A study to evaluate the efficacy, safety and pharmacokinetics of a higher dose of ocrelizumab in adults with relapsing multiple sclerosis

1. Why is this study needed?

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a health condition in which the immune system attacks the protective covering of nerve fibres in the brain and spinal cord. This leads to communication problems between the brain and the rest of the body.

This study is testing a medicine called ocrelizumab. It is approved by health authorities (like the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and European Medicines Agency) for treating people with ‘primary progressive MS’ and ‘relapsing MS’. A relapse is the return of signs or symptoms of a disease after they have improved for a while.

This study aims to compare the effects of a higher-than-approved dose of ocrelizumab versus the approved dose of ocrelizumab in people with relapsing MS. The higher-than-approved dose may slow down worsening of MS even more than the approved dose. 

2. Who can take part in the study?

People of 18 to 55 years of age who have been diagnosed with relapsing MS can take part in the study. But only if they have had at least 2 relapses within 2 years or 1 relapse within 1 year before joining the study.

People may not be able to take part in this study if they have certain infections. They also can’t have had cancer within the last 10 years, have had certain treatments, or be unable to have a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan. People who are pregnant, or currently breastfeeding cannot take part in the study.

3. How does this study work? 

Participants will be screened to check if they are able to participate in the study. The screening period will take place from 6 weeks before the start of treatment.

Everyone who joins this study will be placed into 1 of 2 groups randomly (like flipping a coin) and given either ocrelizumab at the approved dose OR at a higher dose, given as a drip into a vein. Participants will have a 2 in 3 chance of being placed in the higher dose group, and a 1 in 3 chance of being in the approved dose group. In both groups, the first dose of ocrelizumab will be given in 2 half-doses, 2 weeks apart. Then, the full dose will be given every 6 months.

The first part of this study is ‘double-blinded’. This means that neither the participants in the study nor the team running it will know which treatment is being given until the double-blind period is over. This is done to make sure that the results of the treatment are not affected by what people expected from the received treatment. However, the study doctor can find out which group the participant is in, if the participants' safety is at risk.

The study doctor will see participants every 3 months during the double-blind period. They will see how well the treatment is working and any unwanted effects participants may have. Participants will have a follow-up visit 6 months after completing study treatment in the double-blind period, during which study doctor will check on the participant’s wellbeing. The ‘double-blind’ period will last until all participants have completed study treatment and had their follow-up visit.

After the double-blind period, participants may have the option of being given the higher dose of treatment at visits around every 5 and a half months in the ‘open-label’ period. ‘Open-label’ means everyone involved, including the participant and the study doctor, will know the study treatment the participant has been given.

Participants will have follow-up visits every 3 months for about a year after completing the study treatment, during which the study doctor will check on the participant’s wellbeing. Because ocrelizumab can have a long-lasting effect on the level of B-cells (a type of white blood cell) participants may continue to be checked every 6 months until their B-cell levels are restored. Total time of participation in the study will be about 7 and a half years. Participants have the right to stop study treatment and leave the study at any time, if they wish to do so.

4. What are the main results measured in this study?

The main result measured in the study to assess if a higher-than-approved dose of ocrelizumab works better than the approved doses is:

• The amount of time between the start of treatment and a worsening of MS that lasts for 3 months

Worsening of MS can be measured in 1 or more ways. This includes changes in walking speed, hand control and the Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) scores. EDSS scores measure changes in a person’s disability level over time.

Other key results measured in the study include:

• The amount of time between the start of treatment and a worsening of MS that lasts 3 months in participants who do not have a relapse before the worsening 
• The amount of time between the start of treatment and a worsening of MS that lasts 6 or 11 months
• The amount of time between the start of treatment and a worsening of walking speed, walking ability and mental ability that lasts 3 months
• How much the whole brain changes in size each year
• How much the amount of a sign of nerve damage in the blood changes at 11 months compared with the start of the study
• The number and seriousness of unwanted effects
• How ocrelizumab gets to different parts of the body, and how the body changes and gets rid of it
• How ocrelizumab works in the body and the effects it has on the immune system
• The number of participants with different types of certain sections of DNA (known as genes)

5. Are there any risks or benefits in taking part in this study?

Taking part in the study may or may not make participants feel better. But the information collected in the study can help other people with similar health conditions in the future.

It may not be fully known at the time of the study how safe and how well the study treatment works. The study involves some risks to the participant. But these risks are generally not greater than those related to routine medical care or the natural progression of the health condition. People interested in taking part will be informed about the risks and benefits, as well as any additional procedures or tests they may need to undergo. All details of the study will be described in an informed consent document. This includes information about possible effects and other options of treatment.

Risks associated with the study medicine

Participants may have unwanted effects of the medicine used in this study. These unwanted effects can be mild to severe, even life-threatening, and vary from person to person. During this study, participants will have regular check-ups to see if there are any unwanted effects.

Ocrelizumab

Participants will be told about the known unwanted effects of ocrelizumab, and possible unwanted effects based on human and laboratory studies or knowledge of similar medicines. Known unwanted effects of ocrelizumab include infections of the nose, throat or sinuses that are usually caused by viruses (such as flu or common cold), reactions to drips into a vein and a decrease in specific proteins in the blood (immunoglobulin M) which help protect against infection.

Known unwanted effects from having a drip into a vein include itching, rash throwing up, wanting to throw up, a feeling of coldness that makes the body shiver, low blood pressure, fever, reddening of the skin, pain or discomfort in the head, a rapid heart rate, breathing problems and throat irritation, pain or swelling.

The study medicine may be harmful to an unborn baby. Women must take precautions to avoid pregnancy and exposing an unborn baby to the study treatment.

For more information about this clinical trial see the For Expert tab on the specific ForPatient page or follow this link to ClinicalTrials.gov

Trial-identifier: NCT04544436