Name: co-polymer 1, glatiramer acetate, Copaxone Marketed By: Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Limited Intended Use: For the treatment of relapsing-remitting (RR) multiple sclerosis (MS). Profile of User: An individual who has a clinical diagnosis of RRMS and has had two relapses in the last two years. What It Is: A polypeptide containing four basic amino acids – glutamic acid, lysine, alanine, and tyrosine. How It Works: Although there is no definite conclusion on exactly how the drug works(or if it does Steph.Dave)it is believed that glutamic acid, lysine, alanine, and tyrosine are all amino acids that are found in the immunogenic region of the myelin basic protein that is believed to be attacked during multiple sclerosis development. The drug is proposed to mimic this protein structure, serving as a decoy for primed T-cells that attack the myelin(oh ok....Dave).
History: - 1960’s at the Weizmann Institute of Science in Rehorof Israel, co-polymer 1 is synthesized to develop Experimental Allergic Encephalomyelitis (EAE, a disease in animals that models MS in humans) in animals.
- Scientists discover that when injected into guinea pigs, co-polymer 1 actually suppressed EAE.
- Following preliminary trials, Dr. Murry B. Bornstein at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine in Bronx, New York carries out a double-blind, controlled clinical trial. The study ran for two year and showed a decrease in relapse rate and overall disability in the patients injected with co-polymer 1.
- In 1987, a full-scale multi-center trial was conducted.
- An Israeli pharmaceutical company called Teva Neuroscience took on further development of the drug and decided on the trade name Copaxone. The ‘co’ represents the ‘co’ in co-polymer, ‘axon’ describes where the drug is thought to act on the nerve, and ‘one’ represents the ‘1’ in co-polymer 1.
- The United States Adopted Name Council (USANC) gave the name glatiramer acetate to the drug. The g, l, a, and t are the first letters of each amino acid in the drug and the ‘mer’ is the standard suffix used by the USANC to label polymers.
- Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval for marketing in the United States in 1996 and approved for use in Canada in 1997
Benefits: Reduces the severity and number of relapses by approximately 1/3, reduces the occurrence of brain scarring, and protects the brain from scarring.
Administration: Subcutaneous injection of approximately 20 mg everyday.
Cost: A base cost of $12, 300 per year. In British Columbia, Pharmacare coverage is based on family income; once deductible is reached, Pharmacare pays 70% of costs; when family maximum is reached, Pharmacare pays 100% of costs. Drugs are 100% covered for people in long-term care facilities and those on social assistance. Private insurance coverage varies.
Side Effects/Disadvantages: - Requires four months of use before drug becomes effective. - Daily injection - Injection site reactions of redness, itching, pain, and swelling. - Post-injection reaction of facial flushing, tightness in chest, heart ‘racing’, and throat tightening (similar to a severe panic attack) experienced by 10% of users shortly after injection after many months of use. - (Side effects should lessen after continued use).
Current testing includes high dose injections which are showing as possitive...I know! Steph has also done Avonex but I will save that for later!
Hope this helps some people who are having difficulty with it! I know your out there! My mum has stop doing it! The decision is yours! I am still worried about it! I think I need to find more results before I question my nero! Hope you are all well! Dave
Interesting info on Copaxone! Studies do show that overall the meds do seem to be working. I have seen the research associated with Tysabri and although the side effects are minimal (almost none)if you are in that 1 in 1000 or so that can get PML...that is SCARY! I am not sure the gamble is worth it. Good luck Camille..we love you! And, thanks Dave (via Steph) for some interesting info!
Thanx for posting my stuff Dave. I feel special (and rather drunk due to the long weekend here for Canada Day). Have a drink or something this weekend. I sure am.
Name: personallog! Home: St. Annes, Lancashire, United Kingdom About Me:
I am 6ft 3" skinny and not well. I was diagnosed with ms in 2004 and I would like to speak with others who have ms. I have a want to raise money for ms charities. We have to find a cure for this hell!!!!
See my complete profile
Interesting info on Copaxone! Studies do show that overall the meds do seem to be working. I have seen the research associated with Tysabri and although the side effects are minimal (almost none)if you are in that 1 in 1000 or so that can get PML...that is SCARY! I am not sure the gamble is worth it. Good luck Camille..we love you! And, thanks Dave (via Steph) for some interesting info!
Jaime