OBJECTIVES : Glatopa^® (GLP; glatiramer acetate) 20mg is the generic equivalent of Copaxone^® (CPX) 20mg, approved for reducing relapse frequency in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS). This study compared relapse rates and healthcare costs in patients treated with GLP and CPX in a commercially insured US population.

METHODS : A retrospective observational claims study was conducted using the HealthCore Integrated Research Database. Patients with ≥1 GLP or CPX fill between 04/01/2015 (GLP) or 01/01/2013 (CPX) and 04/30/2018 were eligible for inclusion; first fill was defined as the index date. Patients were excluded if they received CPX 40mg pre-index or if they did not have health plan enrollment 6 months pre- and post-index date. Patients who switched from GLP to CPX were censored. GLP users were matched to CPX users through exact and propensity score matching. Relapse rates were calculated using a validated algorithm and compared using Chi-square tests. Costs (sum of plan-paid and patient-paid amounts) were compared using Wilcoxon tests.

RESULTS : Out of 633 GLP and 5,586 CPX patients, 121 per cohort with commercial insurance were retained after matching. Key baseline characteristics were well balanced (mean age 47.1 years, 74% female, mean 3.5 CPX fills). At baseline, 10% of patients had ≥1 relapse with mean annualized relapse rates (ARR) of 0.23; at follow-up, the relapse frequencies were 8% vs. 17% (GLP vs. CPX; p=0.05), and ARRs were 0.13 vs. 0.34 (p=0.04). Mean (SD) all-cause total costs were $49,137 ($26,991) vs. $54,422 ($38,365; p=0.43). Mean MS-related costs were $44,021 ($24,462) vs. $47,361 ($33,675; p=0.72), of which mean disease modifying therapies costs (including GLP and CPX) were $42,100 ($23,191) vs. $43,734 ($28,521; p=0.79).

CONCLUSIONS : MS patients treated with GLP experienced similar health outcomes and healthcare costs compared to those treated with CPX, with a potential trend towards cost savings (not significant in this sample).