INTRODUCTION: Despite recent advances in pharmacological management, multiple 
sclerosis (MS), an autoimmune disease of the central nervous system, remains a 
leading cause of disability. In relapsing-remitting (RR)MS, neurologists most 
commonly utilize immunomodulatory or immunosuppressive agents to benefit their 
patients. With the introduction of humanized monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) 
ablation of distinct immune populations has become possible. Depletion of B 
cells by anti-CD20 mAbs has repeatedly proven to be a very rapid and effective 
means to diminish disease activity in RRMS.
AREAS COVERED: We discuss the biological rationale, development, and recent 
clinical study results of the second generation anti-CD20 mAb ocrelizumab. 
Expert commentary: The topline results of two phase-III randomized clinical 
trials demonstrate superiority of ocrelizumab over interferon beta in RRMS 
patients with regards to clinical and paraclinical outcome parameters. The short 
term adverse events profile appears favorable. However, long-term effects of 
repeated B cell depletion are currently unknown.