Does Ocrelizumab Limit Multiple Sclerosis Progression? Current Evidence from Clinical, MRI, and Fluid Biomarkers

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic inflammatory, demyelinating, and neurodegenerative disease affecting the central nervous system, often characterized by the accumulation of irreversible clinical disability over time. In recent years, there has been a dramatic evolution in several key concepts of MS treatment. The demonstration of the effects of ocrelizumab, a selective monoclonal antibody against CD20(+) B cells, has significantly modified our knowledge of the immune-pathophysiology of MS and has provided a new therapeutic target for relapsing and progressive MS patients. Emerging findings suggest that, besides its strong anti-inflammatory activity, ocrelizumab may limit disability progression and may exert beneficial effects on cognitive function, fatigue, and quality of life of MS patients. The significant reductions of the rate of global and regional brain atrophy and of serum neurofilament light chain levels, which were found to be partially independent of overt inflammatory activity, suggest that this treatment may also limit neuro-axonal damage. By discussing the most recent evidence regarding the effects of ocrelizumab on clinical measures as well as on magnetic resonance imaging and fluid biomarkers, this review summarizes current knowledge on the possible mechanisms underlying the effects of ocrelizumab in limiting MS progression and neurodegeneration.