4.1. Therapeutic indications

Ocrevus is indicated for the treatment of adult patients with relapsing forms of multiple sclerosis (RMS) with active disease defined by clinical or imaging features (see section 5.1).

Ocrevus is indicated for the treatment of adult patients with early primary progressive multiple sclerosis (PPMS) in terms of disease duration and level of disability, and with imaging features characteristic of inflammatory activity (see section 5.1).

4.2. Posology and method of administration

Treatment should be initiated and supervised by specialised physicians experienced in the diagnosis and treatment of neurological conditions and who have access to appropriate medical support to manage severe reactions such as serious infusion-related reactions (IRRs).

Premedication for infusion-related reactions

The following two premedications must be administered prior to each ocrelizumab infusion to reduce the frequency and severity of IRRs (see section 4.4 for additional steps to reduce IRRs):

• 100 mg intravenous methylprednisolone (or an equivalent) approximately 30 minutes prior to each infusion;

• antihistamine approximately 30-60 minutes prior to each infusion;

In addition, premedication with an antipyretic (e.g., paracetamol) may also be considered approximately 30-60 minutes prior to each infusion.

Posology

Initial dose

The initial 600 mg dose is administered as two separate intravenous infusions; first as a 300 mg infusion, followed 2 weeks later by a second 300 mg infusion (see Table 1).

Subsequent doses

Subsequent doses of ocrelizumab thereafter are administered as a single 600 mg intravenous infusion every 6 months (see Table 1). The first subsequent dose of 600 mg should be administered six months after the first infusion of the initial dose.

A minimum interval of 5 months should be maintained between each dose of ocrelizumab.

Infusion adjustments in case of IRRs

Life-threatening IRRs

If there are signs of a life threatening or disabling IRR during an infusion, such as acute hypersensitivity or acute respiratory distress syndrome, the infusion must be stopped immediately and the patient should receive appropriate treatment. The infusion must be permanently discontinued in these patients (see section 4.3).

Severe IRRs

If a patient experiences a severe IRR (such as dyspnoea) or a complex of flushing, fever, and throat pain symptoms, the infusion should be interrupted immediately, and the patient should receive symptomatic treatment. The infusion should be restarted only after all symptoms have resolved. The initial infusion rate at restart should be half of the infusion rate at the time of onset of the reaction. No infusion adjustment is necessary for subsequent new infusions, unless the patient experiences an IRR.

Mild to moderate IRRs

If a patient experiences a mild to moderate IRR (e.g., headache), the infusion rate should be reduced to half the rate at the onset of the event. This reduced rate should be maintained for at least 30 minutes. If tolerated, the infusion rate may then be increased according to the patient's initial infusion rate. No infusion adjustment is necessary for subsequent new infusions, unless the patient experiences an IRR.

Dose modifications during treatment

The above examples of dose interruption and slowing (for mild/moderate and severe IRRs) will result in a change in the infusion rate and increase the total duration of the infusion, but not the total dose. No dose reductions are recommended.

Delayed or missed doses

If an infusion is missed, it should be administered as soon as possible; do not wait until the next planned dose. The treatment interval of 6 months (with a minimum of 5 months) should be maintained between doses (see Table 1).

Special populations

Adults over 55 years old

Based on the limited data available (see sections 5.1 and 5.2), no posology adjustment is needed in patients over 55 years of age. Patients enrolled in the ongoing clinical trials continue to be dosed with 600 mg ocrelizumab every six months after they become older than 55 years old.

Renal impairment

The safety and efficacy of ocrelizumab in patients with renal impairment has not been formally studied. Patients with mild renal impairment were included in clinical trials. There is no experience in patients with moderate and severe renal impairment. Ocrelizumab is a monoclonal antibody and cleared via catabolism (i.e. breakdown into peptides and amino acids), and a dose adjustment is not expected to be required for patients with renal impairment (see section 5.2).

