My husband (in his 40s and has advanced RA) is in a drug trial that uses Ocrelizumab along with Methotrexate. He has just had his first infusion. Anyone have any experience with this drug or other related info they could share?

Thanks from both of us

yes, my dad has been in this study for about a year and he calls it the miracle juice! lol he is very happy with the results and is like a different person and he is 61 yrs old.

How is your husband doing?

Thanks-Kim

it would depend on who you ask ... I say he is doing better as he is not having as many flares and they seem to not be as bad. The biggest point for me is that it seems to kep the RA in a "holding" pattern (he had entered as a rapidly progressing case) I would call it a partial success, but not a miracle drug (who knows what strength he is on). My husband says "this isn't doing squat". Typical man - an all or nothing mentality, eh? But he will admit he doesnot seem to be having as many flares, as often as before.

We are pretty positive he is getting some of the medicine, as he gets flu like symptoms for 2 days after each infusion. He describes it as feeling like a kickin' case of the flu's body aches, chills,f ever etc.

Your father get these side effects? We didn't put 2 and 2 together at first few infusions.

The trial was working well for my DH. Unfortunately the MD called and informed us they stopped the trial and any future infusions do some cases of infection (brain, I believe). He returns to MD tom to figure out what to do for his RA now.

Bummer, but I suppose "better safe, than sorry" as the saying goes.