Efficacy and Safety of Xacrel® (Ocrelizumab) in Participants With Relapsing Remitting Multiple Sclerosis

Inclusion criteria

• Ability to provide written, informed consent and to be compliant with the schedule of protocol assessments.
• Ages 18-55 years at screening, inclusive.
• Diagnosis of MS, in accordance with the revised McDonald criteria (2010).
• At least two relapses having occurred within the past 2 years or one relapse within the past 12 months prior to screening.
• Neurological stability for ≥ 30 days prior to both screening and baseline.
• EDSS, at screening, from 0 to 5.5 inclusive.
• Patients of reproductive potential must use reliable means of contraception.

Exclusion criteria

• Diagnosis of primary progressive MS.
• Disease duration of more than 10 years in patients with an EDSS ≤ 2.0 at screening.
• Inability to complete an MRI (contraindications for MRI include but are not restricted to claustrophobia, weight ≥ 140 kg, pacemaker, cochlear implants, presence of foreign substances in the eye, intracranial vascular clips, surgery within 6 weeks of entry into the study, coronary stent implanted within 8 weeks prior to the time of the intended MRI, etc).
• Known presence of other neurological disorders which may mimic MS including but not limited to: neuromeylitis optica, Lyme disease, untreated vitamin B12 deficiency, neurosarcoidosis and cerebrovascular disorders.
• Pregnancy or lactation.
• Any concomitant disease that may require chronic treatment with systemic corticosteroids or immunosuppressants during the course of the study.
• History or currently active primary or secondary immunodeficiency.
• Lack of peripheral venous access.
• History of severe allergic or anaphylactic reactions to humanized or murine monoclonal antibodies.
• Significant or uncontrolled somatic disease or any other significant disease that may preclude patient from participating in the study such as Congestive heart failure (NYHA III or IV functional severity).
• Known active bacterial, viral, fungal, mycobacterial infection or other infection, excluding fungal infection of nail beds.
• Infection requiring hospitalization or treatment with I.V. antibiotics within 4 weeks prior to baseline visit or oral antibiotics within 2 weeks prior to baseline visit.
• History or known presence of recurrent or chronic infection (e.g., hepatitis B or C, HIV).
• History of progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML)
• History of malignancy, including solid tumors and hematological malignancies, except basal cell carcinoma, in situ squamous cell carcinoma of the skin, and in situ carcinoma of the cervix of the uterus that have been previously completely excised with documented, clear margins.
• History of alcohol or drug abuse within 24 weeks prior to baseline.
• History or laboratory evidence of coagulation disorders.
• Receipt of a live vaccine (BCG, MMR, VZV, polio, yellow fever and some influenza vaccine) within 6 weeks prior to baseline. In rare cases when patient requires vaccination with a live vaccine, the screening period may be extended but cannot exceed 8 weeks.
• Treatment with any investigational agent within 24 weeks of screening (Visit 1) or five half-lives of the investigational drug (whichever is longer).
• Contraindications to or intolerance of oral or i.v. corticosteroids, including methylprednisolone administered i.v.
• Treatment with dalfampridine unless on stable dose for ≥ 30 days prior to screening. Patients should remain on stable doses throughout the 48 weeks' treatment period.
• Previous treatment with B-cell targeted therapies (i.e. rituximab, ocrelizumab, atacicept, belimumab or ofatumumab).
• Systemic corticosteroid therapy within 4 weeks prior to screening.
• Any previous treatment with anti-CD4, cladribine, mitoxantrone, daclizumab, teriflunomide, laquinimod, total body irradiation or bone marrow transplantation.
• Treatment with cyclophosphamide, azathioprine, mycophenolate mofetil (MMF), cyclosporine, methotrexate or natalizumab within 24 months prior to screening. Patients previously treated with natalizumab will be eligible for this study only if duration of treatment with natalizumab was < 1 year.
• Treatment with fingolimod or dimethyl fumarate (DMF) within 4 weeks prior to screening. Only patients with T lymphocyte count ≥ LLN will be eligible for this study.
• Treatment with I.V. immunoglobulin within 12 weeks prior to baseline.
• Positive serum β hCG measured at screening.
• Positive screening tests for hepatitis B
• CD4 count < 300/μL.
• AST/SGOT or ALT/SGPT ≥ 2.0 Upper Limit of Normal (ULN).
• Platelet count <100,000/μL (<100 x 109/L).
• Levels of serum IgG 18% below the LLN.
• Levels of serum IgM 8% below the LLN.
• Total neutrophil count <1.5 x 10^3/μL.