This Is MS Multiple Sclerosis Community: Knowledge & Support

Someone very close to me was diagnosed with cancer and had previously been taking copaxone for two years. Nobody thought there was any connection. However, Teva seems very interested. Which is provoking this question. Has anyone else out there had a similar experience?

I'm not saying that there is any known link between cancer and copaxone. However, page 4 of the prescribing information for copaxone states...

Clastogenic means that it was found to cause breaks in DNA. This occurred when it was given to cells in tissue culture. However, this clastogenic activity was not found when it was given to a mouse in the in vivo assay.

You may find a medical dictionary helpful when going through this document. I certainly did when I was in the process of choosing a medication after I was initially diagnosed 9 years ago. I happen to like Stedmans' medical dictionary but there are others available. Note that Stedmans offers an online version for looking up single words. This might be helpful for you. Another option is to pick one up at a used book store or find one in your local library.

I wish your friend the best in their treatment for cancer.

NHE

Tom15

I'm on Copaxone (about 2 1/2 years) and so far have not been diagnosed with cancer. However, there may be an association which is probably why Teva is so interested.

Cancer incidence in multiple sclerosis and effects of immunomodulatory treatments.

This is a later study from 2008. In their lingo IS=immunosuppressive rather than immunomodulating. Not exactly sure what drugs they're referencing here.

Cancer risk and impact of disease-modifying treatments in patients with multiple sclerosis

So, the jury is still out but not surprising that Teva is interested. Do you know if it's been reported to the FDA?

Sharon

Hi Tom,
1 in 3 people apparantly get cancer (according to the statistics) so I think the connection with copaxone is probably not a strong one If it was it would have become apparant in the trials.

I have a hard time thinking this is remotely valid. If 1 on 3 people get cancer doing anything....it would be front page news.

I have secondary progressive MS (diagnosed in 1996) and was just recently diagnosed (April 2012) with breast cancer (HER2 positive). I took Copaxone from 2000 until 2006 and wondered too about any connection between this drug and cancer.

Anyone else?

Thanks,
Susan

Hi Susan
I am so sorry to hear you have cancer.
I still think that people in general are at a high risk of cancer it seems whatever they do.
I hope you are in remission and over come it.

Found this http://www.cancer.org/Cancer/CancerBasi ... rom-cancer (in answer to Tom)

Looks like 1 in 2 for males and 1 in 3 for females have a risk of cancer, not sure how this differs from gets cancer

I just discovered that I have Lymphadenopathy now that I've been taking Copaxone since June. I trying to make sense of exactly what is going on, but I'm still quite lost reading the studies. I cannot imagine it is a good thing.

http://www.jimmunol.org/content/170/9/4483.long