Roche reports positive data for new multiple sclerosis drug

Roche has announced positive clinical findings demonstrating the potentially groundbreaking benefits of a new multiple sclerosis therapy.

Data from the pivotal phase III study ORATORIO has indicated that its investigational medicine ocrelizumab can be effective in the treatment of primary progressive multiple sclerosis.

The study met its primary endpoint after showing that treatment with ocrelizumab significantly reduced the progression of clinical disability compared with placebo, an effect that was sustained for at least 12 weeks.

Ocrelizumab is the first investigational medicine to show positive study results in both primary progressive and relapsing forms of multiple sclerosis.

The company now plans to submit this data to global regulatory authorities for both forms of multiple sclerosis in early 2016.

Dr Sandra Horning, Roche's chief medical officer and head of global product development, said: "Ocrelizumab is the first investigational medicine to show a clinically meaningful and statistically significant effect on the progression of disease in primary progressive multiple sclerosis."