Ocrelizumab Subcutaneous Injection - Pharmac Opens Consultation for Funding

Please see the news page below, which is copied from the MSNZ website.

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After strongly advocating to Pharmac since July 2024, Multiple Sclerosis NZ welcomes the announcement today that Pharmac is opening public consultation for the funding of subcutaneous Ocrelizumab (Ocrevus). This funding comes as part of a multi-medicine deal between Pharmac and Roche. 

• Ocrevus Subcutaneous (SC) is delivered by injection under the skin rather than by intravenous (IV) infusion, significantly reducing the administration time to just 10 minutes.  

• There is also no need for a split first dose with Ocrevus SC.  

• Post administration monitoring requirements can be reduced following the first injection. 

• People would be able to switch from IV or start directly on SC. 

• IV Ocrevus will still be an available treatment choice. 

• There is no change to the access criteria.  

• Ocrevus SC would be available for both those eligible under the Relapsing and Primary Progressive MS criteria. 

• If approved, Ocrevus SC will be funded from 1 December 2025.

 Read the full proposal here. Consultation is open until 5:00pm 8 October 2025.

For people living with MS and their whānau, Ocrevus SC would reduce the time away from employment and family responsibilities. It would also be less costly in time and be a less tiring treatment experience.  

Being a SC injection, there is potential for Ocrevus SC to be delivered in a community setting for some people, releasing even more capacity in infusion facilities. This is not currently under consideration in this proposal. However, in the future, this could mean even further access improvements.  

From a health system perspective, Ocrevus SC will significantly reduce administration burden. A NZ Institute of Economic Research (NZIER) report released today calculated that 1,299 people treated with Ocrevus SC would require the same level of staffing as 433 people treated with Ocrevus IV, and the same infusion bed capacity as 143 people treated with Ocrevus IV. This free’s up critical resources for other patients requiring infusion medicines and reallocation of resources in under resourced areas. (link to NZIER report) 

The current proposal recommends the options for both subcutaneous and infusion would be available. 

Multiple Sclerosis NZ will be making a submission. We encourage you to make a submission to Pharmac supporting this funding proposal.  

We would like to include testimonials of people with lived experience. If you would like to share your story with us please complete this form or email info@msnz.org.nz with your story and message to Pharmac. 

It is helpful for us to share what barriers exist for you currently in accessing your Ocrelizumab treatment that the subcutaneous option would overcome. Or, have you had to make alternative treatment choices because of difficulties with access such as, lengthy and expensive travel, requiring support for getting to treatments. 

There are several other MS disease modifying therapies under review by Pharmac currently. These are still ongoing and Multiple Sclerosis NZ is committed to advocating for the availability of the range of evidence-based treatment options to improve the health and wellbeing of people living with MS.