Glatiramer Acetate

Information about Glatiramer Acetate

Glatiramer acetate is a mixture of synthetic polypeptides that has unique antiinflammatory and immunomodulatory activities and that is used to treat relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis. 

Liver safety of Glatiramer Acetate

Glatiramer therapy is associated with a low rate of transient serum enzyme elevations during therapy and has been linked to rare instances of clinically apparent liver injury with jaundice.

Mechanism of action of Glatiramer Acetate

Glatiramer (gla tir' a mer) acetate is a mixture of synthetic polypeptides containing 4 amino acids: glutamic acid, alanine, tyrosine and lysine.  The amino acid polymers have distinctive immunomodulatory activities in multiple sclerosis which are believed to be due to inhibition of binding of myelin proteins to major histocompatibility complex (MHC) molecules, which interrupts T cell activation directed at basic myelin.  In several large, randomized controlled trials, glatiramer was shown to reduce relapse rates and improve neuroradiologic outcomes in adult patients with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis. 

FDA approval information for Glatiramer Acetate

Glatiramer was approved for use for multiple sclerosis in the United States in 1996 and is available in prefilled syringes of 20 mg and 40 mg generically and under the brand names Copaxone and Glatopa.  The recommended dose is 20 mg subcutaneously once daily or 40 mg three times weekly. 

Side effects of Glatiramer Acetate

Common side effects are injection site reactions (pain, erythema, pruritus, induration), as well as mild and transient hypersensitivity reactions of flushing, chest tightness, dyspnea and anxiety occurring within minutes of the injection in about 10% of patients.

Multiple sclerosis drugs

Disease modifying agents

• Alemtuzumab
• Dimethyl Fumarate
• Fingolimod
• Glatiramer Acetate
• Interferon Beta
• Interferon Beta-1a
• Interferon Beta-1b
• Peginterferon Beta-1a
• Mitoxantrone
• Natalizumab
• Ocrelizumab
• Teriflunomide

Symptomatic Therapies

• Dalfampridine

• Dailymed label info on Glatiramer Acetate
• FDA Glatiramer Acetate

Glatiramer Acetate Resources
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