Taking Copaxone? Expect a Call in the Coming Weeks

First and foremost let me say how much I absolutely abhor getting my MS pharmaceutical information via business and investment news flashes.  Such was the case when I typed “FDA Copaxone formulation” into my search engine this morning. The first full page of results was from investment sites, business analysis reviews, and pharma industry pages.  I’ve grown used to getting much of my MS drug news from such sources, but today was the straw that broke this camel with MS’s back. First, huzzah! People living with MS now have another choice in medication dosing. Particularly good for patients who hate needles is this new option of injection Copaxone three-times per week (at 40ml/dose) rather than every day (20ml). For those who like their drug the way it is,  Teva (the maker of Copaxone) says that they’ll keep making the 20ml doses. Now… the rub. Teva doesn’t want you to stay on your current dose of glatiramer acetate. The reports are all saying that Teva has informed investors that it intends (some reports used “plan,” “hopes” and “persuade”) to switch 45 percent – 50 percent of patients to the new formulation.  The drug maker intends to persuade you to switch!  They’ve already, according to one report, ramped-up their Shared Solutions branch for the task. And why? Money. Glairamer acetate is likely to be the first MS drug to go generic in the US market.  The manufacturer itself says that this will cost the company in the range of $500 ...
Source: Life with MS - Category: Other Conditions Authors: Tags: MS multiple sclerosis drug trial MS in the news MS treatment multiple sclerosis clinical trials New Products Source Type: blogs