OCTOPUS trial reaches recruitment milestone
28 Nov 2024
The OCTOPUS trial has now recruited the 375 people with multiple sclerosis (MS) needed for the first stage of the trial. The team has reached this goal two months ahead of schedule, thanks to an incredible response from the MS community and the hard work of the OCTOPUS trial sites.
OCTOPUS is the world’s first multi-arm, multi-stage (MAMS) trial for MS. Led by the MRC Clinical Trials Unit at UCL, it is designed to transform the way treatments for progressive MS are tested.
By testing multiple treatments at different times, OCTOPUS aims to identify one that can slow down, stop or reverse the progression of disability in people with progressive MS. The trial includes people with both primary and secondary progressive MS.
Recruitment began in January 2023 in London and the trial now has 14 sites across England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. The trial currently has 384 participants.
What happens next?
The trial will now move seamlessly into the next stage, recruiting at least 800 more people with MS. People already taking part in OCTOPUS will remain in the trial.
The team expect further sites to open in 2025, increasing the opportunities for people to take part. Eventually, there will be up to 30 sites around the UK and additional sites in Australia.
OCTOPUS is funded by the MS Society.
Further information: