October 10, 2023
Black and Hispanic / Latinx people with multiple sclerosis (MS) often experience more severe disease and greater disability
Results from the Phase IV CHIMES trial demonstrate safety and efficacy consistent with data from the Ocrevus Phase III studies
#CHIMES sets new standard for inclusive research in MS, providing critical insights for improving clinical trial recruitment and retention among historically underrepresented communities
South San Francisco, CA — October 10, 2023 —
Genentech, a member of the Roche Group (SIX: RO, ROG; OTCQX: RHHBY), today announced results from the Phase IV CHIMES (Characterization of ocrelizumab In Minorities with Multiple Sclerosis) trial evaluating Ocrevus® (ocrelizumab) in Black and Hispanic / Latinx people with relapsing multiple sclerosis (MS). One-year data from the trial show that Ocrevus effectively manages MS disease activity in these populations. Approximately half of all trial participants (n=182) achieved no evidence of disease activity (NEDA) at week 48 (46% of Black participants; 58% of Hispanic / Latinx participants), with over 94% of participants experiencing no relapses (94.7% of Black participants; 95.7% of Hispanic / Latinx participants) during this period. The safety and efficacy profile demonstrated in the trial was consistent with the large body of clinical evidence from other Ocrevus studies. The results (abstract #P691) were presented at the 9th Joint ECTRIMS-ACTRIMS Meeting (European and Americas Committees for Treatment and Research in Multiple Sclerosis) in Milan.
“We know that Black and Hispanic / Latinx people with MS often experience more severe disease and greater disability compared with their white counterparts. But until now, there has been limited research conducted in these populations,” said Mitzi Joi Williams, M.D., lead trial investigator and founding medical director at Joi Life Wellness MS Center. “The CHIMES trial is a critical step in breaking the cycle of health inequity. The results, for the first time, provide evidence on the benefit of treatment in Black and Hispanic / Latinx people with MS. The study unlocks new insights into the role of social determinants of health in the recruitment and retention of these populations in clinical trials.”
Additional results from the CHIMES trial showed more than 90% of trial participants had no 24-week confirmed disability progression (94.7% of Black participants; 94.2% of Hispanic / Latinx participants) and no T1-Gd+ lesions (95% of Black participants; 97% of Hispanic / Latinx participants). During the trial period, no new or enlarging T2 lesions were observed in about half of Black participants (46%) and more than half of Hispanic / Latinx participants (64%). No new safety signals were reported.
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