MS Speaks

This small study found that patients treated with rituximab before switching to glatiramer acetate (Copaxone) were more likely to show NEDA (no evidence of disease activity) than patients who received placebo before the change to Copaxone. From PubMed, January 13, 2019:


https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/30635477


Apparently the patients received 2 infusions of Rituxan before starting daily Copaxone injections (from ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT01569451).

Active Comparator: (Placebo and) Glatiramer Acetate
Subjects will receive an intravenous (IV) infusion of placebo (normal saline) on study days 1 (baseline visit) and 15 according to the infusion protocol. On study day 28, all subjects will initiate standard Glatiramer Acetate therapy, 20 mg injected subcutaneously daily.

Experimental: Rituximab and Glatiramer Acetate (R-GA)
Subjects will receive an intravenous (IV) infusion of 1000 mg of rituximab on study days 1 (baseline visit) and 15 according to the rituximab infusion protocol. On study day 28, subjects will initiate standard Glatiramer Acetate therapy, 20 mg injected subcutaneously daily.