Ocrelizumab

Ocrelizumab is a humanized anti-CD20 monoclonal antibody. It targets CD20 marker on B lymphocytes and hence is an immunosuppressive drug. Ocrelizumab binds to an epitope that overlaps with the epitope to which rituximab binds

Side effects

• upper respiratory tract infections,
• infusion reactions (itching, rash, hives, redness, bronchospasm, swollen and sore throat, mouth pain, shortness of breath, flushing, hypotension, fever, fatigue, headache, dizziness, nausea, and fast heart rate),
• skin infections,

How much is the drug?

Following its U.S. approval, Ocrevus‘ launch became one of the best ever in the MS market. The bulk of Ocrevus sales have thus far come from the U.S. Across the Atlantic, the drug’s high list price, which was $65,000 per year as of the end of 2017, hasn’t sat well with NICE