Roche hails new MS treatment

Roche's new multiple sclerosis (MS) treatment has yielded extremely positive results in recent clinical trials.

Tests demonstrated that ocrelizumab reduced MS relapse rates by half when compared with Rebif, while clinical disability in patients with primary progressive MS was cut by almost a quarter.

The successful results mean an effective new treatment option for MS patients could soon become available, while it could also aid Roche's efforts to expand into new markets beyond cancer treatments.

Speaking to Reuters, Paulo Fontoura, head of neuroscience clinical development, commented: "On relapses, we are essentially equal to the most efficacious medicines out there and on confirmed disability progression we believe we are a little bit better."

Stephen Hauser, leader of the two Roche studies, added that the findings could encourage the MS community to "look more closely at earlier treatment of the disease".

He noted that ocrelizumab offers a similar safety profile to standard-of-care interferons, which means the days of potent drugs being reserved for patients with more advanced disease could come to an end.