A multicenter real-world observational study evaluated the impact of early versus delayed ocrelizumab treatment in people with multiple sclerosis (MS). Researchers analyzed data from 403 patients across four U.S. centers, including 309 who received ocrelizumab as first-line (1L) therapy and 94 who initiated the treatment after prior disease-modifying therapies (2L+). Outcomes were assessed over a follow-up period of up to 60 months.
Patients who received first-line ocrelizumab experienced significantly lower rates of confirmed disability worsening than those in the 2L+ group (25.8% vs 42.6%). They were also less likely to require a walking aid (6.5% vs 27.4%). MRI analyses showed reduced T2 lesion volume progression and a lower risk of developing new T2 lesions among patients treated earlier. However, annualized patient-reported relapse rates and brain volume outcomes did not differ…
