New clinical trial data suggest that Ocrevus can significantly slow disability progression in people with primary progressive multiple sclerosis, including those who are older and have more advanced disease. The findings provide important evidence for a broader group of patients who were previously underrepresented in trials.
Results from the Phase 3 ORATORIO-HAND trial were presented at the American Academy of Neurology 2026 annual meeting. The study evaluated the effects of Ocrevus, also known as ocrelizumab, in more than 1,000 adults with primary progressive multiple sclerosis, including individuals up to age 65 and those with higher levels of disability.
Participants received either Ocrevus or a placebo over a median period of nearly three years. The main outcome measured was the time to confirmed disability progression, assessed through a combination of hand function tests and established disability scales.
The results showed that Ocrevus reduced the risk of disability progression by 30 percent compared with placebo. Improvements were also seen in specific measures, including hand and arm function, where the risk of decline was reduced by 41 percent. The treatment also lowered the risk of worsening disability scores by 33 percent.
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Importantly, benefits were observed across a wide range of patient groups, regardless of age, sex, baseline disability level, or disease activity on MRI scans. This suggests that the therapy may be effective even in patients with more advanced stages of the disease, a group for whom treatment options have historically been limited.
The safety profile of Ocrevus remained consistent with previous studies. Infusion-related reactions were more common among treated patients, but rates of infections and cancer were similar between the treatment and placebo groups.
These findings build on earlier evidence supporting Ocrevus as the only approved disease-modifying therapy for primary progressive multiple sclerosis. Researchers say the new data strengthen confidence in its use across a broader patient population, including those with more severe disease.
This news item has been summarised using AI and checked by humans before publication.
Sources
American Academy of Neurology 2026 annual meeting
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