Thousands of patients with multiple sclerosis are to benefit from a new 10-minute injection on the NHS that can help slow the progression of disability while cutting their treatment time in hospital by over 90%.
Around 9,000 patients in England currently receiving the drug ocrelizumab via an infusion can now be offered a jab that takes just ten minutes, following approval from the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency, enabling them to spend less time in hospital receiving treatment.
The NHS will be one of the first healthcare systems in the world to offer the new injection to treat multiple sclerosis (MS), with stock of the drug set to be available in coming weeks.
Ocrelizumab (Ocrevus) is usually given via twice-yearly intravenous (IV) infusions, which can take up to four hours, but NHS patients in England will now be able to receive the drug via a quick ‘under-the-skin’ twice-yearly injection.