglobulins: Ocrevus may cause a decrease in some types of immunoglobulins. Your healthcare provider will do blood tests to check your blood immunoglobulin levels.

See "What are the possible side effects of Ocrevus?" below for more information about side effects.

Who should not receive Ocrevus?

Do not receive this medication if you have an active hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection.
Do not receive this medication if you have had a life-threatening allergic reaction to it. Tell your healthcare provider if you have had an allergic reaction to Ocrevus or any of its ingredients in the past. See "What are the ingredients in Ocrevus?" below for a complete list of ingredients.

What should I tell my doctor before receiving Ocrevus?

Before receiving Ocrevus, tell your healthcare provider about all of your medical conditions, including if you:

have or think you have an infection. See "What is the most important information I should know about Ocrevus?" above
have ever taken, take, or plan to take medicines that affect your immune system, or other treatments for MS. These medicines could increase your risk of getting an infection.
have ever had hepatitis B or are a carrier of the hepatitis B virus.
have a history of inflammatory bowel disease or colitis.
have had a recent vaccination or are scheduled to receive any vaccinations.
- You should receive any required 'live' or 'live-attenuated' vaccines at least 4 weeks before you start treatment with Ocrevus. You should also not receive 'live' or 'live-attenuated' vaccines while you are being treated with it and until your healthcare provider tells you that your immune system is no longer weakened.
- When possible, you should receive any 'non-live' vaccines at least 2 weeks before you start treatment with Ocrevus. If you would like to receive any non-live (inactivated) vaccines, including the seasonal flu vaccine, while you are being treated with this medication, talk to your healthcare provider.
- If you have a baby and you received Ocrevus during your pregnancy, it is important to tell your baby's healthcare provider about receiving this medication so they can decide when your baby should be vaccinated.

How should I receive Ocrevus?

Ocrevus is given through a needle placed in your vein (intravenous (IV) infusion) in your arm.
Before treatment, your healthcare provider will give you a corticosteroid medicine and an antihistamine to help reduce infusion reactions (make them less frequent and less severe). You may also receive other medicines to help reduce infusion reactions. See "What is the most important information to know about Ocrevus?"
Your first full dose of Ocrevus will be given as 2 separate infusions, 2 weeks apart. Each infusion will last about 2 hours and 30 minutes.
Your next doses of this medication will be given as 1 infusion every 6 months. These infusions will last about 2 hours to 3 hours and 30 minutes depending on the infusion rate prescribed by your healthcare provider.

What happens if I miss a dose?

If you miss a dose of Ocrevus, call your healthcare provider and reschedule your appointment to receive your missed dose as soon as possible. Do not wait until your next planned dose. After you receive your missed dose, reschedule your next dose for 6 months after your missed dose. Ocrevus doses must be separated by a minimum of 5 months.

Dosing information

The recommended dose of Ocrevus is:

Starting dose: 300 mg IV infusion, followed two weeks later by a second 300 mg IV infusion
Subsequent doses: 600 mg IV infusion every 6 months

See Full Prescribing Information for further details about Ocrevus dosing.

What are the side effects of Ocrevus?

Ocrevus may cause serious side effects, including:

see "What is the most important information I should know about Ocrevus?" above
risk of cancers (malignancies) including breast cancer. Follow your healthcare provider's instructions about standard screening guidelines for breast cancer.
Inflammation of the colon, or colitis: Tell your healthcare provider if you have any symptoms of colitis, such as:
- Diarrhea (loose stools) or more frequent bowel movements than usual
- Stools that are black, tarry, sticky or have blood or mucus
- Severe stomach-area (abdomen) pain or tenderness

These are not all the possible side effects of this medication. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

Interactions

Tell your healthcare provider about all the medicines you take, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements. Especially tell your healthcare provider about other immunosuppressive or immune-modulating drugs that you have taken or are currently taking.

Pregnancy and breastfeeding

Tell you healthcare provider if you are pregnant, think that you might be pregnant, or plan to become pregnant. It is not known if Ocrevus will harm your unborn baby. You should use birth control (contraception) during treatment with this medication and for 6 months after your last infusion. Talk with your healthcare provider about what birth control method is right for you during this time.

