Drug updated on 4/17/2024
| Dosage Form | Injection (subcutaneous; 20 mg/mL, 40 mg/mL) |
| Drug Class | Acetate salts of synthetic polypeptides |
| Ongoing and Completed Studies | ClinicalTrials.gov |
Indication
- Indicated for the treatment of relapsing forms of multiple sclerosis (MS), to include clinically isolated syndrome, relapsing-remitting disease, and active secondary progressive disease, in adults.
Summary
- Glatiramer acetate (Copaxone) is indicated for the treatment of relapsing forms of multiple sclerosis (MS), including clinically isolated syndrome, relapsing-remitting disease, and active secondary progressive disease in adults.
- Three systematic reviews/meta-analyses were analyzed to compare Copaxone's effectiveness and safety profile with other disease-modifying treatments (DMTs) for managing MS.
- While not top-ranked for preventing relapse recurrence or disability worsening during the first 24 months of treatment compared to drugs like alemtuzumab, mitoxantrone, natalizumab, and fingolimod; Copaxone has demonstrated potential in mitigating MS-associated cognitive decline.
- The drug also shows promise as a neuroprotective agent particularly in neurological conditions with cognitive decline aspects such as Alzheimer's Disease, indicating its broad therapeutic implications beyond just relapse prevention.
- A meta-analysis covering 44 studies revealed that DMTs, including Copaxone, had a small to moderate positive effect on cognitive test performance in RRMS patients, suggesting it is as effective as other DMTs at addressing this critical aspect of MS.
- Although specific population types or subgroup considerations are not deeply explored within these studies; they suggest potential benefits across diverse patient demographics due to emphasis on improving cognition and providing neuroprotection.
Product Monograph / Prescribing Information
| Document Title | Year | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Copaxone (glatiramer acetate) Prescribing Information. | 2023 | Teva Neuroscience, Inc., Parsippany, NJ |
Systematic Reviews / Meta-Analyses
| Document Title | Year | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Immunomodulators and immunosuppressants for relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis: a network meta-analysis. | 2024 | The Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews |
| Glatiramer acetate immunomodulation: evidence of neuroprotection and cognitive preservation. | 2022 | Cells |
| False-positive test results in diagnosing allergy to glatiramer acetate: case report and a systematic literature review. | 2020 | Immunity, Inflammation and Disease |
| Disease-modifying treatments and cognition in relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis: a meta-analysis. | 2020 | Neurology |