How to access Ocrevus from the UAE — the named-patient import pathway, 2026

By Reserve Meds · Clinical & regulatory team · Last reviewed 2026-04-24

A UAE patient with relapsing or primary-progressive multiple sclerosis (MS) may receive a prescription for Ocrevus (ocrelizumab) from their treating neurologist after a careful assessment of disease course, MRI evidence, and prior disease-modifying therapy. Ocrevus is FDA-approved, developed by Genentech/Roche, and is a recognised anti-CD20 monoclonal antibody option for both relapsing forms and primary-progressive MS — the latter being an indication for which few registered alternatives exist. In the UAE, Ocrevus may be available locally through certain tertiary centres, but where supply is constrained, timing is critical, or a specific batch-continuity requirement exists, access is frequently coordinated through the named-patient import pathway.

This guide explains the pathway, what documentation your physician prepares, typical timing and cost bands, and where Reserve Meds fits in.

The clinical situation

Ocrevus is a humanised anti-CD20 monoclonal antibody that depletes B cells, which play a central role in the pathology of MS. It is administered as an intravenous infusion — the first dose is typically split across two 300 mg infusions two weeks apart, with subsequent maintenance doses of 600 mg given every six months. Infusions must be given at a licensed infusion facility with pre-medication (methylprednisolone, antihistamine, sometimes antipyretic) and a monitored infusion-reaction window.

Eligibility requires a confirmed MS diagnosis per McDonald criteria, MRI documentation, and a clinical rationale for anti-CD20 therapy versus other disease-modifying therapies. Before first dose, your neurologist will screen for active or chronic hepatitis B (HBsAg and anti-HBc), verify immunisation status (including vaccine update before depletion therapy), baseline immunoglobulins, and check for active infection. During therapy, IgG/IgM monitoring and infection surveillance continue at each cycle.

Is Ocrevus legally importable into the UAE?

Yes — through the UAE Ministry of Health and Prevention (MoHAP) named-patient import framework, with parallel authority through the Department of Health (DoH) in Abu Dhabi and the Dubai Health Authority (DHA) in Dubai depending on where the prescribing facility sits.

The mechanism permits a UAE-licensed physician to import a medicine not locally registered, or not locally available in the required form, when (a) the medicine is approved by a recognised reference authority such as the US FDA, (b) no clinically equivalent registered alternative is suitable for the patient, (c) the physician accepts clinical responsibility, and (d) chain of custody is documented from the US source to the administering facility. Anti-CD20 named-patient imports for MS are an established category.

How the pathway works, step by step

1. Consultation with your treating neurologist. Confirmation of MS subtype, MRI review, prior DMT history, and clinical rationale for Ocrevus.
2. Pre-treatment screening. Hepatitis B panel, immunoglobulins, vaccination review and update, baseline infection screen.
3. Infusion facility identification. A licensed infusion centre — typically a tertiary hospital — is confirmed for the first split-dose and subsequent maintenance cycles.
4. MoHAP named-patient application. Your physician or the hospital pharmacy files the application with clinical rationale, patient reference, product details, and chain-of-custody commitment.
5. US-side sourcing. Reserve Meds coordinates with our US-licensed specialty wholesale partner to secure Ocrevus from authorised distribution under DSCSA.
6. Cold-chain shipment. Ocrevus ships under validated 2–8 °C cold chain with continuous temperature logging and chain-of-custody documentation.
7. Arrival and administration. The infusion facility receives the vials and schedules the infusion under your neurologist's care.

What documentation your physician needs

• Clinical rationale letter confirming MS subtype, prior therapy, and Ocrevus as the indicated next step
• Verification of UAE medical licence
• MRI report supporting the diagnosis
• Hepatitis B screening results and vaccination history
• Baseline immunoglobulin levels
• Identification of the administering infusion facility
• Planned dosing calendar (300 mg split first dose, then 600 mg q6 months)

Reserve Meds provides a physician documentation kit that bundles the templates MoHAP reviewers expect for anti-CD20 named-patient imports. Your neurologist does not need prior named-patient experience; the kit is designed to make a first-time application straightforward.

Typical costs and indicative timing

Ocrevus's US cash-pay reference cost for a maintenance 600 mg dose sits in an indicative 2026 range of roughly USD 38,000–45,000 per infusion, with annual cost varying by split-dose initiation year versus maintenance year. Cold-chain international logistics, MoHAP documentation handling, and concierge coordination add incremental cost. Reserve Meds issues a full transparent quote at the start of intake. These figures are indicative drug-only reference pricing, not guaranteed.

Indicative timing — not guaranteed — for the first infusion after cohort intake opens is approximately 7–14 days from the moment a complete MoHAP application is submitted. Subsequent cycles are generally faster once the pathway is established.

Reserve Meds is in pre-launch. Fulfillment availability is limited to our first cohort, and all timelines published on this site are indicative. If your clinical situation is time-sensitive, flag that when you join the waitlist — we triage accordingly.

Reserve Meds's role

Reserve Meds is a US-based concierge coordinator for cross-border specialty medicine. For Ocrevus we provide:

• Sourcing. Through our US-licensed specialty wholesale partner, operating under DSCSA chain-of-custody.
• Documentation. Regulatory package for your physician and MoHAP review.
• Logistics. Validated cold-chain shipment to your prescribing infusion facility.
• Concierge case lead. A named point of contact for your family and your neurologist coordinating each six-month cycle.

What we do not do: we are not the prescriber, do not practise medicine, and are not the dispensing pharmacy. All clinical decisions remain with your treating neurologist and the administering infusion facility. We operate on a waitlist basis during our pre-launch phase.

Frequently asked

Is this legal in the UAE? Yes, when executed through the MoHAP / DoH / DHA named-patient framework with appropriate documentation and a licensed administering facility. See our trust and compliance page.

Why hepatitis B screening before starting? Anti-CD20 therapy can reactivate latent hepatitis B, which is why pre-treatment screening is mandatory under FDA labeling and standard MS practice.

What if I miss a six-month infusion window? Your neurologist decides any re-induction strategy based on B-cell recovery. Our concierge case lead coordinates early to avoid scheduling gaps.

How does Ocrevus compare with Kesimpta or Briumvi? All three are anti-CD20 therapies. Ocrevus is given IV every six months; Kesimpta is a monthly subcutaneous injection; Briumvi is IV with a shorter infusion time. Your neurologist selects based on disease subtype, logistics, and patient preference.

Will private insurance cover this? Cash-pay is the default. Some UAE private insurers consider named-patient imports case by case; we supply documentation for submission but do not process insurance claims directly.

Next step — join the first-cohort waitlist

Reserve Meds is opening to a limited first cohort in 2026. Add your case to the waitlist and our concierge case lead will reach out when we enter intake for Ocrevus coordination in the UAE.

Add me to the Ocrevus waitlist

Examples and timings above are composite illustrations drawn from published sources and typical named-patient patterns. Your individual case is assessed by your physician and our clinical-regulatory team; Reserve Meds does not guarantee outcomes or timelines.

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Reserve Meds is a US-based concierge coordinator for cross-border specialty medicine. We are in pre-launch; service availability is limited to our first cohort and published timelines are indicative, not guarantees. Cash-pay. Export-only (US → overseas). Composite case examples. Not medical advice.

Clinical & regulatory review: Reserve Meds clinical team and AI regulatory-counsel review pipeline. Last medically reviewed: 2026-04-24.