Ocrevus vs. Mavenclad

• Are Ocrevus and Mavenclad the Same Thing?
• What Are Possible Side Effects of Ocrevus?
• What Are Possible Side Effects of Mavenclad?
• What Is Ocrevus?
• What Is Mavenclad?
• What Drugs Interact with Ocrevus?
• What Drugs Interact with Mavenclad?
• How Should Ocrevus Be Taken?
• How Should Mavenclad Be Taken?

Ocrevus (ocrelizumab) injection and Mavenclad (cladribine) are used to treat relapsing forms of multiple sclerosis (MS).

Ocrevus is also used to treat primary progressive forms of multiple sclerosis (MS).

Because of its safety profile, use of Mavenclad is generally recommended for patients who have had an inadequate response to, or are unable to tolerate, an alternate drug indicated for the treatment of MS.

Ocrevus and Mavenclad belong to different drug classes. Ocrevus is a CD20-directed cytolytic antibody and Mavenclad is a purine antimetabolite.

Side effects of Ocrevus and Mavenclad that are similar include upper respiratory tract infection and back pain.

Side effects of Ocrevus that are different from Mavenclad include lower respiratory tract infections, infusion reactions (itching, rash, hives, redness, bronchospasm, swollen and sore throat, mouth pain, shortness of breath, flushing, hypotension, fever, fatigue, headache, dizziness, nausea, and fast heart rate), skin infections, depression, and pain in the extremities.

Side effects of Mavenclad that are different from Ocrevus include headache, low white blood cell count (lymphopenia), nausea, joint pain, and insomnia.

Both Ocrevus and Mavenclad may interact with other immune-modulating or immunosuppressive therapies, including immunosuppressant doses of corticosteroids.

Mavenclad may also interact with hematotoxic drugs, antiviral and antiretroviral drugs, ritonavir, eltrombopag, curcumin, cyclosporine, dilazep, nifedipine, nimodipine, cilostazol, sulindac, dipyridamole, reserpine, interferon-beta, rifampicin, St. John's wort, and hormonal contraceptives.

Common side effects of Ocrevus include:

• upper respiratory tract infections,
• infusion reactions (itching, rash, hives, redness, bronchospasm, swollen and sore throat, mouth pain, shortness of breath, flushing, hypotension, fever, fatigue, headache, dizziness, nausea, and fast heart rate),
• skin infections,
• lower respiratory tract infections,
• depression,
• back pain, and
• pain in the extremities.

Common side effects of Mavenclad include:

• upper respiratory tract infection,
• headache,
• low white blood cell count (lymphopenia),
• nausea,
• back pain,
• joint pain, and
• insomnia

Ocrevus (ocrelizumab) injection is aCD20-directed cytolytic antibody indicated for the treatment of patients with relapsing or primary progressive forms of multiple sclerosis.

Mavenclad (cladribine) is a purine antimetabolite indicated for the treatment of relapsing forms of multiple sclerosis (MS), to include relapsing-remitting disease and active secondary progressive disease, in adults. Because of its safety profile, use of Mavenclad is generally recommended for patients who have had an inadequate response to, or are unable to tolerate, an alternate drug indicated for the treatment of MS.

Ocrevus may interact with other immune-modulating or immunosuppressive therapies, including immunosuppressant doses of corticosteroids. Tell your doctor all medications and supplements you use.

Mavenclad may interact with immunosuppressive drugs, hematotoxic drugs, antiviral and antiretroviral drugs, ritonavir, eltrombopag, curcumin, cyclosporine, dilazep, nifedipine, nimodipine, cilostazol, sulindac, dipyridamole, reserpine, interferon-beta, corticosteroids, rifampicin, St. John's wort, or hormonal contraceptives. Tell your doctor all medications and supplements you use. Mavenclad is not recommended for use during pregnancy; it may harm a fetus. Pregnancy should be excluded before the initiation of each treatment course of Mavenclad. Females of reproductive potential should prevent pregnancy by use of effective contraception during Mavenclad dosing and for at least 6 months after the last dose in each treatment course. Males of reproductive potential should take precautions to prevent pregnancy of their partner during Mavenclad dosing and for at least 6 months after the last dose in each treatment course. Because of the potential for serious adverse reactions in nursing infants, Mavenclad is not recommended for use while breastfeeding.

Hepatitis B virus screening is required before the first dose of Ocrevus. Pre-medicate with methylprednisolone (or an equivalent corticosteroid) and an antihistamine prior to each infusion. The starting dose of Ocrevus is 300 mg intravenous infusion, followed two weeks later by a second 300 mg intravenous infusion. Subsequent doses of Ocrevus are 600 mg intravenous infusion every 6 months.

The cumulative dosage of 3.5 mg/kg Mavenclad is administered orally and divided into 2 treatment courses (1.75 mg/ kg per treatment course). Each treatment course is divided into 2 treatment cycles.