Glatiramer Acetate is a synthetic drug that does not occur naturally in the body. It contains random polymers of four amino acids: glutamine, lysine, alanine and tyrosine.
Copaxone® is the name of the drug whose active substance is glatiramer acetate, and is manufactured and marketed by Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd. (Israel).
Uses and indications: Glatiramer Acetate is indicated for relapsing forms of Multiple Sclerosis.
Dosing: The recommended dosing regimen is 20 mg injected subcutaneously every day.
Safety: The most commonly occurring side effects of glatiramer acetate are redness, pain, inflammation, itching, or a lump at the site of the injection. 10% of the patients have reported a reaction that started immediately after the injection and consisted of flushing, chest tightness with racing or pounding heartbeat, anxiety, and difficulty in breathing. The symptoms of this reaction generally resolved without any further problems.
