Inducing Oral Tolerance?

MattB · Post by **MattB** » Wed Jan 16, 2008 11:21 am

Anyone have any information on these trials?

Also does anyone have any information on the drug glatiramer acetate?

or any experiences?

Post by **jimmylegs** » Wed Jan 16, 2008 11:25 am

not me, sorry

cheerleader · Post by **cheerleader** » Wed Jan 16, 2008 11:49 am

Hi Matt-

Glatiramer acetate is the generic name for Copaxone. My husband's been daily injecting since his DX in March '07. His neurologist recommended it because her research led her to believe that men presenting with similar lesions and issues as my husband did very well on the drug.

My husband's been relapse and progression free since his first attack. You might want to check on the Copaxone board here and on other sites to read other folk's opinions/experiences. We're very happy with this medication.

Not sure about oral trials. From what I've read, oral medications might be years away.

best,
AC

cheerleader · Post by **cheerleader** » Wed Jan 16, 2008 12:15 pm

Matt-

Did some more research for you. Teva (Copaxone's manufacturer) has completed trials and studies with oral Copax, and the results weren't any better than placebo. (google Oral copaxone for specifics) I don't think there will be any more studies on oral GA.

That said, there is tons of research coming out quite recently regarding Copaxone and its success of slowing disease progression in RRMS and even PPMS.

http://www.thisisms.com/article102.html

My husband wasn't thrilled with needles every day, but he uses the auto-inject device, and he's tolerated this medication really well. It was a good choice for him. You can private mail me if you have more specific questions-

best,
AC

Frank · Post by **Frank** » Wed Jan 16, 2008 2:09 pm

In the 1990s there have been trials trying to induce immune tolerace by giving oral mylin but they failed due to a lack of efficiency, as far as I know.

--Frank

Jim_P · Post by **Jim_P** » Thu Jan 17, 2008 8:07 am

This may sound weird, but I look forward to shooting myself every day with the copaxone. With every shot I think of it as a bomb dropping on my MS.

I haven't had any evidence that it's doing anything yet, but perhaps with this glucosamine it is, because in a ton of ways I feel better.

Wonderfulworld · Post by **Wonderfulworld** » Thu Jan 17, 2008 8:49 am

Just spoke with a Copaxone support nurse this week and she said that they expected to have oral Copaxone within 2 years. I don't know how true that is though, will ask my neuro when I'm next there.

syckbastid · Post by **syckbastid** » Thu Jan 17, 2008 9:43 am

Fingolimod is in Phase III trials. My neuro asked if I was interested in joining the trial (I declined). She said the main concerns at this point for side effects was some heart condition (the 80 syllable name escapes me), and a dangerous drop in blood pressure.

gwa · Post by **gwa** » Thu Jan 17, 2008 9:52 am

syckbastid wrote:Fingolimod is in Phase III trials. My neuro asked if I was interested in joining the trial (I declined). She said the main concerns at this point for side effects was some heart condition (the 80 syllable name escapes me), and a dangerous drop in blood pressure.

"some heart condition" would be a ruiner for me going into a trial. My brain is already screwed, so possibly screwing with my heart is not smart, in my opinion.

gwa

syckbastid · Post by **syckbastid** » Thu Jan 17, 2008 11:45 am

My thoughts exactly GWA.

Just not to scare anyone (or dash hopes), the heart condition was a secondary concern to the blood pressure drop. Furthermore, the majority of the people in the trial are relatively young, so any blood pressure changes would be more pronounced.

dignan · Post by **dignan** » Thu Jan 17, 2008 2:18 pm

On the oral copaxone thing, maybe the support person who said it would be available within 2 years was a bit confused and meant that laquinimod, which is oral, and in a phase 3 trial co-sponsored by Teva, would be available within 2 years. Which, by the way, it won't. The 2 year phase 3 trial hasn't completed enrollment yet as far as I know. I went back and checked, Teva erased oral copaxone from the website in February 2007. They tried a bunch of times to come up with an oral formulation that worked.

Wonderfulworld · Post by **Wonderfulworld** » Fri Jan 18, 2008 7:03 am

Thanks for that info Dignan, that's a shame about the oral Copax though...am used to hearing the 2 yr/5 yr/10 yr upcoming breakthroughs and always take em with a HUGE pinch of salt

Back to the injections once my baby is born, really enjoyed the break from them but my legs still not looking any better despite the rest.