Real-world data from more than 6,500 people with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis suggest that Ocrevus and Kesimpta provide similarly strong disease control, although researchers identified small differences in relapse and disability outcomes.
The international study analysed registry data from 6,572 adults with relapsing-remitting MS who started treatment with either ocrelizumab (Ocrevus) or ofatumumab (Kesimpta) between 2021 and 2024. Data came from the international MSBase registry and France’s national OFSEP registry.
Of the participants, 3,928 started Ocrevus and 2,644 started Kesimpta. Because the groups differed in characteristics such as age, disease duration, previous treatments and disability levels, the researchers used statistical matching to make comparisons more robust.
Both treatments were associated with very low relapse rates during follow-up. The annualised relapse rate was 0.04 with Ocrevus compared with 0.07 with Kesimpta. Patients receiving Kesimpta had a 72% higher relative risk of experiencing a first relapse, although the absolute difference between the treatments was small.
Disability outcomes showed a modest advantage for Kesimpta. Patients taking Kesimpta had a 34% lower risk of confirmed disability progression and a 47% lower risk of progression independent of relapse activity, which refers to disability worsening occurring without a relapse. However, confirmed disability improvement was 24% less likely among those receiving Kesimpta.
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No significant differences were identified in MRI measures of disease activity or treatment discontinuation, although the researchers said the MRI findings were uncertain.
The researchers stressed that the statistical differences should not be interpreted as evidence that one treatment is clearly superior. Both are high-efficacy disease-modifying therapies, and the observed differences were very small in absolute terms.
They said longer-term research will be needed to establish whether the differences have meaningful implications for treatment decisions.
This news item has been summarised using AI and checked by humans before publication.
Sources
Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery & Psychiatry
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