BATON ROUGE, LA – The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved a shortened two-hour infusion time for OCREVUS® (ocrelizumab), making treatment more convenient for people living with relapsing and primary progressive multiple sclerosis (MS). This update, announced by Genentech, a member of the Roche Group, is based on results from the ENSEMBLE PLUS study and reflects a continued focus on improving the patient experience with this leading therapy.

Dr. April Erwin, neurologist and Principal Investigator at The NeuroMedical Center in Baton Rouge, LA, contributed to the clinical research that led to this approval through her work with DelRicht Research. Her commitment to advancing treatment options for neurological diseases has made her a trusted partner in MS clinical development.

Enhancing Patient Convenience Without Compromising Safety

OCREVUS is the only FDA-approved B-cell therapy with twice-yearly dosing for both relapsing and primary progressive MS. The new two-hour infusion option shortens administration time by nearly half while maintaining a comparable safety profile to the original 3.5-hour regimen. The ENSEMBLE PLUS study demonstrated that infusion reactions were mostly mild to moderate and resolved without complications in both groups.

“This shortened infusion time can significantly reduce the burden of treatment for patients and their care teams,” said Tyler Hastings, Managing Partner at DelRicht Research. “We’re proud of Dr. Erwin’s leadership in helping make these advancements accessible to the MS community.”

“This shortened infusion time can significantly reduce the burden of treatment for patients and their care teams. We’re proud of Dr. Erwin’s leadership in helping make these advancements accessible to the MS community.”

— Tyler Hastings, Managing Partner at DelRicht Research

OCREVUS: A Continued Commitment to Innovation in MS

OCREVUS remains the first and only approved therapy for both relapsing forms of MS (including clinically isolated syndrome, RRMS, and active SPMS) and primary progressive MS (PPMS). Since its initial approval, more than 170,000 individuals have been treated with OCREVUS globally.

“With this update, we’re not just treating the disease, we’re improving how patients live with it,” said Dr. Erwin. “Shorter infusions allow more flexibility and reduce the time commitment required for ongoing care, which matters deeply to people managing MS over the long term.”

“With this update, we’re not just treating the disease, we’re improving how patients live with it. Shorter infusions allow more flexibility and reduce the time commitment required for ongoing care, which matters deeply to people managing MS over the long term.”

— Dr. April Erwin, Principal Investigator at DelRicht Research

Bridging Clinical Research and Real-World Impact

This approval exemplifies the role of dedicated research sites in translating innovation into patient care. Through close collaboration with experienced investigators like Dr. Erwin, DelRicht Research supports the delivery of practical, patient-friendly advancements in medicine.

For patients and healthcare providers seeking to streamline MS treatment without compromising efficacy or safety, the shorter OCREVUS infusion is a welcome development, one that reflects the evolving priorities of modern neurology care.

Read the full press release from Genentech.