Hepatic impairment

The safety and efficacy of ocrelizumab in patients with hepatic impairment has not been formally studied. Patients with mild hepatic impairment were included in clinical trials. There is no experience in patients with moderate and severe hepatic impairment. Ocrelizumab is a monoclonal antibody and cleared via catabolism (rather than hepatic metabolism), and a dose adjustment is not expected to be required for patients with hepatic impairment (see section 5.2).

Paediatric population

The safety and efficacy of ocrelizumab in children and adolescents aged 0 to 18 years has not yet been established. No data are available.

Method of administration

Ocrevus 300 mg concentrate for solution for infusion is not intended for subcutaneous administration and should be administered via an intravenous infusion only.

It is important to check the product labels to ensure that the correct formulation (intravenous or subcutaneous) is being administered to the patient, as prescribed.

Patients may start treatment using intravenous or subcutaneous ocrelizumab.

After dilution, treatment is administered as an intravenous infusion through a dedicated line. Infusions should not be administered as an intravenous push or bolus.

If patients did not experience a serious infusion-related reaction (IRR) with any previous ocrelizumab infusion, a shorter (2-hour) infusion can be administered for subsequent doses (see Table 1, Option 2).

Table 1: Dose and schedule

Amount of ocrelizumab to be administered

Infusion instructions

Initial dose

(600 mg)

divided into 2 infusions

Infusion 1

300 mg in 250 mL

• Initiate the infusion at a rate of 30 mL/hour for 30 minutes

• The rate can be increased in 30 mL/hour increments every 30 minutes to a maximum of 180 mL/hour.

• Each infusion should be given over approximately 2.5 hours

Infusion 2

(2 weeks later)

300 mg in 250 mL

Subsequent doses

(600 mg)

single infusion

once every 6 months

Option 1

Infusion of approximately 3.5 hours duration

600 mg in 500 mL

• Initiate the infusion at a rate of 40 mL/hour for 30 minutes

• The rate can be increased in 40 mL/hour increments every 30 minutes to a maximum of 200 mL/hour

• Each infusion should be given over approximately 3.5 hours

OR

Option 2

Infusion of approximately 2 hours duration

600 mg in 500 mL

• Initiate the infusion at a rate of 100 mL/hour for the first 15 minutes

• Increase the infusion rate to 200 mL/hour for the next 15 minutes

• Increase the infusion rate to 250 mL/hour for the next 30 minutes

• Increase the infusion rate to 300 mL/hour for the remaining 60 minutes

• Each infusion should be given over approximately 2 hours

Solutions for intravenous infusion are prepared by dilution of the concentrate into an infusion bag containing sodium chloride 9 mg/mL (0.9%) solution for infusion, to a final ocrelizumab concentration of approximately 1.2 mg/mL.

For instructions on dilution of the medicinal product before administration, see section 6.6.

Patients should be monitored during the infusion and for at least one hour after the completion of the infusion (see section 4.4).

4.3. Contraindications

• Hypersensitivity to the active substance or to any of the excipients listed in section 6.1.

• Current active infection (see section 4.4).

• Patients in a severely immunocompromised state (see section 4.4).

• Known active malignancies (see section 4.4).

4.4. Special warnings and precautions for use

Traceability

In order to improve the traceability of biological medicinal products, the name and the batch number of the administered product should be clearly recorded.

Infusion-Related Reactions (IRRs)

Ocrelizumab is associated with IRRs, which may be related to cytokine release and/or other chemical mediators.

Symptoms of IRRs may occur during any ocrelizumab infusion, but have been more frequently reported during the first infusion. IRRs can occur within 24 hours of the infusion (see section 4.8). These reactions may present as pruritus, rash, urticaria, erythema, throat irritation, oropharyngeal pain, dyspnoea, pharyngeal or laryngeal oedema, flushing, hypotension, pyrexia, fatigue, headache, dizziness, nausea, tachycardia and anaphylaxis.

Before the infusion

Management of severe reactions

Appropriate resources for the management of severe reactions such as serious IRR, hypersensitivity reactions and/or anaphylactic reactions should be available.

