Copolymer 1 reduces relapse rate and improves disability in relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis: a phase III trialOriginal paper
Karen Pendergrass is a microbiome researcher specializing in microbiome-targeted interventions (MBTIs). She systematically analyzes scientific literature to identify microbial patterns, develop hypotheses, and validate interventions. As the founder of the Microbiome Signatures Database, she bridges microbiome research with clinical practice. In 2012, based on her own investigative research, she became the first documented case of FMT for Celiac Disease, four years before the first published case study.
Read MoreWhat was studied?
Whether copolymer 1 (glatiramer acetate) reduces relapse rate and disability in relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis.
Who was studied?
251 people with relapsing-remitting MS randomized to glatiramer acetate 20 mg subcutaneously daily or placebo for two years at eleven centers.
What were the key findings?
The relapse rate fell 29 percent versus placebo (p = 0.007), and significantly more treated patients improved on the disability scale, with good tolerability aside from injection-site reactions.
What are the implications?
Glatiramer acetate is an effective, well-tolerated disease-modifying therapy for relapsing MS, and remains first-line decades later.