Roche Holding AG's Genentech unit's experimental drug ocrelizumab is found to be effective against multiple sclerosis even during its three late stages.
According to wsj.com, Roche conducted studies and two of which included 1,656 relapsing multiple sclerosis patients. The study showed that ocrelizumab performed better than the most commonly used drug called Rebif. Both drugs reduce the "relapse of major symptoms of the disease but ocrelizumab did a better job.
The company also said that ocrelizumab reduced progression of primary progressive multiple sclerosis after conducting a third study with 732 patients with the said disease. It was also known as the first drug to show progress in a more "serious" kind if sclerosis.
Though the company hasn't released the full report of their studies, they are positive that their new experimental drug is a breakthrough for sclerosis patients. The full report is set to be released on Friday and Saturday during the European Committee for Treatment and Research in Multiple Sclerosis in Barcelona.
In a report by reuters.com, the company believes that the drug's effectiveness and mild side effects make the drug unique while industry analysts see the new drug as a potential million- dollar- a- year product that can help the company to develop new drugs and medications other than their main anti- cancer business.
Roche's head of neuroscience clinical development Paulo Fontoura, said "On relapses, we are essentially equal to the most efficacious medicines out there and on CDP we believe we are a little bit better."
Stephen Hauser of the University Of California San Francisco School Of Medicine, said that most doctors use more potent drugs in more advance stages of the disease but ocrelizumab can change this as the drug can also be used whether on early or late stages of multiple sclerosis.
He also added that "The findings may encourage the MS community to look more closely at earlier treatment of the disease."
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