Copaxone vs. Glatopa for Multiple Sclerosis
Key takeaways:
Copaxone and Glatopa are medications used to treat multiple sclerosis (MS). Both medications contain the same active ingredient — glatiramer.
Glatopa is a generic version of Copaxone. They can each be given either once daily or 3 times per week.
Copaxone and Glatopa have similar side effects. These side effects can be mild and manageable, but some can be serious.
Table of contents
Your central nervous system (CNS) — which is made up of your brain and spine — is essential to who you are. It holds the keys to your body’s ability to think, move, and act. So when a health condition or injury causes damage to the CNS, alarm bells can go off.
Multiple sclerosis (MS) is one of these conditions. It’s a common autoimmune disorder that affects the CNS. In MS, certain cells from your immune system mistakenly attack myelin, which is a protective layer that surrounds your nerves in the CNS. This can cause symptoms like balance problems, fatigue, and vision difficulties.
While there’s no cure for MS, many disease-modifying therapies (DMT) are available to help slow its progression. These medications can help keep MS under control, and they can also help prevent long-term disability. One common go-to DMT medication — known as glatiramer — is available as both Copaxone and Glatopa. But is one version better than the other?
In this article, we'll discuss what you need to know about the differences between Copaxone and Glatopa.
What is Copaxone?
Copaxone (glatiramer) is an injectable prescription medication that’s used to treat relapsing forms of MS. Copaxone was first FDA-approved for treating relapsing forms of MS in 1996. It’s approved to be given either once daily or 3 times a week.
But what exactly is relapsing MS? Relapsing-remitting MS (RRMS) is one type of relapsing MS. It’s characterized by people having MS “attacks,” where they have symptoms that can come and go. MS attacks — or relapses — sometimes last days to weeks, and they are followed by periods of recovery. Copaxone also treats other forms of relapsing MS, but RRMS is the most common type.
What is Glatopa?
Glatopa (glatiramer) is also an injectable prescription medication that treats relapsing forms of MS. In 2015, it was approved as the first generic version of Copaxone. It was first approved as a once-daily injection, but another dosing option — usually taken 3 times a week — was also approved in 2018.
However, another generic version of Copaxone is also available. It’s available simply as glatiramer and doesn’t have another name attached to it. It was approved in 2017. Think of this option as a very similar version of Glatopa. They both can be substituted for Copaxone.
How does glatiramer work for multiple sclerosis?
It's not fully understood how glatiramer works to treat MS. But health experts believe glatiramer has an effect on immune system processes that are responsible for causing MS.
One theory is that glatiramer acts like a decoy. The immune system attacks it instead of your nerve cells. It’s thought to mimic a protein that’s found in the myelin that surrounds your nerve cells.
Because of this, your CNS avoids your immune system’s attacks. This results in less nervous system damage, which can help lengthen the time between MS relapses. It can also help slow down the worsening of MS.
What’s the difference between Copaxone and Glatopa?
The main difference is that Glatopa is a generic version of Copaxone. Compared to Copaxone, Glatopa contains the same active ingredient, offers the same clinical benefits, and is administered the same way. But generic medications like Glatopa are often less expensive than name-brand medications like Copaxone.
There are few other distinctions, which we’ll discuss below.
How are Copaxone and Glatopa dosed and given?
Copaxone and Glatopa both come as single-use prefilled syringes that are given as a subcutaneous (under the skin) injection.
Most people can give the injection to themselves. But depending on the injection location, you may need help from a trusted friend or family member. It’s commonly injected in your arm, abdomen, hip, or thigh.
Copaxone and Glatopa are both available in two different doses: 20 mg and 40 mg. The 20 mg injections can be given once daily, and the 40 mg injections can be given 3 times a week.
When given 3 times a week, glatiramer (both Copaxone and Glatopa) should be given at approximately the same time each day, but at least 48 hours apart. For example, a possible schedule is to inject your doses at 8AM on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday of each week.
How effective are Copaxone and Glatopa for treating multiple sclerosis?
