Kesimpta (ofatumumab) approved for relapsing remitting MS in Scotland


11 July 2021

The Scottish Medicines Consortium (SMC) has recommended that Kesimpta can be prescribed for people with relapsing remitting MS who are having relapses or have MRI evidence of MS activity.

This is excellent news! The approval of Kesimpta in Scotland increases the choices for people with relapsing MS. An expanding range of drugs, working in different ways and with different benefits and risks, means more people can find the treatment that is best for them. Kesimpta offers access to an effective treatment which doesn’t require regular hospital visits.

- David Martin, Chief Executive Officer, MS Trust

NICE recommended Kesimpta for the NHS in England and Wales earlier this year.

In Northern Ireland, the Department of Health reviews NICE guidance for NHS use.

About Kesimpta

Kesimpta is self-injected under the skin once a month.

In clinical trials for relapsing MS, Kesimpta reduced the risk of relapse by 50-59% compared to Aubagio, reduced disability progression and the number of lesions seen on MRI scans.

Kesimpta binds to a marker (CD20) on the surface of B cells, a type of white blood cell (lymphocyte) which is thought to be involved when the immune system attacks the myelin coating of nerves. Targeted B cells are destroyed. Kesimpta works in similar way to Ocrevus (ocrelizumab).

In clinical trials, the most frequent side effects were injection-related reactions. Most of these were mild to moderate, cleared up the same or following day and were associated with the first Kesimpta injection; they were less frequent with subsequent injections. Other side effects that occurred in at least 10% of those taking Kesimpta were head colds, headache, chest infections and urinary tract infections.

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