Hypotension

As a symptom of IRR, hypotension may occur during infusions. Therefore, withholding of antihypertensive treatments should be considered for 12 hours prior to and throughout each infusion. Patients with a history of congestive heart failure (New York Heart Association III & IV) were not studied.

Premedication

Patients must receive premedication to reduce the frequency and severity of IRRs (see section 4.2).

During the infusion

The following measures need to be taken for patients who experience severe pulmonary symptoms, such as bronchospasm or asthma exacerbation:

- their infusion must be interrupted immediately and permanently;

- symptomatic treatment must be administered;

- the patient must be monitored until the pulmonary symptoms have resolved because initial improvement of clinical symptoms could be followed by deterioration.

Hypersensitivity may be clinically indistinguishable from an IRR in terms of symptoms. If a hypersensitivity reaction is suspected during infusion, the infusion must be stopped immediately and permanently (see 'Hypersensitivity reactions' below).

After the infusion

Patients should be observed for at least one hour after the completion of the infusion for any symptom of IRR.

Physicians should alert patients that an IRR can occur within 24 hours of infusion.

For guidance regarding infusion adjustments in case of IRR, see section 4.2.

Hypersensitivity reactions

A hypersensitivity reaction could also occur (acute allergic reaction to medicinal product). Type 1 acute hypersensitivity reactions (Ig-E-mediated) may be clinically indistinguishable from IRR symptoms.

A hypersensitivity reaction may present during any administration, although typically would not present during the first administration. For subsequent administrations, more severe symptoms than previously experienced, or new severe symptoms, should prompt consideration of a potential hypersensitivity reaction. Patients with known Ig-E mediated hypersensitivity to ocrelizumab or any of the excipients must not be treated (see section 4.3).

Infection

Administration of ocrelizumab must be delayed in patients with an active infection until the infection is resolved.

It is recommended to verify the patient's immune status before dosing since severely immunocompromised patients (e.g., with lymphopenia, neutropenia, hypogammaglobulinemia) should not be treated (see sections 4.3 and 4.8).

The overall proportion of patients experiencing a serious infection (SI) was similar to comparators (see section 4.8). The frequency of grade 4 (life-threatening) and grade 5 (fatal) infections was low in all treatment groups, but in PPMS it was higher with ocrelizumab compared with placebo for life-threatening (1.6% vs 0.4%) and fatal (0.6% vs 0%) infections. All life-threatening infections resolved without discontinuing ocrelizumab.

In PPMS, patients with swallowing difficulties are at a higher risk of aspiration pneumonia. Treatment with ocrelizumab may further increase the risk of severe pneumonia in these patients. Physicians should take prompt action for patients presenting with pneumonia.

Progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML)

John Cunningham virus (JCV) infection resulting in PML has been observed very rarely in patients treated with anti-CD20 antibodies, including ocrelizumab, and mostly associated with risk factors (patient population e.g., lymphopenia, advanced age, polytherapy with immunosuppressants).

Physicians should be vigilant for the early signs and symptoms of PML, which can include any new onset, or worsening of neurological signs or symptoms, as these can be similar to MS disease.

If PML is suspected, dosing with ocrelizumab must be withheld. Evaluation including Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) scan preferably with contrast (compared with pre-treatment MRI), confirmatory cerebro-spinal fluid (CSF) testing for JCV Deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) and repeat neurological assessments, should be considered. If PML is confirmed, treatment must be discontinued permanently.

Hepatitis B reactivation

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) reactivation, in some cases resulting in fulminant hepatitis, hepatic failure and death, has been reported in patients treated with anti-CD20 antibodies.

HBV screening should be performed in all patients before initiation of treatment as per local guidelines. Patients with active HBV (i.e. an active infection confirmed by positive results for HBsAg and anti HB testing) should not be treated with ocrelizumab (see section 4.3). Patients with positive serology (i.e. negative for HBsAg and positive for HB core antibody (HBcAb +); carriers of HBV (positive for surface antigen, HBsAg+) should consult liver disease experts before start of treatment and should be monitored and managed following local medical standards to prevent hepatitis B reactivation.

