MS Active Source

Glatiramer acetate is a synthetic protein that resembles a natural myelin protein. The brand name is Copaxone. It is given as an injection under the skin (subcutaneously) once a day.

Doctors aren’t sure exactly how glatiramer acetate works, but it may act as a decoy attracting the damaging cells produced by the immune system in people with MS away from nerve fibers in the body. Instead these harmful cells may attack glatiramer acetate. This means that the nerve fibers that are normally damaged in people with MS are protected.

Research shows that if you have relapsing remitting MS, injections of glatiramer acetate will help reduce the number of relapses you have. But it might not reduce the extent of disability you sustain. (refT20)

Unfortunately, glatiramer does not seem to slow disease progression in people with progressive MS. (refT21)