(Abstract) Adverse event profile differences between Rituxan and Ocrevus...

[agate]

Here's another boring abstract but I'd like to know. Are the authors saying that there are probably more infections resulting from taking Ocrevus than from Rituxan?

Or are they saying that the methods for reporting adverse events for the two drugs are different and the results may be skewed so that the infection rate looks higher for Ocrevus than for Rituxan (but might not really be higher)?

From Multiple Sclerosis Journal (August 24, 2020)--"Adverse event profile differences between rituximab and ocrelizumab: Findings from the FDA Adverse Event Reporting Database":

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[Virginia]

I got the impression they were saying Ocrevus causes more infections because it depletes B cells more than Rituxan.

I am not good at reading these things, but some others on here probably are.

[agate]

Sometimes medical abstracts and articles are carelessly written. This one strikes me as ambiguous but the authors may have intended to be a bit mealymouthed about their findings because they're just not sure what's going on here--whether the adverse event reporting system varies from one drug to another or whether there really is quite a difference between infections related to Rituxan and infections related to Ocrevus.

I think you're right, and they're saying that if there is a real difference, then the difference in B cell depletion might be the cause.

[Sunshine 2]

Weren’t there more cancer incidents on Ocrevus vs Rituxan too?

[agate]

Maybe this is what you're thinking of, Sunshine? (See paragraph 4.)

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The difference in infection rates strikes me as considerable, for the abstract about infections states:

Ocrelizumab was associated with an almost two times higher frequency of infections than rituximab (21.93% vs 11.05%, respectively).

[Lazarus]

Weren’t there more cancer incidents on Ocrevus vs Rituxan too?

You are correct Sunshine. Because there is a slightly greater risk of cancer with Ocrevus I stay on rituxan. My cancer history lets me stay on the drug I prefer. Rituxan is older, better tolerated and less expensive. Although both drugs have little danger.

[Lazarus]

Weren’t there more cancer incidents on Ocrevus vs Rituxan too?

You are correct Sunshine. Because there is a slightly greater risk of cancer with Ocrevus I stay on rituxan. My cancer history lets me stay on the drug I prefer. Rituxan is older, better tolerated and less expensive. Although both drugs have little danger.

[Ikoiko]

Like Linda, that is why I decided to stay on Rituxan. My neurologist has patients on both drugs, though.

[agate]

Now I'm confused. Multiple Sclerosis News Today (August 26) has an article indicating that the article in the MS Journal (link to abstract in post #1 in this thread) finds that the cancer risk is greater for Rituxan than for Ocrevus. It must be in the article itself but it's not mentioned in the abstract.

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[Virginia]

Everything about this disease is confusing, but I am reading it the same way you are Agate. As far as I can tell Rituxan has quite a bit higher risk of cancer than Ocrevus, almost 3 times. It also has higher risk of immune related problems about two times. However Ocrevus has higher risk of infections especially urinary infections.

[Lazarus]

Now I'm confused. Multiple Sclerosis News Today (August 26) has an article indicating that the article in the MS Journal (link to abstract in post #1 in this thread) finds that the cancer risk is greater for Rituxan than for Ocrevus. It must be in the article itself but it's not mentioned in the abstract.

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Nope. Cancer risk is lower with rituxan. You can find a talk Vollmer gave about it a year or so ago. The patent on rituxan ran out so the same drug company developed a twin drug and called it ocrevus. They are almost identical but Ocrevus is way more expensive. There has been an effort to move people off rituxan and force them to take Ocrevus. That is why I am happy I had cancer...it was the excuse not to move me onto Ocrevus.

[Sunshine 2]

My acquaintance was on Ocrevus. She died of a virulent cancer after a year. MIght be unrelated or related.