The Clinical Utility of the Ocrelizumab for the Patients with Multiple Sclerorsis

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic, autoimmune, inflammatory disease of the central nervous system, primarily affecting young adults, and is characterized by demyelination and neurodegeneration. Although several disease-modifying therapies (DMTs) are available in Korea, patients who experience inadequate responses or disease progression continue to require more effective and safer therapeutic options. Ocrelizumab, a humanized monoclonal antibody targeting CD20 of B cells, has shown high efficacy in both relapsing forms of multiple sclerosis and primary progressive multiple sclerosis patients. It was approved by the Food and Drug Administration in 2017 and approved by Ministry of Food and Drug Safety Korea in 2024. Clinical trials such as the OPERA and ORATORIO studies demonstrated that ocrelizumab significantly reduced relapse rates, disability progression, and magnetic resonance imaging lesions compared to interferon beta 1a or placebo. Real-world data further supports its clinical value, showing similar or superior efficacy to other high-efficacy DMTs. Long-term safety profile of ocrelizumab remains favorable, with manageable risks such as infections, particularly lower respiratory tract and urinary tract infections. This review discusses the clinical value of ocrelizumab in the treatment of multiple sclerosis, its potential as a tolerable high efficacy treatment option for patients in need of more effective therapies. Based on the clinical evidence, ocrelizumab offers a promising therapeutic opportunity for Korean MS patients, especially those with high disease activity, and is expected to become an essential part of MS treatment strategies worldwide.