Late neutropenia

Cases of late onset of neutropenia have been reported at least 4 weeks after the latest ocrelizumab infusion (see section 4.8). Although some cases were Grade 3 or 4, the majority of the cases were Grade 1 or 2. In patients with signs and symptoms of infection, measurement of blood neutrophils is recommended.

Malignancies

An increased number of malignancies (including breast cancers) have been observed in the controlled period of the pivotal clinical trials in patients treated with ocrelizumab, compared to control groups. The incidence was within the background rate expected for an MS population. After approximately 10 years of continuous ocrelizumab treatment over the controlled period and Open-Label Extension (OLE) phase of the pivotal clinical trials, the incidence of malignancies remained within the background rate expected for an MS population. Patients with a known active malignancy should not be treated with ocrelizumab (see section 4.3). Individual benefit risk should be considered in patients with known risk factors for malignancies and in patients who are being actively monitored for recurrence of malignancy. Patients should follow standard breast cancer screening per local guidelines.

Treatment of severely immunocompromised patients

Patients in a severely immunocompromised state must not be treated until the condition resolves (see section 4.3).

In other auto-immune conditions, use of ocrelizumab concomitantly with immunosuppressants (e.g., chronic corticosteroids, non-biologic and biologic disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs [DMARDS], mycophenolate mofetil, cyclophosphamide, azathioprine) resulted in an increase of SIs, including opportunistic infections. Infections included and were not limited to atypical pneumonia and pneumocystis jirovecii pneumonia, varicella pneumonia, tuberculosis, histoplasmosis. In rare cases, some of these infections were fatal. An exploratory analysis identified the following factors associated with risk of SIs: higher doses of ocrelizumab than recommended in MS, other comorbidities, and chronic use of immunosuppressants/corticosteroids.

It is not recommended to use other immunosuppressives concomitantly with ocrelizumab except corticosteroids for symptomatic treatment of relapses. Knowledge is limited as to whether concomitant steroid use for symptomatic treatment of relapses is associated with an increased risk of infections in clinical practice. In the ocrelizumab MS pivotal studies, the administration of corticosteroids for the treatment of relapse was not associated with an increased risk of SI.

When initiating ocrelizumab after an immunosuppressive therapy or initiating an immunosuppressive therapy after ocrelizumab, the potential for overlapping pharmacodynamic effects should be taken into consideration (see section 5.1). Caution should be exercised when prescribing ocrelizumab taking into consideration the pharmacodynamics of other disease modifying MS therapies.

Vaccinations

The safety of immunisation with live or live-attenuated vaccines, following ocrelizumab therapy has not been studied and vaccination with live-attenuated or live vaccines is not recommended during treatment and not until B-cell repletion. In clinical trials, the median time for B-cell repletion was 72 weeks (see section 5.1).

In a randomised open-label study, RMS patients were able to mount humoral responses, although decreased, to tetanus toxoid, 23-valent pneumococcal polysaccharide with or without a booster vaccine, keyhole limpet haemocyanin neoantigen, and seasonal influenza vaccines (see section 4.5 and 5.1).

It is recommended to vaccinate patients treated with ocrelizumab with seasonal influenza vaccines that are inactivated.

Physicians should review the immunisation status of patients being considered for treatment with ocrelizumab. Patients who require vaccination should complete their immunisation at least 6 weeks prior to initiation of treatment.

Exposure in utero to ocrelizumab and vaccination of neonates and infants with live or live attenuated vaccines

Due to the potential depletion of B cells in infants of mothers who have been exposed to ocrelizumab during pregnancy, it is recommended that vaccination with live or live-attenuated vaccines should be delayed until B-cell levels have recovered; therefore, measuring CD19-positive B-cell levels in neonates and infants prior to vaccination is recommended.

It is recommended that all vaccinations other than live or live-attenuated should follow the local immunisation schedule and measurement of vaccine-induced response titres should be considered to check whether individuals have mounted a protective immune response because the efficacy of the vaccination may be decreased.

The safety and timing of vaccination should be discussed with the infant's physician (see section 4.6).

