Ocrevus (ocrelizumab) has become the first treatment for primary proressive MS to be approved in Scotland – following its approval in England last year.
The Scottish Medicines Consortium (SMC) has given the green light for the drug to be prescribed by the NHS for people with early inflammatory primary progressive MS.
As reported by the MS Trust, this includes patients with:
- Symptoms of primary progressive MS for less than 15 years and
- An ability to walk at least 20 metres, with or without walking aids and
- Evidence of MS inflammatory activity on MRI scans.
MS Trust CEO David Martin said: “The MS Trust is delighted that Ocrevus has been approved for primary progressive MS. As the first approved treatment for progressive MS in Scotland, this is a landmark decision. But we know this is just the start.
“More treatments for progressive MS are still desperately needed, and we will continue to fight to ensure everyone with MS can access the treatments they need.”
Ocrevus was approved as a treatment for primary progressive MS in England last year, while manufaturer Roche is working with the NHS in Wales and Northern Ireland to make it available throughout the UK.
Ocrevus has also been approved as a treatment for relapsing remitting MS in the UK.
Ocrevus is the first treatment to be approved for NHS treatment of primary progressive MS.
People with this form of MS experience disability more rapidly than those with other types.
Clinical trials have shown that Ocrevus can slow the worsening of disability in early, inflammatory PPMS, with the potential to delay the need for a wheelchair by seven years.
The drug is taken as an intravenous infusion (drip).
