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News
A decade of data shows early treatment matters in MS. Ten-year follow-up from the OPERA I and II trials found that patients with relapsing multiple sclerosis who started ocrelizumab from the beginning had 24% lower odds of disability progression and 43% lower odds of needing a walking aid compared to those who delayed treatment. No new long-term safety concerns emerged.
Ten years of follow-up data from the landmark OPERA I and II trials confirm that starting ocrelizumab early — rather than switching to it after two years on interferon beta-1a — delivers lasting, meaningful benefits for patients with relapsing multiple sclerosis (MS). Published in JAMA Neurology, the findings make a compelling case for not waiting.
Patients who began ocrelizumab from the outset were significantly more likely to stay disability-free and relapse-free over the decade. By year 10, roughly 1 in 100 patients on continuous ocrelizumab experienced a relapse — a remarkably low rate — and MRI activity was nearly completely suppressed throughout follow-up.
By the Numbers:
Why it matters: These results reinforce that the window of early treatment is critical in MS — delays can compound into measurable long-term disability. With a stable safety profile over 10,000+ patient-years of exposure, ocrelizumab's benefit-risk balance looks strong for the long haul.