Copaxone and Glatopa are similarly effective for treating relapsing forms of MS. One isn’t better than the other. In other words, you should expect similar clinical benefits.
In one small study that helped contribute to its FDA approval, Copaxone 20 mg was given daily to people with RRMS. Copaxone helped about 56% of people be relapse-free after 2 years compared to 28% of those who received placebo (an injection with no medication in it).
And in a more recent retrospective study that compared Copaxone to Glatopa in people with RRMS, people who received Glatopa experienced similar health outcomes to people who received Copaxone. The two are seen to be equivalent products.
What are the known side effects of Copaxone and Glatopa?
Since they share the same active ingredient and are given the same way, Copaxone and Glatopa share similar side effects. Common side effects that happened to more than 10% of people in clinical trials include:
Redness, pain, or swelling at the injection site
Infection
Nausea
Back pain
Skin rashes
Flushing in the cheeks or other parts of the body
Anxiety
Shortness of breath
What are the serious side effects of Copaxone and Glatopa?
In addition to the more common side effects mentioned above, rare but serious side effects are also possible. Serious side effects of Copaxone and Glatopa can include:
Chest pain: This can be part of a post-injection reaction, or it can be a side effect by itself. It usually lasts a short time, and it may happen more than once. Chest pain episodes have been reported to begin at least 1 month after starting treatment.
Damage to your skin: Damage to the fatty tissue just under your skin's surface is possible. Skin tissue death is also a possibility. These skin effects can cause a “dent” under the skin at the injection site that may not go away. Rotating injection sites can help lower the risk of this happening.
Liver injury: Liver injury, including liver failure and hepatitis with jaundice, have been reported. If signs or symptoms of liver problems occur, let your healthcare provider know right away.
If you experience or think you’re experiencing any side effects, you should get medical help as soon as you can. And if you’re experiencing any other bothersome side effects — such as those mentioned earlier on — make sure to reach out to your healthcare provider.
And like previously mentioned, Copaxone and Glatopa may have potential effects on your immune response. Because of this, there’s a probable risk that these medications can lower your body’s ability to fight infections.
What interactions do Copaxone and Glatopa have?
Copaxone and Glatopa have no known interactions with other MS medications. It’s not fully known if they interact with any non-MS medications. That’s because this isn’t well-studied.
If you’re taking other medications or supplements while using a glatiramer injection, let your pharmacist and healthcare provider know. They can look to see if there are any potential drug interactions. Keeping an up-to-date medication list can help with this process.
How much do Copaxone and Glatopa cost?
Copaxone and Glatopa can be expensive, and they’re usually filled through a specialty pharmacy. The table below shows how much you can expect to pay for a 1-month supply of each injection without insurance. Prices are effective as of 03/28/2022.
| Medication | Average retail price | GoodRx price |
|---|---|---|
| Copaxone (once daily) | $12,200 | As low as $6,900 |
| Copaxone (3 times per week) | $9,900 | As low as $5,700 |
| Glatopa (once daily) | $11,600 | As low as $1,200 |
| Glatopa (3 times per week) | $9,400 | As low as $1,300 |
| Generic glatiramer (once daily) | $6,000 | As low as $1,200 |
| Generic glatiramer (3 times per week) | $9,300 | As low as $1,300 |
There are also other ways to save. If you have prescription insurance, your plan may help cover part of the medication’s cost. For specific coverage information, it’s recommended to reach out to your plan provider for details.
If you need additional financial assistance and have commercial insurance, you may be eligible for copay assistance from your medication’s manufacturer. For Copaxone, call 1-800-887-8100 or visit the Copaxone Co-pay Solutions program online. For Glatopa, call 1-855-452-8672 or visit GlatopaCare online.
The bottom line
Copaxone and Glatopa are both effective medications for treating relapsing forms of MS. Glatopa is an FDA-approved generic version of Copaxone. Copaxone and Glatopa may cause similar side effects, like injection site reactions, flushing, and nausea. To determine if Copaxone or Glatopa is a treatment option for you, please speak with your healthcare provider.
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References
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