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What are some differences between AVONEX, Betaseron® (Interferon beta-1b), Rebif® (Interferon beta-1a), and Copaxone® (Glatiramer acetate injection)?

April 26, 2017acetate AVONEX beta-1a beta-1b betaseron® copaxone® differences glatiramer Interferon rebif®

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What are some differences between AVONEX, Betaseron® (Interferon beta-1b), Rebif® (Interferon beta-1a), and Copaxone® (Glatiramer acetate injection)?

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AVONEX is the only once-a-week multiple sclerosis treatment, and the only approved therapy indicated for people who have experienced a first attack and have MRI features consistent with MS. AVONEX is given as an intramuscular (IM) injection once a week. Betaseron, Rebif, and Copaxone are given as subcutaneous (SC) injections, and more frequently: Betaseron every other day; Rebif 3 times a week; and Copaxone every day. AVONEX and Rebif are made up of the same arrangement of amino acids (the building blocks of proteins) as the interferon beta naturally produced in the human body. Betaseron has a modified arrangement of amino acids from interferon beta produced in Escherichia coli bacteria. Copaxone is not an interferon – it is a synthetic compound that is a mixture of 4 amino acids.