Glatiramer

Class: Immunomodulatory Agents
- Immunomodulatory Agents
Chemical Name: l-Glutamic acid polymer with l-alanine, l-lysine, and l-tyrosine, acetate
Molecular Formula: C₅H₉NO₄ • C₃H_7-5H₉NO₄ • C₃H₇NO₂ • C₆H₁₄N₂O₂ • C₉H₁₁NO₃)_x • xC₂H₄O₂)
CAS Number: 147245-92-9
Brands: Copaxone ([Web]), Glatopa [Web])

Medically reviewed by Drugs.com on Mar 31, 2022. Written by ASHP.

Introduction

Synthetic polypeptide mixture containing 4 naturally occurring amino acids with immunomodulatory and disease-modifying activity in multiple sclerosis.

Uses for Glatiramer

Multiple Sclerosis (MS)

Treatment of adults with relapsing forms of multiple sclerosis (MS), including clinically isolated syndrome, relapsing-remitting MS (RRMS), and active secondary progressive MS.

Glatiramer acetate is one of several disease-modifying therapies used in the management of relapsing forms of MS. Although not curative, these therapies have all been shown to modify several measures of disease activity, including relapse rates, new or enhancing MRI lesions, and disability progression.

The American Academy of Neurology (AAN) recommends that disease-modifying therapy be offered to patients with relapsing forms of MS who have had recent relapses and/or MRI activity. Clinicians should consider adverse effects, tolerability, method of administration, safety, efficacy, and cost of the drugs in addition to patient preferences when selecting an appropriate therapy.

Has been evaluated for primary progressive MS (PPMS)†.

Glatiramer Dosage and Administration

General

Patient Monitoring

• Routine laboratory monitoring is not considered necessary in patients receiving glatiramer acetate.

Dispensing and Administration Precautions

• Administer the initial self-administered dose under the supervision of a qualified healthcare professional.

• Several preparations of glatiramer acetate are commercially available (e.g., Copaxone, Glatopa and other generic preparations), and there are 2 commercially available dosage strengths of the drug. Glatiramer acetate 20 mg/mL is administered once daily and glatiramer acetate 40 mg/mL is administered 3 times a week; the 2 different dosage strengths are not interchangeable.

Administration

Administer only by sub-Q injection; do not administer IV.

Sub-Q Administration

Commercially available prefilled syringes intended for single use only; discard unused portion.

Allow prefilled syringes to reach room temperature by removing from refrigerator about 20 minutes prior to use.

Inject sub-Q into the arm, abdomen, hip, or thigh.

Localized lipoatrophy and skin necrosis reported; to minimize risk, follow proper injection technique and rotate injection sites with each injection.