Sodium

This medicinal product contains less than 1 mmol sodium (23 mg) per dose, that is to say essentially 'sodium-free'.

4.5. Interaction with other medicinal products and other forms of interaction

No interaction studies have been performed, as no interactions are expected via cytochrome P450 enzymes, other metabolising enzymes or transporters.

Vaccinations

The safety of immunisation with live or live-attenuated vaccines, following ocrelizumab therapy has not been studied.

Data are available on the effects of tetanus toxoid, 23-valent pneumococcal polysaccharide, keyhole limpet haemocyanin neoantigen, and seasonal influenza vaccines in patients receiving ocrelizumab (see section 4.4 and 5.1).

After treatment over 2 years, the proportion of patients with positive antibody titres against S. pneumoniae, mumps, rubella and varicella were generally similar to the proportions at baseline.

Immunosuppressants

It is not recommended to use other immunosuppressive therapies concomitantly with ocrelizumab except corticosteroids for symptomatic treatment of relapses (see section 4.4).

4.6. Fertility, pregnancy and lactation

Women of childbearing potential

Women of childbearing potential should use contraception while receiving ocrelizumab and for 4 months after the last administered dose of ocrelizumab.

Pregnancy

There is a limited amount of data from the use of ocrelizumab in pregnant women. Ocrelizumab is an immunoglobulin G (IgG). IgG is known to cross the placental barrier. Postponing vaccination with live or live-attenuated vaccines should be considered for neonates and infants born to mothers who have been exposed to ocrelizumab in utero. No B cell count data have been collected in neonates and infants exposed to ocrelizumab and the potential duration of B-cell depletion in neonates and infants is unknown (see section 4.4).

Transient peripheral B-cell depletion and lymphocytopenia have been reported in infants born to mothers exposed to other anti-CD20 antibodies during pregnancy. B-cell depletion in utero was also detected in animal studies.

Animal studies (embryo-foetal toxicity) do not indicate teratogenic effects. Reproductive toxicity was observed in pre- and post-natal development studies (see section 5.3).

Ocrelizumab should be avoided during pregnancy unless the potential benefit to the mother outweighs the potential risk to the foetus.

Breast-feeding

Human IgGs are known to be excreted in breastmilk the first few days after birth (colostrum period), which decreases to low concentrations soon afterwards.

In a prospective, multicentre, open label study MN42989 (SOPRANINO), 13 lactating women received ocrelizumab at a median of 2.0 months postpartum (range 0.5-5.0 months). Low concentrations of ocrelizumab were detected in the breastmilk over 60 days following the mother's first postpartum infusion (median relative infant dose of 0.27% [range 0.0-1.8 %]), indicating minimal transfer of ocrelizumab to breastmilk. At 30 days after the mother's first postpartum infusion, ocrelizumab was undetectable in all available serum samples of breastfed infants (n=9), and infant B-cell levels were within normal range in all available blood samples (n=10). No effects of ocrelizumab on health, growth and development were observed in breastfed infants over a follow-up period of 44.6 weeks (range 8.6-62.7 weeks).

While no clinical data on infants potentially exposed to ocrelizumab via breastmilk receiving live or live-attenuated vaccines are available, no risks are expected due to normal B-cell levels and undetectable serum ocrelizumab levels observed in those infants.

In a separate prospective clinical study, low ocrelizumab concentrations in breastmilk (median relative infant dose of 0.1% [range 0.07-0.7%]) over 90 days after the mother's first postpartum infusion were observed in 29 lactating women who received ocrelizumab at a median of 4.3 months postpartum (range 0.1-36 months). Follow-up of 21 infants breastfed for at least 2 weeks showed normal growth and development up to 1 year.

Ocrelizumab can be used during breastfeeding starting a few days after birth.

Fertility

Preclinical data reveal no special hazards for humans based on studies of male and female fertility in cynomolgus monkeys.

4.7. Effects on ability to drive and use machines

Ocrevus has no or negligible influence on the ability to drive and use machines.

