March 2026

NEUROSCIENCES

UPDATE ON SUBCUTANEOUS OCRELIZUMAB

Ocrelizumab is a B-cell-depleting drug that helps prevent new disease attacks and activity in people with:
  • Relapsing forms of MS
  • Primary progressive MS

Ocrelizumab has traditionally been given via IV since coming to the U.S. market in 2017. However, subcutaneous ocrelizumab offers another treatment option for patients with MS.

Differences Between IV-Administered and Subcutaneous Ocrelizumab
  • IV-administered ocrelizumab is given in the arm vein while subcutaneous ocrelizumab is given as an injection in the subcutaneous fat in the abdomen.
  • IV-administered ocrelizumab starts as two loading doses (of about two hours or so each) over two weeks, and subcutaneous ocrelizumab is given as a one-time dose (for about 15 minutes).

​A phase 3 randomized trial with 233 patients from eight countries compared IV-administered ocrelizumab with subcutaneous ocrelizumab. Patients were followed for just over one year.
  • The versions were highly similar in the way they work.
  • 97% of patients had no new MS disease activity.
  • In subcutaneous ocrelizumab, there were more skin reactions within one hour of the injection.
  • With IV-administered ocrelizumab, there were more infusion-related reactions.
Farrah J. Mateen, MD, PhD, Division Chief of Multiple Sclerosis and Neuroimmunology, the Dr. Charles L. Mix Research Professor and Professor of Neurology at Northwestern Medicine

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