This Is MS Multiple Sclerosis Community: Knowledge & Support

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Ian,

After reading Art Mellor's posting on The Boston Cure project (which I posted here under "What drug to take", I looked at this trial data on Copaxone and applied his ideas.

Initially after 3 months, patients on the higher Copaxone dosage had 1.33 lesions vs 2.61 lesions on the lower dose. A nice percentage if you look at the relative stats but when you use the absolute numbers only 1.3 fewer lesions (whatever .3 of a lesion is?!) Using the entire trial length, it was .79 lesions vs 1.32 lesions....again a nice relative percentage but in absolute terms only .53 lesions less.

Now we know that numbers of lesions have little correlation to disability in MS patients and that the location of lesions is critical versus the total number a patient may have on an MRI.

So what does the data from this trial really mean to MS patients? Is it yet another marketing campaign by Teva to retain their market share of MS medications? And if the patient uses the double dosage, does the cost of the Copaxone go up twice the amount?

I'm afraid we are going to continually see this kind of trial data published as the big four pharmas in MS meds jockey for position in this very lucrative market.

Perhaps I should have invested in Teva as well

Take care.

Harry

Harry's comments are a bit cynical, but MS can make us prolific cynics. When you evaluate this or any study, remember that the research community builds upon the results of previous studies. While the quoted study may help sell some more Copaxone in the short term, it may also be the first step in deciding whether it's worth researching and developing a higher or less frequent dose of an already-effective medicine. If, in the long term, it gets us to a point where we have a once-a-week dose of Copaxone, I'm willing to let TEVA use it to boost their share of sales in the short-term.

I'm not sure that "cynical" is the right word to describe my comments but I suppose it isn't too far off. When one has followed MS research for over 40 years and seen this kind of study result released at this particular time, you have to take it at face value....market share!



Unless you happen to be a member of The Cochrane Research Group who didn't have very many flattering comments to say about Copaxone. Actually, they came out and said that after reviewing the early trials of Copaxone it confirmed to them that it was all but useless in the treatment of MS. Now if I'm "cynical" about Copaxone, what does that make The Cochrane Group?



Let's just say that I believe we are seeing a flurry of "new" trial information from the MS pharmas simply to keep or gain market share now that Tysabri is just around the corner. And now that Biogen has lost about 18 months of Tysabri sales due to their horrible introduction of the drug they are taking steps keep the shareholders happy....by raising the wholesale cost of the drug by about 22%! Don't you just love how these companies have the MS patient's interest at heart

Harry