The multiple sclerosis (MS) drug ocrelizumab, an anti-inflammatory approach that targets CD20 B cells, demonstrated a beneficial role of immune suppression in relapsing-remitting disease, according to a recent review. And, for the first time, researchers noted that achieving the primary end point in primary progressive MS was attained with ocrelizumab. This is based on results of clinical trials for registration (phase 3) reported in the last year. Furthermore, these results challenge the long-held belief that relapsing-remitting disease is inflammatory, whereas progressive forms of the disease are “less inflammatory” and more “degenerative.”

Citation: Steinman L, Zamvil SS. Beginning of the end of two-stage theory purporting that inflammation then degeneration explains pathogenesis of progressive multiple sclerosis. Curr Opin Neurol. 2016;29(3):340-4. doi:10.1097/WCO.0000000000000317.