Ocrelizumab
Indications
Ocrelizumab is used for:
Multiple Sclerosis
Adult Dose
Multiple Sclerosis
Indicated for treatment of relapsing forms of multiple sclerosis (MS), to include clinically isolated syndrome, relapsing-remitting disease, and active secondary progressive disease or primary progressive MS
Initial 2 doses: 300 mg IV once; repeat dose 2 wk later
Subsequent doses: 600 mg IV every 6 months
Child Dose
Renal Dose
Administration
IV Preparation
Visually inspect vial for particulate matter and discoloration; do not use if solution is discolored or contains discrete foreign particulate matter
Do not shake vial
Using aseptic technique, withdraw dose and further dilute into 0.9% NaCl infusion bag to final concentration of ~1.2 mg/mL (ie, 300 mg in 250-mL bag, 600 mg in 500-mL bag)
Product contains no preservative and is intended for single use only
Before starting the IV infusion, the content of the infusion bag should be at room temperature
Use the prepared infusion solution immediately or refrigerate (see Storage)
IV Administration
Administer infusion solution through a dedicated line using an infusion set with a 0.2 or 0.22 micron inline filter
Observe for infusion reactions during the infusion and for at least 1 hr after completion of the infusion; inform patients that infusion reactions can occur up to 24 hr after the infusion
Contra Indications
Active HBV infection
History of life-threatening infusion reaction to ocrelizumab
Precautions
May increase risk for malignancy
In infants of mothers exposed to ocrelizumab during pregnancy, do not administer live or live-attenuated vaccines before confirming the recovery of B-cell counts as measured by CD19+ B-cells
Administer all immunizations according to immunization guidelines; administer live or live attenuated vaccines at least 4 weeks prior to initiation of therapy, whenever possible, and non-live vaccines at least 2 weeks prior to initiation of therapy; may administer non-live vaccines, as indicated, prior to recovery from B-cell depletion, but should consider assessing vaccine immune responses, including consultation with a qualified specialist, to assess whether protective immune response was mounted; vaccination with live-attenuated or live vaccines not recommended during treatment and until B-cell repletion
Pregnancy-Lactation
Pregnancy
No data available to assess risk in pregnant women
However, transient peripheral B-cell depletion and lymphocytopenia have been reported in infants born to mothers exposed to other anti-CD20 antibodies during pregnancy
See Cautions for information regarding vaccinating infants born to mothers taking ocrelizumab
Contraception
Women of childbearing potential should use contraception while receiving ocrelizumab and for 6 months after the last infusion
Lactation
Unknown if distributed in human breast milk
Consider the developmental and health benefits of breastfeeding along with the mother’s clinical need for the drug, and any potential adverse effects on the breastfed infant from the drug or from the underlying maternal condition
Interactions
Coadministration with immunosuppressants may increase risk for immunosuppressive effects
Vaccinations
May interfere with efficacy of nonlive vaccines (live or live-attenuated vaccines not studied)
Administer all immunizations according to immunization guidelines at least 4 weeks prior to initiation for live or live-attenuated vaccines and, whenever possible, at least 2 weeks prior to initiation for nonlive vaccines
Vaccination of infants of mothers exposed to ocrelizumab during pregnancy
Do not administer live or live-attenuated vaccines before confirming recovery of B-cell counts (measured by CD19+ B-cells)
Depletion of B-cells in these infants may increase risks from live or live-attenuated vaccines
Nonlive vaccines may be administered as indicated, prior to recovery from B-cell depletion; consider assessing vaccine immune responses, including consultation with a qualified specialist, to assess whether a protective immune response was mounted
Adverse Effects
Side effects of Ocrelizumab :
>10%
Upper respiratory tract infections (40-49%)
Infusion-related reactions (34-40%)
Skin infections (14%)
Decreased neutrophil counts (13%)
1-10%
Lower respiratory tract infections (8-10%)
Depression (8%)
Cough (7%)
Back pain (6%)
Herpes virus-associated infections (5-6%)
Diarrhea (6%)
Peripheral edema (6%)
Pain in extremity (5%)
Mechanism of Action
Humanized monoclonal antibody designed to selectively target CD20, a cell surface antigen present on pre-B and mature B lymphocytes
Following cell surface binding to B lymphocytes, ocrelizumab results in antibody-dependent cellular cytolysis and complement-mediated lysis