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  • Title: Neurologic consequence of delaying glatiramer acetate therapy for multiple sclerosis: 8-year data.
    Author: Johnson KP, Ford CC, Lisak RP, Wolinsky JS.
    Journal: Acta Neurol Scand; 2005 Jan; 111(1):42-7. PubMed ID: 15595937.
    Abstract:
    OBJECTIVE: To assess the long-term effectiveness of continuous glatiramer acetate (GA) therapy in relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS). METHODS: This open-label extension followed a randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind study of GA of approximately 30 months duration. Patients originally randomized to GA continued on it (group A) and those randomized to placebo switched to GA (group B). RESULTS: Of 251 original patients, 142 (56.6%) remained in the study after 8 years. Annual relapse rate for both groups declined to approximately 0.2 (approximately one relapse every 5 years). However, a significantly larger proportion of patients in group A had stable or improved Expanded Disability Status Scale scores compared with group B (65.3% vs 50.4%, respectively; P = 0.0263), possibly attributable to the delay of GA treatment for approximately 30 months in group B. GA was well tolerated and no drug-related laboratory changes were observed. CONCLUSIONS: These data support early initiation of GA therapy as an efficacious and well-tolerated long-term treatment for RRMS patients.
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