Two years of ocrelizumab treatment in black and hispanic people with multiple sclerosis in CHIMES: A single-arm clinical trial

Authors

• Lilyana Amezcua, University of Southern California, USA
• Anthony Reder, University of Chicago Medicine, USA
• Evanthia Bernitsas, Creighton University School of Medicine, USA
• Nancy Monson, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, USA
• Timothy Vartanian, Weill Cornell Medicine, USA
• Gregory Wu, Washington University in St Louis, USA
• Mansoor SalehFollow
• Annette Okai, North Texas Institute of Neurology & Headache, USA
• Ahmed Obeidat, Medical College of Wisconsin, USA
• Dilraj Sokhi, Aga Khan UniversityFollow

Document Type

Article

Department

Haematology and Oncology, East Africa; Internal Medicine (East Africa)

Abstract

Objective To evaluate the effectiveness and safety of ocrelizumab in self-identified black and Hispanic people with relapsing multiple sclerosis.

Methods The Characterization of Ocrelizumab in Minorities with Multiple Sclerosis (CHIMES) trial, a prospective, open-label, single-arm, phase 4 study, intentionally recruited underrepresented populations in the US, Puerto Rico, and Kenya. Black and Hispanic people with relapsing multiple sclerosis aged 18–65 years with Expanded Disability Status Scale score 0–5.5 received ocrelizumab for 2 years. The primary endpoint was the proportion of participants with no evidence of disease activity in 3 components at week 48: protocol-defined relapse, 24-week confirmed disability progression, and disease activity on magnetic resonance imaging.

Results Of 113 black and 69 Hispanic people with relapsing multiple sclerosis, most were women (72%), with a mean age of 35.5 (SD 10.5) years, body mass index of 31.0 (SD 7.4) kg/m2, and Expanded Disability Status Scale score of 2.4 (SD 1.4). Genetic ancestry aligned with self-identified race or ethnicity. At week 48, 50.5% of CHIMES participants had no evidence of disease activity, including 94.5% free from 24-week confirmed disability progression, 95.1% free from relapse, 95.6% free from T1-contrast-enhancing lesions, and 52.7% free from new/enlarging T2 lesions. Serious adverse events were experienced by 8.2%, and 2.2% discontinued treatment. Infusion-related reactions were more frequent in Hispanic versus black participants (42.0% vs 29.2%), whereas gastrointestinal adverse events were more frequent in black versus Hispanic participants (23.0% vs 1.4%).

Interpretation Ocrelizumab treatment controlled disease activity in black and Hispanic people with relapsing multiple sclerosis. Results were consistent with pivotal ocrelizumab trials, supporting ocrelizumab's effectiveness and tolerability in these populations. ANN NEUROL 2026

DOI

https://doi.org/10.1002/ana.78290

Recommended Citation

Amezcua, L., Reder, A., Bernitsas, E., Monson, N., Vartanian, T., Wu, G., Saleh, M., Okai, A., Obeidat, A., Sokhi, D. (2026). Two years of ocrelizumab treatment in black and hispanic people with multiple sclerosis in CHIMES: A single-arm clinical trial.
Available at: https://ecommons.aku.edu/eastafrica_fhs_mc_haematol_oncol/170

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