Side by side

1. 1.Binds MHC class II molecules and competes with myelin antigens for presentation.
2. 2.Shifts T helper cells toward anti-inflammatory, regulatory phenotypes.
3. 3.Induces myelin-reactive T cells that secrete anti-inflammatory cytokines.
4. 4.Promotes repair-supporting behaviour in antigen-presenting cells.
5. 5.Its heterogeneous polypeptide mixture is why it is regulated as a complex biological mixture.

• Relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (annualised relapse rate)
• Clinically isolated syndrome
• MRI lesion activity
• Long-term disability trajectories in extension studies

• Roughly 29% reduction in annualised relapse rate versus placebo in the pivotal trial
• Fewer new MRI lesions
• Modest effect on disability progression over years
• Frequent injection-site reactions and a post-injection flushing reaction

• Injection-site reactions, including lipoatrophy with long-term use
• Post-injection reaction with flushing, chest tightness and palpitations
• Headache
• Nausea
• Arthralgia
• Rarely, a systemic hypersensitivity reaction

Research context only - prescription medicine. Licensed regimens are 20 mg subcutaneously once daily or 40 mg three times weekly; the pivotal trial ran two years with annualised relapse rate as the primary endpoint, and extension cohorts have followed patients for over a decade, though not in a controlled design.

Research context only