4.8. Undesirable effects

Summary of the safety profile

In the controlled period of the pivotal clinical trials, the most important and frequently reported adverse reactions were IRRs (34.3%, 40.1% in RMS and PPMS, respectively) and infections (58.5%, 72.2% in RMS and PPMS, respectively) (see section 4.4).

A total of 2,376 patients were included in the controlled period of the pivotal clinical trials; of these patients, 1,852 entered the OLE phase. All patients switched to ocrelizumab treatment during the OLE phase. 1,155 patients completed the OLE phase, resulting in approximately 10 years of continuous ocrelizumab treatment (15,515 patient-years of exposure) across the controlled period and OLE phase. The overall safety profile observed during the controlled period and OLE phase remains consistent with that observed during the controlled period.

Tabulated list of adverse reactions

Adverse reactions reported in the controlled period of the pivotal clinical trials and derived from spontaneous reporting are listed below in Table 2. The adverse reactions are listed by MedDRA system organ class and categories of frequency. Frequencies are defined as very common (≥ 1/10), common (≥ 1/100 to < 1/10), uncommon (≥ 1/1,000 to < 1/100), rare (≥ 1/10,000 to < 1/1,000), very rare (< 1/10,000) and not known (cannot be estimated from the available data). Within each System Organ Class, the adverse reactions are presented in order of decreasing frequency.

Table 2 Adverse reactions

MedDRA

System Organ Class (SOC)

Very common

Common

Not Known

Infections and infestations

Upper respiratory tract infection, nasopharyngitis, influenza

Sinusitis, bronchitis, oral herpes, gastroenteritis, respiratory tract infection, viral infection, herpes zoster, conjunctivitis, cellulitis

Blood and lymphatic system disorders

Neutropenia

Late onset of Neutropenia2

Respiratory, thoracic and mediastinal disorders

Cough, catarrh

Investigations

Blood immunoglobulin M decreased

Blood immunoglobulin G decreased

Injury, poisoning and procedural complications

Infusion-related reactions1

1 See Descriptions of selected adverse reactions.

2 Observed in the postmarketing setting.

Description of selected adverse reactions

Infusion-related reactions

Across the RMS and PPMS trials, symptoms associated with IRRs included, but are not limited to: pruritus, rash, urticaria, erythema, flushing, hypotension, pyrexia, fatigue, headache, dizziness, throat irritation, oropharyngeal pain, dyspnoea, pharyngeal or laryngeal oedema, nausea, tachycardia. In controlled trials there were no fatal IRRs. In addition, symptoms of IRR in the post-marketing setting included anaphylaxis.

In active-controlled (RMS) clinical trials, IRR was the most common adverse reaction in the ocrelizumab treatment group with an overall incidence of 34.3% compared with an incidence of 9.9% in the interferon beta-1a treatment group (placebo infusion). The incidence of IRRs was highest during the Dose 1, infusion 1 (27.5%) and decreased over time to <10% at Dose 4. The majority of IRRs in both treatment groups were mild to moderate. 21.7% and 10.1% of ocrelizumab treated patients experienced mild and moderate IRRs, respectively. 2.4% experienced severe IRRs and 0.1% experienced life-threatening IRRs.

In the placebo-controlled (PPMS) clinical trial, IRR was the most common adverse reaction in the ocrelizumab treatment group with an overall incidence of 40.1% compared with an incidence of 25.5% in the placebo group. The incidence of IRRs was highest during Dose 1, infusion 1 (27.4%) and decreased with subsequent doses to <10% at Dose 4. A greater proportion of patients in each group experienced IRRs with the first infusion of each dose compared with the second infusion of that dose. The majority of IRRs were mild to moderate. 26.7% and 11.9% of ocrelizumab treated patients experienced mild and moderate IRRs respectively, 1.4% experienced severe IRRs. There were no life-threatening IRRs. See section 4.4.

Over the controlled period and OLE phase of the RMS and PPMS clinical trials, patients were given approximately 20 doses of ocrelizumab. Incidence of IRRs decreased to <4% by Dose 4 of the OLE phase in RMS patients and to <5% by Dose 5 of the OLE phase in PPMS patients. With subsequent doses administered during the OLE phase, incidence of IRR remained low. The majority of IRRs were mild during the OLE phase.

