Glatiramer Acetate Copaxone

Copaxone (glatiramer acetate injection) Reduces new brain lesions and the frequency of relapses... 

Glatiramer acetate (Copaxone) 20 mg SQ Daily Injection site reaction 90% Systemic reaction 15%... 

Suhayl D-J. Glatiramer acetate (Copaxone) therapy for multiple sclerosis. Pharmacol Ther 2(X)3 98 245-55. 

While no cure for MS is known, the FDA approves four immunotherapies for RR-MS. All shorten attacks and lengthen the time between attacks by 30% (Arnason, 1999a, 1999b). The therapies include variations of IFN (3 IFN (3-la, (Avonex and Rebif) and IFN (3-lb (Betaseron). The second type of immunotherapy, glatiramer acetate is a copolymer of four amino acids termed Copaxone. All approved therapies involve self... 

Most common adverse effects in controlled trials include injection site reactions, vasodilatation, chest pain, asthenia, infection, pain, nausea, arthralgia, anxiety, and hypertonia. About 10% of patients experience an immediate post-injection reaction (flushing, chest pain, palpitations, anxiety, dyspnea, throat constriction, and urticaria). The symptoms are hansient and self-limited, and usually do not require specific heatment. Transient chest pain was noted in 21% of Copaxone patients versus 11% in the placebo group with no long-term sequelae. Unlike therapy with the IFNps, glatiramer acetate is not associated with flu-like symptoms. 

Johnson BCP, Brooks BR, Cohen JA, Ford CC, Goldstein J, Liska RP, Myers LW, Panitch HS, Rose JW, Schiffer TB, Vollmer T, Weiner LP, Wolinsky JS, Copolymer 1 Multiple Sclerosis Study Group (1998) Extended use of glatiramer acetate (Copaxone) is well tolerated and maintains its clinical effect on multiple sclerosis relapse rate and degree of disability. Neurol 50 701—708. 

Klran OA, Tslis AC, Kamholz JA, Gai bem JY, Lewis RA, Lisak RP (2001b) A prospective open-label ti eatment trial to compare the effect of IFN beta-la (Avonex), IFN beta-lb (Betaseron) and glatiramer acetate (Copaxone) on tire relapse rate in relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis Results after 18 mondis of therapy. Mult Scler 7 349-353. 

Haas J (2003) Onset of chnical benefit of glatiramer acetate (Copaxone) acetate in 255 patients with relapsing remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS). Neurol 60(suppl) P06-105. 

Keywords Adaptive immunity Copolymer-1 (Copaxone or glatiramer acetate) Immune boost Immune modulation Immune suppression Mucosal tolerance Nasal tolerance Oral tolerance T cell vaccination Vaccination... 

Treatment with interferon-/ or glatiramer acetate (Avonex, Betaseron, Copaxone, and Rebif, or ABC-R, therapy) can reduce annual relapse rate, slow progression of disability, slow cognitive decline, and slow changes seen on the brain MRIs. 

For relapsing-remitting attacks, immunomodulatory therapies are approved beta-1 interferons (interferon beta-la, interferon beta-lb, and glatiramer acetate [Copaxone]). The interferons suppress the proliferation of T-lymphocytes, inhibit their movement into the CNS from the periphery, and shift the cytokine prohle from pro- to antiinflammatory types. 

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