Ublituximab (Briumvi) approved for use in England, Scotland and Wales


17 January 2025

Briumvi (ublituximab) has been approved by NICE (National Institute for Health and Care Excellence) and SMC (Scottish Medicines Consortium) for people with active relapsing remitting multiple sclerosis.

SMC and NICE have recommended that Briumvi (ublituxmab) can be prescribed for people who are having relapses or have MRI evidence of MS activity.

The approval of Briumvi increases the choices for people with active relapsing remitting MS. The MS Trust view is that 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.

Briumvi should be available in England and Wales by March, and in Scotland a few months later. A decision for Northern Ireland is expected later this year.

About Briumvi

Briumvi is given as an infusion (drip) in a hospital or clinic. In clinical trials for relapsing remitting MS, Briumvi reduced the risk of relapse by 50% compared to Aubagio (teriflunomide) and reduced disability progression.

Ublituximab is a monoclonal antibody, a type of drug developed to attack specific targets in the immune system. The drug 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. Briumvi works in a similar way to Ocrevus (ocrelizumab) and Kesimpta (ofatumumab).

In clinical trials, the most frequent side effects were injection related reactions. Most of these were mild to moderate and were associated with the first Briumvi injection; they were less frequent with subsequent injections. Other side effects that occurred in at least 10% of those taking Briumvi were respiratory infections (nose, throat and airways) and herpes infections (cold sores and shingles). Up to 10% of people taking Briumvi in trials developed pain in their arms and legs or neutropenia.

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