Alternative shorter infusion of subsequent doses

In a study (MA30143 Shorter Infusion Substudy) designed to characterise the safety profile of shorter (2-hour) ocrelizumab infusions in patients with Relapsing-Remitting Multiple Sclerosis, the incidence, intensity, and types of symptoms of IRRs were consistent with those of infusions administered over 3.5 hours (see section 5.1). The overall number of interventions needed was low in both infusion groups, however, more interventions (slowing down or temporary interruptions) were needed to manage IRRs in the shorter (2-hour) infusion group compared to the 3.5-hour infusion group (8.7% vs. 4.8%, respectively).

Infection

In the active-controlled studies in RMS, infections occurred in 58.5% of patients receiving ocrelizumab vs 52.5% of patients receiving interferon beta 1a. SIs occurred in 1.3% of patients receiving ocrelizumab vs 2.9% of patients receiving interferon beta 1a. In the placebo-controlled study in PPMS, infections occurred in 72.2% of patients receiving ocrelizumab vs 69.9% of patients receiving placebo. SIs occurred in 6.2% of patients receiving ocrelizumab vs 6.7% of patients receiving placebo.

All patients switched to ocrelizumab during the OLE phase in both RMS and PPMS studies. Over the OLE phase in RMS and PPMS patients, the overall risk of SIs did not increase from that observed during the controlled period. As observed during the controlled period, the rate of SIs in PPMS patients remained higher than that observed in RMS patients.

In line with the previous analysis of risk factors for SIs in auto-immune conditions other than MS (see section 4.4), a multivariate analysis of risk factors for SIs was conducted in the approximately 10 years of cumulative exposure data from the controlled period and OLE phase of the pivotal clinical trials. Risk factors for SIs in RMS patients include having at least 1 comorbidity, recent clinical relapse, and Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) ≥ 6.0. Risk factors for SIs in PPMS patients include body mass index greater than 25 kg/m2, having at least 2 comorbidities, EDSS ≥ 6.0, and IgM < lower limit of normal (LLN). Comorbidities included, but were not limited to, cardiovascular, renal and urinary tract conditions, previous infections, and depression.

Respiratory tract infections

The proportion of respiratory tract infections was higher in ocrelizumab treated patients compared to interferon beta-1-a and placebo.

In the RMS clinical trials, 39.9% of ocrelizumab treated patients and 33.2% interferon beta-1-a treated patients experienced an upper respiratory tract infection and 7.5% of ocrelizumab treated patients and 5.2% of interferon beta-1-a treated patients experienced a lower respiratory tract infection.

In the PPMS clinical trial, 48.8% of ocrelizumab treated patients and 42.7% of patients who received placebo experienced an upper respiratory tract infection, and 9.9% of ocrelizumab treated patients and 9.2% of patients who received placebo experienced a lower respiratory tract infection.

The respiratory tract infections reported in patients treated with ocrelizumab were predominately mild to moderate (80 – 90 %).

Herpes

In active-controlled (RMS) clinical trials, herpes infections were reported more frequently in ocrelizumab treated patients than in interferon-beta-1a treated patients including herpes zoster (2.1% vs 1.0%), herpes simplex (0.7 % vs 0.1 %), oral herpes (3.0% vs 2.2%), genital herpes (0.1% vs 0%) and herpes virus infection (0.1% vs 0%). All infections were mild to moderate in severity, except one Grade 3 event, and patients recovered with treatment by standard therapies.

In the placebo-controlled (PPMS) clinical trial, a higher proportion of patients with oral herpes (2.7% vs 0.8%) were observed in the ocrelizumab treatment arm.

Laboratory abnormalities

Immunoglobulins

Ocrelizumab treatment resulted in a decrease in total immunoglobulins over the controlled period of the pivotal clinical trials, mainly driven by reduction in IgM.

