A prospective, open-label treatment trial to compare the effect of IFNbeta-1a (Avonex), IFNbeta-1b (Betaseron), and glatiramer acetate (Copaxone) on the relapse rate in relapsing--remitting multiple sclerosis: results after 18 months of therapy

What Was Tested

Researchers studied Glatiramer Acetate in the context of multiple sclerosis in this controlled clinical trial publication.

Their primary objective was to compare the effect of IFNbeta-1a (Avonex), IFNbeta-1b (Betaseron), and Glatiramer Acetate (GA, Copaxone) to no treatment on the relapse rate in patients with RRMS.

Why It Was Studied

The researchers previously reported results of a 12 month prospective, non-randomized, open-label treatment trial of immunomodulatory therapy in patients with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS).

The researchers now report the results after 18 months of follow-up.

Who Took Part

The abstract describes 122 patients taking part.

PubMed indexes the participants as adults, both men and women.

One hundred and fifty-six consecutive patients with clinically definite RRMS with a Kurtzke scale (EDSS) score of 4 or less were followed for 18 months.

How the Study Was Run

The design is described as open-label.

Nothing was hidden in this open-label Glatiramer Acetate study: the patients and staff both knew the treatment.

A time span of 18 months appears in the methods.

What Was Measured

Topics PubMed links to this paper include Adjuvants, Immunologic, Disability Evaluation, Glatiramer Acetate, Immunosuppressive Agents, Interferon beta-1a, Interferon beta-1b and Interferon-beta.

What This Means in Plain Language

The paper is an open-label study of Glatiramer Acetate in 122 patients in people with multiple sclerosis over 18 months.

The publication is from 2001 (Multiple sclerosis (Houndmills, Basingstoke, England)), a journal based in England.

More context: the Glatiramer Acetate compound page, Multiple sclerosis research.