LONG-TERM EFFECTIVENESS AND SAFETY EVALUATION OF OCRELIZUMAB

The study duration of 4 years was considered to be sufficient to show a reliable and relevant effect of ocrelizumab on disability progression in the main study (CONSONANCE). However, given the potential long-term use of ocrelizumab in patients with progressive MS, it is critical that additional effectiveness and safety data are accrued in this patient population. In particular, understanding how ocrelizumab can prevent or delay time to major disability milestones such as the need to use an assisting device (Expanded Disability Status Scale [EDSS] 6.0) or a wheelchair (EDSS ≥7.0) is of significant relevance, given that progression to such milestones is associated with a significant reduction in patients' quality of life and an increase in cost of treatment (Kobelt et al. 2017).

In the ORATORIO trial, ocrelizumab reduced the risk of 24-week confirmed EDSS ≥7.0 by 46% (hazard ratio [HR]: 0.54, 95% CI 0.31-0.92; p = 0.022) in patients with primary progressive multiple sclerosis (PPMS). To further characterize the potential long-term impact of ocrelizumab treatment on time to 24-week confirmed EDSS ≥7.0, an analysis was used to extrapolate the observed data into the future, estimating the time at which 50% of patients were expected to have reached EDSS ≥7.0. Extrapolated median time to confirmed EDSS ≥7.0 was 12.1 years for placebo, which was similar to the actual median time observed in MSBase (12.4 years), and 19.2 years for ocrelizumab, representing a 7.1-year delay (95% CI: -4.3 to 18.4) [Butzkueven et al 2021]. A recent MSBase analysis also showed that in a cohort of patients with secondary progressive MS (SPMS), 17.9% reached a confirmed EDSS score of 7.0 from the diagnosis of SPMS, over a period of approximately 12 years (Lizak et al. 2020). Therefore, following patients who complete CONSONANCE beyond the 4-year study period is justified, to better assess the impact of ocrelizumab on these long-term disability milestones.

Another important therapeutic clinical goal in patients with progressive MS is preserving upper limb function. Patients with progressive MS with high EDSS scores, including those who are wheelchair-restricted, experience a devastating reduction in quality of life if they lose any residual function in their arms and/or hands, as this affects the level of independence and significantly limits the ability to perform activities of daily living (Kraft et al. 2014). The Nine-Hole Peg Test (9-HPT) has become one of the most frequently used measures of upper extremity function in MS (Earhart et al. 2011). A 20% worsening in test time is commonly used to define clinically meaningful worsening, as it corresponds to predefined clinically significant changes of established clinician- and patient-reported measures (Feys et al. 2017). Progression rates are lower for 9-HPT compared to EDSS or the Timed 25-Foot Walk Test (25FWT; Goldman et al. 2019). Therefore, following patients who complete CONSONANCE beyond the 4 year study period is justified, to better assess the long-term impact of ocrelizumab on preserving upper limb function.

Patients with MS who have completed the CONSONANCE study, and have a favorable benefit risk ratio, as determined by the treating neurologist, can be included in this study if they meet the inclusion and exclusion criteria.

1.1. Study design

This is a 4-year, single-arm, open-label, multicenter study for patients who have completed 192 weeks of treatment with ocrelizumab in the CONSONANCE study (NCT03523858), and enrolled under the protocol version 1 of CONSONANCE. It is estimated that the study will enroll approximately 90 patients with progressive MS. The study will consist of the following periods:

1. Screening period: The screening visit should be scheduled up to two weeks before the first infusion of ocrelizumab, and always after the last visit of CONSONANCE at Week 192. This period should not be exceeded.
2. Treatment period: The first visit of the treatment period (first infusion of ocrelizumab) will occur at the baseline visit, which should be 24 weeks (+14 days) after the last infusion of ocrelizumab in CONSONANCE. Ocrelizumab will be administered every 24 weeks up to Week 168 of this study. The last visit in the treatment period will be conducted 24 weeks after the last dose of ocrelizumab (i.e., at Week 192).