Multiple sclerosis is an inflammatory disorder of the central nervous system (brain and spinal cord) that affects approximately 1 in 1000 New Zealanders. Women are three times more likely to be diagnosed with multiple sclerosis than men.
Most patients diagnosed with multiple sclerosis present with one or more attacks (relapses) and are diagnosed with relapsing remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS). Approximately 10-15% of patients present with slow progressive worsening from onset without relapses and are diagnosed with primary progressive multiple sclerosis (PPMS). Progression remains an important unmet need in multiple sclerosis. While there are now many pharmaceutical treatments for RRMS, until recently there was no treatment for patients with PPMS.
Ocrelizumab (Ocrevus®) is the first medication shown to slow the rate of worsening for patients with PPMS. Data shows that for some people with PPMS, ocrelizumab may slow progression and enable people to live more independently for longer. Patients treated with ocrelizumab were less likely to experience confirmed progression than patients treated with placebo. However, ocrelizumab is not suitable for everyone, and is more effective in younger patients, and earlier in the course of the disease.
Pharmac announced that from 1 October 2023 it will fund ocrelizumab for patients with PPMS, this means ocrelizumab is the first funded targeted medicine for this type of multiple sclerosis. MSNZ has produced a helpful FAQ document to answer questions patients may have regarding ocrelizumab treatment for PPMS.
