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FDA Grants Breakthrough Therapy Designation for Ocrelizumab in PPMS

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  • FDA Grants Breakthrough Therapy Designation for Ocrelizumab in PPMS

    FDA Grants Breakthrough Therapy Designation for Genentech’s Investigational Medicine Ocrelizumab in Primary Progressive Multiple Sclerosis

    •Ocrelizumab is the first investigational medicine to receive Breakthrough Therapy Designation in multiple sclerosis (MS)
    •Twelfth Breakthrough Therapy Designation for Genentech’s portfolio of medicines since 2013

    South San Francisco, CA -- February 16, 2016 --

    Genentech, a member of the Roche group (SIX: RO, ROG; OTCQX: RHHBY) announced today that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted Breakthrough Therapy Designation for the investigational medicine ocrelizumab (OCREVUSTM) for the treatment of people with primary progressive multiple sclerosis (PPMS). There are currently no approved treatments for PPMS, a debilitating form of MS characterized by steadily worsening symptoms and typically without distinct relapses or periods of remission.

    "Ocrelizumab is the first investigational medicine for MS to be granted Breakthrough Therapy Designation by the FDA," said Sandra Horning, M.D., chief medical officer and head of Global Product Development. "With no approved treatments for primary progressive MS, ocrelizumab has the potential to address an important unmet need. We are committed to working with the FDA to bring ocrelizumab to people with primary progressive MS as quickly as possible."

    Breakthrough Therapy Designation is designed to expedite the development and review of medicines intended to treat serious or life-threatening diseases and to help ensure people have access to them through FDA approval as soon as possible. The designation is based on positive results from the pivotal Phase III study (called ORATORIO), which showed treatment with ocrelizumab significantly reduced disability progression and other markers of disease activity compared with placebo. Top-line results were presented at the 31st congress of the European Committee for Treatment and Research in Multiple Sclerosis (ECTRIMS) in October 2015.

    Genentech plans to pursue marketing authorization for both PPMS and relapsing multiple sclerosis (RMS), a more common form of the disease, and will submit data from three pivotal Phase III studies to the FDA in the first half of 2016.

    OCREVUSTM is the proprietary name submitted to the FDA for the investigational medicine ocrelizumab.

    About ocrelizumab

    Ocrelizumab is an investigational, humanized monoclonal antibody designed to selectively target CD20-positive B cells. CD20-positive B cells are a specific type of immune cell thought to be a key contributor to myelin (nerve cell insulation and support) and axonal (nerve cell) damage, which can result in disability in people with MS. Based on preclinical studies, ocrelizumab binds to CD20 cell surface proteins expressed on certain B cells, but not on stem cells or plasma cells, and therefore important functions of the immune system may be preserved.

    In addition to ORATORIO, the Phase III clinical development program for ocrelizumab includes OPERA I and OPERA II, which are randomized, double-blind, double-dummy, global multi-center studies in people with relapsing forms of MS.

    About the ORATORIO study in PPMS

    ORATORIO is a Phase III, randomized, double-blind, global multi-center study evaluating the efficacy and safety of ocrelizumab compared with placebo in 732 people with PPMS.2 The primary endpoint of the study was time to onset of confirmed disability progression (CDP) sustained for at least 12 weeks.

    CDP measures a sustained protocol-defined increase in a patient’s Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) score. The EDSS is based on a physical and neurological exam of eight systems throughout the body. The functional systems include vision, coordination, limb movement, strength, thinking abilities, bowel and bladder control, sensation and walking ability.
    Dave Bexfield
    ActiveMSers

  • #2
    More on Ocrelizumab:
    http://activemsers.wssnoc.net/showthread.php?t=1913
    Dave Bexfield
    ActiveMSers

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    • #3
      Wow.... optimism, maybe?

      I am trying to stay cautious here... but good to hear.

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      • #4
        Dave, thanks for the update. I hadn't seen this in the news. It is Really exciting about all the treatment options out there these days. I honestly didn't anticipate so many break throughs in my life time when I was diagnosed 10 yrs ago. Good news! Thanks again for keeping up informed. Suebee

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        • #5
          Ocrelizemab

          I did a little reading on this "fast track" drug and was a little dismayed that it's only shown positive results for younger individuals with active disease. Unfortunately, I don't fall into this category. Plus, the higher number of malignancies then the placebo group is a big concern. Darn!!! Has anyone else read this as well? I'm always hopeful, and got really excited, but....
          LMH

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          • #6
            http://multiple-sclerosis-research.b...l-results.html

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