Clinical trial data from the controlled period and OLE phase of the pivotal clinical trials have shown an association between decreased levels of IgG (and less so for IgM or IgA) and increased rate of SIs. 2.1% of RMS patients had a SI during a period with IgG < LLN and in 2.3% of PPMS patients had a SI during a period with IgG < LLN. The difference in rate of SIs between patients with IgG < LLN compared to patients with IgG ≥ LLN did not increase over time. The type, severity, latency, duration, and outcome of SIs observed during episodes of immunoglobulins below LLN were consistent with the overall SIs observed in patients treated with ocrelizumab during the controlled period and OLE phase. Throughout the 10 years of continuous ocrelizumab treatment, mean IgG levels of RMS and PPMS patients remained above LLN.

Lymphocytes

In RMS, a decrease in lymphocyte < LLN was observed in 20.7% of patients treated with ocrelizumab compared with 32.6% of patients treated with interferon beta-1a. In PPMS, a decrease in lymphocytes <LLN was observed in 26.3% of ocrelizumab treated patients vs 11.7% of placebo-treated patients.

The majority of these decreases reported in ocrelizumab treated patients were Grade 1 (<LLN - 800 cells/mm3) and 2 (between 500 and 800 cells/mm3) in severity. Approximately 1% of the patients in the ocrelizumab group had a Grade 3 lymphopenia (between 200 and 500 cells/mm3). None of the patients was reported with Grade 4 lymphopenia (< 200 cells/mm3).

An increased rate of SIs was observed during episodes of confirmed total lymphocytes counts decrease in ocrelizumab treated patients. The number of SIs was too low to draw definitive conclusions.

Neutrophils

In the active-controlled (RMS) treatment period, a decrease in neutrophils < LLN was observed in 14.7% of patients treated with ocrelizumab compared with 40.9% of patients treated with interferon beta-1a. In the placebo-controlled (PPMS) clinical trial, the proportion of ocrelizumab patients presenting decreased neutrophils was higher (12.9 %) than placebo patients (10.0 %); among these a higher percentage of patients (4.3%) in the ocrelizumabgroup had Grade 2 or above neutropenia vs 1.3% in the placebo group; approximately 1% of the patients in the ocrelizumab group had Grade 4 neutropenia vs 0% in the placebo group.

The majority of the neutrophil decreases were transient (only observed once for a given patient treated with ocrelizumab) and were Grade 1 (between<LLN and 1,500 cells/mm3) and 2 (between 1,000 and 1,500 cells/mm3) in severity. Overall, approximately 1% of the patients in the ocrelizumab group had Grade 3 or 4 neutropenia. One patient with Grade 3 (between 500 and 1,000 cells/mm3) and one patient with Grade 4 (< 500 cells/mm3) neutropenia required specific treatment with granulocyte-colony stimulating factor, and remained on ocrelizumab after the episode. Neutropenia can occur several months after the administration of ocrelizumab (see section 4.4).

Other

One patient, who received 2,000 mg of ocrelizumab, died of systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS) of unknown aetiology, following a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) examination 12 weeks after the last infusion; an anaphylactoid reaction to the MRI gadolinium-contrast agent could have contributed to the SIRS.

Reporting of suspected adverse reactions

Reporting suspected adverse reactions after authorisation of the medicinal product is important. It allows continued monitoring of the benefit/risk balance of the medicinal product. Healthcare professionals are asked to report any suspected adverse reactions via the Yellow Card Scheme Website: www.mhra.gov.uk/yellowcard or search for MHRA Yellow Card in the Google Play or Apple App Store

4.9. Overdose

There is limited clinical trial experience with doses higher than the approved dose of ocrelizumab. The highest dose tested to date in MS patients is 2,000 mg, administered as two 1,000 mg intravenous infusions separated by 2 weeks (Phase II dose finding study in RRMS) and 1,200 mg, administered as a subcutaneous injection (Phase Ib dose finding study). The adverse reactions were consistent with the safety profile in the pivotal clinical studies.

There is no specific antidote in the event of an overdose; interrupt the infusion immediately and observe the patient for IRRs (see section 4.4).