Tolerability and Acceptance of Switching from Brand to Generic Glatiramer Acetate in Multiple Sclerosis.

The costs of disease-modifying therapies (DMTs) for multiple sclerosis (MS) have increased interest in generic alternatives. This prospective and observational study aims to investigate the safety, tolerability, and acceptance of switching from brand glatiramer acetate (GA) 40 mg/mL three times per week (Copaxone) to generic GA 40 mg/mL three times per week (Glatiramyl). Conducted at the Neurocenter of Southern Switzerland from September 2020 to September 2021, the study enrolled 27 patients; 21 completed the study. Participants reported on local and systemic side effects three months before and after the switch, and on switch acceptance by means of visual analogue scales (from 0 to 10). Results indicated that those on generic GA experienced fewer local (81.0% vs. 96.3%) and systemic (33.3% vs. 59.3%) adverse events than with the brand drug. The median intensity of local adverse events was 8 (4-20) on generic GA vs. 16 (9-22) on brand GA, while the median intensity of systemic adverse events was similar between generic and brand GA [0 (0-27) vs. 0 (0-21.5), respectively]. Seventy-one percent of participants rated their acceptance of generic GA as 7/10 or higher. The results suggest that switching from brand to generic GA 40 mg/mL is safe, well-tolerated, and accepted by patients with MS.