“What was a surprise in the March 28 announcement is @Ocrevus will come on the market at $65,000 a year. As crazy as this might sound, this is good news because this price is about 25% LESS than what the annual cost is for @Rebif, another MS DMT that was used as a comparator for the studies to prove @Ocrevus is superior in efficacy to other MS drugs.” This is a price I found online and why would the UK price be different? Was it declined because they don’t feel it works or because it cost too much to pay for something that doesn’t work? Guess stem cell is also too much. Eventually you get what you pay for by paying for disability claims. https://www.nationalmssociety.org/About-the-Soc...

@A MyMSTeam Member Though the European Commission has granted marketing authorization for @ ocrelizumab (@ [[treatment:@Ocrevus:57e1c02fe1f26a0440000199]]) for the treatment of both active relapsing MS and early active primary progressive multiple sclerosis , it was up to NICE ( National Institute for Health & Care Excellence ) to determine whether or not if would be accepted in the NHS's formulary of approved drugs. NICE's initial decision, published on 4 April 2018, was to not approve @ ocrelizumab for relapsing MS on the grounds that the cost of the drug is "too high to be considered an acceptable use of NHS resources". Since than the matter is being re-reviewed and there is a now a public consultation on the draft decision which runs until 25 April. A final decision is expected in July 2018. Currently the only MS DMD's approved by for use in the UK by the NHS are listed below. @ Aubagio (teriflunomide) @ Avonex (interferon beta 1a) Betaferon (interferon beta 1b) @ Copaxone (glatiramer acetate) @ Extavia (interferon beta 1b) @ Gilenya (fingolimod) @ Lemtrada (alemtuzumab) Mavenclad (cladribine) @ Plegridy (peginterferon beta 1a) @ Rebif (interferon beta 1a) @ Tecfidera (dimethyl fumarate) @ Tysabri (@ [[treatment:@natalizumab:53726eb008c929c1a4000674]]) Availability may vary in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

Mentioned Users

A MyMSTea...

https://www.nationalmssociety.org/Treating-MS/M... See what your MS specialist knows about Rituximab and if it’s used for MS in the UK. Apparently it’s ocrevus with a different name, but your doctor should know if it is and if it’s available.

No i think just ocrevus for the treatment of ms

My experience with the EU system for approval is that it is more economic driven and the benefit of what is being approved needs to justify the cost. Of course I just studied that in school and didn't have direct experience, but it was different than the US system.