MS: Busting the Myths
April 24, 2025 | Advocacy, Life with MS, News, Treatments
Photo by Kristine Wook, Unsplash.
Medsafe have approved the registration of Ocrevus ® Subcutaneous (SC) (ocrelizumab and hyaluronidase) for the treatment of adult patients with relapsing forms of multiple sclerosis (RMS) and primary progressive multiple sclerosis (PPMS). The announcement on 24th April is welcomed by Multiple Sclerosis New Zealand.
“The registration of Ocrevus SC is a meaningful development for people living with MS across Aotearoa,” says Amanda Rose, National Manager for MSNZ.
In most cases it is a treatable and manageable condition. With almost 3,000 of the 5,000 diagnosed New Zealanders already receiving treatment – many on Ocrevus IV – this new formulation represents greater flexibility, reduced treatment burden and the potential to integrate care more easily into everyday life. “For many, shorter infusion times will mean people are able to focus more on living their lives and less on managing their condition.”
This treatment, if funded by Pharmac is projected to save more than 1,300 days of hospital infusion time across Aotearoa annually, compared to the currently funded Ocrevus intravenous (IV) version.
“The potential to ease pressure on hospital infusion services is another important advantage that we want PHARMAC and the government to take note of. We look forward to progress being made on PHARMAC funding to ensure equitable access to the best medicines for everyone, no matter where they live,” Rose adds.
Pharmac is now reviewing Ocrevus SC for public funding and Roche is working alongside to bring it to Kiwi patients as soon as possible, at no additional cost to the healthcare system.
MSNZ has met with Pharmac, alongside clinical experts, to urge the immediate funding of several treatment options, including Ocrevus SC, as well as highlighting the need to consider wider societal costs in the assessment of treatments.
How do subcutaneous versions differ?
OCREVUS SC is administered as a 10-minute injection under the skin every six months – offering the same twice-yearly dosing schedule as the currently funded IV infusion. While the IV formulation takes several hours to infuse, OCREVUS SC delivers both the initial and ongoing doses in just 10 minutes. This results in a time saving of 13 hours per patient in the first year, and up to 7 hours each year after that.
Benefits for Patients
At MSNZ we have heard many reports from patients who experience barriers to accessing treatments, and as such are forced to make difficult choices. We hear from patients unable to travel significant distances to the hospital for routine infusions, take time off work, or cover the personal costs of treatment access.
Disease modifying therapies like Ocrelizumab are already having a profound impact on the course of a person’s condition. Allowing them to continue living their lives, actively participating in family, community and work.
Subcut versions offer greater flexibility for patients, give back time with shorter infusion times and allow people to get on with life. In the future it is hoped that subcutaneous treatments can be delivered outside of the hospital setting, further breaking down barriers to access.
Relieving Pressure on the Health System
It is well known that the current health system is under significant pressure, with capacity constraints mounting. Subcutaneous administration offers a quick and efficient way to deliver medicines to patients either in or outside a hospital setting, helping to overcome these hurdles and promote a more convenient and flexible treatment option.
OCREVUS SC has the potential to reduce strain on public infusion centres and improve access to care across Aotearoa, with local modelling estimating up to 20,000 hours or 1,309 days of equivalent hospital infusion time that could be freed up across the system.
At a single infusion centre, the time savings could equate to seven or eight additional MS patients being treated each day.
MSNZs Commitment
Multiple Sclerosis New Zealand will continue to advocate to Pharmac for funded access to Ocrevus SC, as well as Cladribine (Mavenclad), Kesimpta (Ofatumumab) and Subcutaneous Tysabri (Natalizumab) which have already been registered by Medsafe and under review by Pharmac.
As we continue this important advocacy work, we encourage those with lived experience to provide their stories to us of barriers they experience accessing treatment. These will help to strengthen our message to Pharmac around the importance of funding the full range of best available disease modifying therapies, breakdown barriers to access, acknowledge the societal costs of medicines and enable people to live their lives well, uninterrupted by MS.