Copaxone – very strange medicine

Copaxone (or Glatiramer) is absolutely worth of to be looked at. Everything is strange with this drug. For example, the structure is not strictly defined – it is a mixture of different polymers:

Poly[L-Glu^13-15, L-Ala^39-46, L-Tyr^8,6-10, L-Lys^30-37] x n CH₃COOH

But the most interesting with this blockbuster is that the mechanism of its action is not specified in terms of modern R&D paradigm (the paradigm briefly described here, here and here):

The mechanism(s) by which glatiramer acetate exerts its effects in patients with Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is (are) not fully elucidated. However, it is thought to act by modifying immune processes that are currently believed to be responsible for the pathogenesis of MS. This hypothesis is supported by findings of studies that have been carried out to explore the pathogenesis of experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE), a condition induced in several animal species through immunization against central nervous system derived material containing myelin and often used as an experimental animal model of MS. Studies in animals and in vitro systems suggest that upon its administration, glatiramer acetate-specific suppressor T-cells are induced and activated in the periphery.

Well, I think we will continue follow the success of this medicine in the future