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Description: Glatiramer acetate consists of the acetate salts of synthetic polypeptides, containing four naturally occurring amino acids: L-glutamic acid, L-alanine, L-tyrosine, and L-lysine with an average molar fraction of 0.141, 0.427, 0.095, and 0.338, respectively. The average molecular weight of glatiramer acetate is 5,000-9,000 daltons. It is an immunomodulator, licensed in much of the world for reduced frequency of relapses in relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis
Drug Type: Biotech; Approved; Investigational
Pharmacology: Glatiramer acetate was originally designed to mimic a protein in myelin, called myelin basic protein, with the intention of inducing EAE (an animal model of MS). Quite to the contrary, it was found to suppress the disease and as a result came to be trialed in human MS. There is some evidence that Glatiramer acetate converts the body's immune response from a Th1 type to a Th2 one, promotes suppressor T cells or acts as an altered peptide ligand. 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. Some fraction of the injected material, either intact or partially hydrolyzed, is presumed to enter the lymphatic circulation, enabling it to reach regional lymph nodes, and some may enter the systemic circulation intact.
Mechanism of Action: Glatiramer acetate (GA) exhibits strong and promiscuous binding to MHC molecules (HLA DRB1* variants) and consequent competition with various myelin antigens for their presentation to T cells. A further aspect of its action is potent induction of specific suppressor cells of the T helper 2 (Th2) type that migrate to the brain and lead to in situ bystander suppression. Furthermore, the GA-specific cells in the brain express the anti-inflammatory cytokines IL-10 and transforming growth factor beta, in addition to brain-derived neurotrophic factor, whereas they do not express the inflammatory cytokine IFN-gamma. Recent evidence also suggests that Glatiramer acetate directly inhibits dendritic cells and monocytes - both of which are circulating antigen presenting cells.
Indication: For reduction of the frequency of relapses in patients with Relapsing-Remitting Multiple Sclerosis.
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Data Correlations | 2 studies

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Genes category icon Genes
Score Help
HLA-DRB1 100 100
MYOM2 100 100
XIST 92 92
CXCL2 90 90
FCGR3B 89 89
TRAF3IP3 85 85
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Biogroups category icon Biogroups
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Antigen Processing and Presentation 100 100
Hematopoietic Cell Lineage 97 97
IL-5 Pathway 96 96
Cell Adhesion Molecules (CAMs) 93 93
Krueppel-associated box 93 93
I43 - oprin 92 92
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Individual Studies

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    Homo sapiens Homo sapiens | Therapeutic   Therapeutic

    The DrugBank database is a unique bioinformatics and cheminformatics resource that combines detailed drug (i.e. chemical, pharmacological and pharmaceutical) data with comprehensive drug target (i.e. sequence, structure, and pathway) information.

    Authors: David S Wishart, Craig Knox, An Chi Guo et al.

    Organization: Department of Computing Science, Univers…
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Associated Researchers

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Thought leaders and organizations working on research involving glatiramer acetate.

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  • M Filippi
  • G Comi
  • Martin S Weber
  • Michael K Racke
  • Scott S Zamvil
View All Clinical trial sponsors icon Clinical Trials Sponsors
  • Teva Pharmaceutical Industries
  • Biogen Idec
  • Sanofi-Aventis
  • EMD Serono
  • National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS)
View All Affiliations icon Organizations
  • Weizmann Institute of Science
  • University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston
  • Barrow Neurological Institute
  • University of Bari
  • University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center

Clinical Trials | 102 trials

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