Glatiramer acetate: Promise in relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis?

Glatiramer acetate (copolymer-1) reduces the rate of exacerbation and improves mean disability scale scores in patients with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis. Benefits appear to be greater in patients with little neurological impairment than those with more severe disease. The number of CNS lesions decreases with treatment, and there is a tendency for the disease to progress in fewer patients with relapsing-remitting disease who receive glatiramer acetate than in placebo recipients. In patients with secondary progressive multiple sclerosis there is a trend for a decrease in disease progression. The drug is well tolerated, and local injection site reactions are mild. A transient benign systemic reaction occurs in some patients; the influenza-like symptoms commonly associated with interferon-β treatment have not been reported. Comparative trials are now required between glatiramer acetate and other therapeutic options such as interferon β-1a and interferon-β-1b.