Health Check: New drug used to treat multiple sclerosis – Turn to 10

by BARBARA MORSE SILVA, NBC 10 NEWS

A new breakthrough drug called Ocrevus is being used to treat multiple sclerosis.

A new breakthrough drug called Ocrevus is being used to treat multiple sclerosis.

"I started noticing things were getting blurry," said 47-year-old Preston Corbin, who went to see his eye doctor. "He saw something that wasn't right and sent me to Rhode Island Hospital."

It was at Rhode Island Hospital, just one month shy of his 40th birthday, that Corbin was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis.

"His type of MS is what we call relapsing and remitting," said Dr. Syed Rizvi, a neurologist and director of the M.S. Center at Rhode Island Hospital.

Relapsing and remitting means his symptoms would come and go. Then he started progressing.

"It has worsened, said Corbin. I mean, I'm not in a wheelchair so that's good, but I definitely notice. I don't run anymore."

But then a few months ago, in March, Ocrevus was FDA-approved.

"It looks extremely promising. It is an infusion or a cycle of infusions two weeks a part, every six months," said Rizvi.

Corbin was the first in Rhode Island to be infused with this antibody that targets a cell that causes the inflammation in MS patients.

"I believe what you want is to prevent further worsening and further relapses and further new lesions and you just want to keep them stable, said Rizvi. And, an added benefit may be that there's some improvement."

"I have not noticed improvement but I have not noticed worsening."

That's a good thing, according to Rizvi. And that doesnt mean that he wont see improvement in the future.

Who's a good candidate for this infusion?

"This drug, in trials, was tested in patients very early, soon after diagnosis, as well as patients who had been on other treatments as well," said Rizvi.

So it could potentially benefit a wide variety of MS patients. Rizvi says the sooner this drug is used, the better.

What are some of the early symptoms of this disease?

"Loss of vision or double-vision or numbness, tingling and gait problems or any kind of neurological problems, I think it's important to consider the possibility of seeking medical treatment," Rizvi said.

The treatment is $65,000 a year.

Corbin is one of only a handful of MS patients to receive this treatment at Rhode Island Hospital, but Rizvi said about 70 of his patients are good candidates. He said theyre having trouble getting insurance to cover it, especially as a first line treatment.

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Health Check: New drug used to treat multiple sclerosis - Turn to 10