There is a pregnancy registry for women who take Ocrevus during pregnancy. If you become pregnant while receiving this medication, tell your healthcare provider right away. Talk to your healthcare provider about registering with the Ocrevus Pregnancy Registry. The purpose of this registry is to collect information about your health and your baby's health. Your healthcare provider can enroll you in this registry by calling 1-833-872-4370 or visiting www.Ocrevuspregnancyregistry.com.

If you have a baby and you received Ocrevus during your pregnancy, it is important to tell your baby's healthcare provider about receiving this medication so they can decide when your baby should be vaccinated.

Tell your healthcare provider if you are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed. It is not known if Ocrevus passes into your breast milk. Talk to your healthcare provider about the best way to feed your baby if you take this medication.

Storage

Store Ocrevus vials at 2°C to 8°C (36°F to 46°F) in the outer carton to protect from light.
Do not freeze or shake
Use prepared Ocrevus infusion solution immediately. If not used immediately, store up to 24 hours in the refrigerator at 2°C to 8°C (36°F to 46°F) and 8 hours at room temperature up to 25°C (77°F), which includes infusion time. In the event an intravenous infusion cannot be completed the same day, discard the remaining solution.

Keep out of sight and reach of children.

What are the ingredients in Ocrevus?

Active ingredient: ocrelizumab.

Inactive ingredients: glacial acetic acid, polysorbate 20, sodium acetate trihydrate, trehalose dihydrate.

Ocrevus is manufactured b: Genentech, Inc., A Member of the Roche Group, 1 DNA Way, South San Francisco, CA 94080-4990.

Popular FAQ

What are monoclonal antibodies?

Monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) are man-made proteins that mimic the natural antibodies produced by our immune systems. Monoclonal antibodies can be formulated into medicines to treat various types of illnesses, such as cancer, rheumatoid arthritis or psoriasis. Continue reading

Is Kesimpta better than Ocrevus?

In patients with relapsing forms of multiple sclerosis, Kesimpta (ofatumumab) is thought to be more effective than Ocrevus (ocrelizumab) in some ways, but no clinical trials have directly compared the two drugs

Ocrevus is the only one of the two drugs approved to treat primary progressive multiple sclerosis Continue reading

How much does an Ocrevus infusion cost?

Ocrevus costs $16,974 for one 300mg/10mL dose of Ocrevus intravenous solution. This price is for cash paying customers and is not valid with insurance plans. This works out to an annual cost of just over $65,000 per year; however, most people do not pay this amount. For people with commercial or private insurance the cost is around $5 per treatment; for those with Medicare, between $0 and $13,000; and for those with Medicaid, between $0 and $30. People unable to afford Ocrevus, may be able to apply for additional assistance through the Genentech Patient Foundation. Continue reading

How long does it take Ocrevus to work?

Ocrevus has some effect at reducing disability progression within about 12 weeks; however, it may take at least 6 months or possibly longer for the full effects to be seen. Continue reading

Is Ocrevus a form of chemotherapy?

Ocrevus is not chemotherapy, it is a type of targeted treatment that works by binding to a protein called CD20 that is present on the surface of B-lymphocytes. Ocrevus may be used to reduce inflammation, reduce the risk of relapse, and delay the rate of disease progression in people with multiple sclerosis.

How long does an Ocrevus infusion take?

The first two times you have Ocrevus it will be infused over at least 2.5 hours, depending on how you tolerate it. However, the whole infusion appointment will take around 5 to 6 hours, because there is a pre-infusion check-up, during which you will receive medications that reduce infusion reactions, and you will need to wait for at least an hour post-infusion so your healthcare team can monitor you for any side effects or infusion reactions. Continue reading

How does Ocrevus work for MS?

Ocrevus works in MS by targeting a specific protein, called CD20 that exists on the surface of immature and mature B-lymphocytes. B lymphocytes are a type of white blood cell which are thought to contribute to the development of MS in several different ways, including secreting antibodies during an MS attack that cause inflammation which damages the myelin coating around nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord. When Ocrevus binds to CD20, it causes B-cells to self-destruct or disintegrate, which reduces the number of MS relapse and the rate of disability progression. Continue reading

What types of MS does Ocrevus treat?

Ocrevus (ocrelizumab) is the first treatment approved for primary progressive multiple sclerosis (PPMS). It is also approved for the more common relapsing forms of multiple sclerosis. Continue reading