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CD20-DIRECTED CYTOLYTIC ANTIBODY
Ocrevus Zunovo (ocrelizumab and hyaluronidase-ocsq) is a prescription medication approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for treating adults with relapsing forms of multiple sclerosis (RMS) or primary progressive multiple sclerosis (PPMS).
Ocrevus Zunovo works by targeting CD20, a protein found on certain B cells, which are immune cells. It lowers the number of these B cells by helping the body break them down. The exact way it helps is not fully known. In this condition, reducing these B cells may help calm harmful immune activity that can damage the brain and spinal cord.
Doctors prescribe Ocrevus Zunovo for adults with RMS or PPMS. It is given by a healthcare professional as an injection under the skin of the abdomen. The injection takes about 10 minutes and is given every six months.
In clinical studies of intravenous (IV) Ocrevus and Ocrevus Zunovo in adults with RMS or PPMS, the most common side effects were reported in about 10 percent to 49 percent of people. They include:
The most common symptoms of injection reactions included discoloration, pain, swelling, and itching at the injection site, as well as headache and nausea.
Ocrevus Zunovo can cause serious side effects that require immediate medical attention. These include:
Get medical help right away if you think you are having a serious reaction.
Genentech USA, the manufacturer of Ocrevus Zunovo, offers the Ocrevus Co-pay Program. Eligible people with commercial insurance could pay as little as $0 per treatment for Ocrevus Zunovo.
The Ocrevus Co-pay Program also offers copay assistance of up to $20,000 per calendar year. To learn more, visit the Ocrevus financial support page or call 800-888-2882.
Before starting Ocrevus Zunovo, your doctor will test or check for:
Before starting treatment, get any needed vaccines. Get live vaccines at least four weeks before treatment. Get nonlive vaccines, when possible, at least two weeks before treatment. Do not get live vaccines during treatment and until your B cells recover.
Tell your doctor if you have any allergies to ocrelizumab and hyaluronidase-ocsq or any ingredients in Ocrevus Zunovo.
Tell your doctor about all medicines you take, including prescription drugs, over-the-counter medicines, and supplements.
Also let your doctor know if you have had recent infections, plan to travel to areas where certain infections are common, or have had cancer, inflammatory bowel disease or colitis, or liver problems in the past.
Do not take Ocrevus Zunovo if you have an active hepatitis B infection, have had a life-threatening administration reaction to ocrelizumab, or have had a serious allergic reaction to ocrelizumab, hyaluronidase, or any component of Ocrevus Zunovo.
If you are pregnant, planning to become pregnant, or breastfeeding while taking Ocrevus Zunovo, talk with your doctor about the risks and benefits. If you can become pregnant, you should use effective birth control while receiving Ocrevus Zunovo and for six months after the last dose.
How effective is Ocrevus Zunovo?
In a study of adults with RMS or PPMS, Ocrevus Zunovo reached drug levels in the body that were similar to intravenous ocrelizumab (the same medication as Ocrevus Zunovo, but given through a vein). The benefits of Ocrevus Zunovo are based on studies of IV ocrelizumab.
In RMS, IV ocrelizumab reduced annual relapse rates (average number of relapses a person experiences per year) by 46 percent and 47 percent, reduced the risk of disability getting worse by 40 percent, and reduced new or enlarging brain lesions by 77 percent and 83 percent, at 96 weeks. These results were compared to people taking interferon beta-1a (Rebif), another MS treatment.
In PPMS, IV ocrelizumab lowered the risk of disability getting worse by 24 percent and lowered the risk of walking getting worse by 25 percent compared with placebo (an inactive treatment).
How often is Ocrevus Zunovo taken for multiple sclerosis?
Ocrevus Zunovo is given as a single injection under the skin of the abdomen. The injection takes about 10 minutes. It is given every six months by a healthcare professional.
How is Ocrevus Zunovo given for multiple sclerosis, and do I need to stay for monitoring afterward?
Ocrevus Zunovo is given under the skin of the abdomen only, and it is administered by a healthcare professional. Before each dose, people receive an oral corticosteroid and an antihistamine at least 30 minutes before the injection to help lower the risk of injection reactions. After the first injection, people are monitored for at least one hour. After later injections, monitoring lasts at least 15 minutes.
What side effects and injection reactions can happen with Ocrevus Zunovo for multiple sclerosis?
The most common side effects reported with Ocrevus Zunovo in people with multiple sclerosis were injection reactions. Respiratory tract infections and skin infections were common in IV ocrelizumab. After the first injection, 49 percent of people had an injection reaction, which most often involved injection-site discoloration, pain, swelling, and itching, as well as headache and nausea. Most reactions happened within 24 hours after the injection. Most injection reactions in the study were mild or moderate.
On MyMSTeam, people share their experiences with multiple sclerosis, get advice, and find support from others who understand.
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