Rituximab Not Noninferior to Ocrelizumab for Relapsing-Remitting MS
Medically reviewed by Drugs.com.
By Elana Gotkine HealthDay Reporter
WEDNESDAY, June 14, 2023 -- For patients with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (MS), rituximab is not noninferior to ocrelizumab, according to a study published online June 12 in JAMA Neurology.
Izanne Roos, M.B.Ch.B., Ph.D., from Royal Melbourne Hospital in Australia, and colleagues examined whether the effectiveness of rituximab is noninferior to ocrelizumab in relapsing-remitting MS in an observational cohort study. Participants had a history of relapsing-remitting MS treated with ocrelizumab or rituximab, a minimum follow-up of six months, and sufficient data to calculate the propensity score. The analysis included 710 patients treated with ocrelizumab and 186 treated with rituximab.
The researchers found that the annualized rate of relapses ratio was higher in patients treated with rituximab versus ocrelizumab (rate ratio, 1.8) over a pairwise censored mean follow-up of 1.4 years. Compared with patients treated with ocrelizumab, those treated with rituximab had a higher cumulative hazard of relapses (hazard ratio, 2.1). There was no difference between the groups in the risk for disability accumulation. In sensitivity analyses, results were confirmed.
"Treatment selection for the individual patient, however, remains a complex and highly personalized decision, which considers additional factors such as availability and affordability of therapy and adverse effects," the authors write. "Nevertheless, lack of a clinically relevant difference in the effectiveness between these two therapies should not be assumed."
Several authors disclosed ties to the pharmaceutical industry; several pharmaceutical companies provided funding for the study.
Abstract/Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)
Editorial (subscription or payment may be required)
Disclaimer: Statistical data in medical articles provide general trends and do not pertain to individuals. Individual factors can vary greatly. Always seek personalized medical advice for individual healthcare decisions.
© 2024 HealthDay. All rights reserved.
Posted June 2023
Read this next
High-Efficacy Therapy Cuts Disability Progression in Pediatric MS
FRIDAY, April 12, 2024 -- Treatment of pediatric-onset relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis with high-efficacy therapy reduces the risk for transition across disability states...
AAN: Monoclonal Antibodies for MS During Breastfeeding Not Harmful
TUESDAY, March 12, 2024 -- For mothers with multiple sclerosis or neuromyelitis optica spectrum disease, receipt of monoclonal antibodies (mAb) during breastfeeding is not...
Frexalimab Has Favorable Effect on Relapsing Multiple Sclerosis
WEDNESDAY, Feb. 14, 2024 -- For patients with relapsing multiple sclerosis, the anti-CD40L monoclonal antibody frexalimab has a favorable effect on the number of new...
More news resources
- FDA Medwatch Drug Alerts
- Daily MedNews
- News for Health Professionals
- New Drug Approvals
- New Drug Applications
- Drug Shortages
- Clinical Trial Results
- Generic Drug Approvals
Subscribe to our newsletter
Whatever your topic of interest, subscribe to our newsletters to get the best of Drugs.com in your inbox.