| Multiple Sclerosis, Relapsing-Remitting
Gilenya vs Copaxone
Side-by-side clinical, coverage, and cost comparison for multiple sclerosis, relapsing-remitting.Deep comparison between: Fingolimod vs Copaxone with Prescriber.AI
AI compares prescribing info and payer-specific access barriers across 1,200+ formularies. Here's a preview of what prescribers are already asking.Safety signalsCopaxone has a higher rate of injection site reactions vs Fingolimod based on FDA-approved prescribing information
Coverage gaps3 major payers require step therapy for Copaxone but not Fingolimod, including UnitedHealthcare
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Category
Fingolimod
Copaxone
At A Glance
Oral
Daily
Sphingosine 1-phosphate receptor modulator
SC injection
Daily or 3x weekly
Immunomodulator
Indications
- Multiple Sclerosis, Relapsing-Remitting
- Clinically isolated syndrome
- Multiple Sclerosis, Secondary Progressive
- Clinically isolated syndrome
- Multiple Sclerosis, Relapsing-Remitting
- Multiple Sclerosis, Secondary Progressive
Dosing
Multiple Sclerosis, Relapsing-Remitting, Clinically isolated syndrome, Multiple Sclerosis, Secondary Progressive 0.5 mg orally once daily for adults and pediatric patients >40 kg; 0.25 mg orally once daily for pediatric patients 10 years of age and older weighing <=40 kg; may be taken with or without food; first-dose monitoring for bradycardia required.
Clinically isolated syndrome, Multiple Sclerosis, Relapsing-Remitting, Multiple Sclerosis, Secondary Progressive 20 mg/mL SC once daily OR 40 mg/mL SC three times per week (at least 48 hours apart); the two strengths are not interchangeable.
Contraindications
- Myocardial infarction, unstable angina, stroke, TIA, decompensated heart failure requiring hospitalization, or Class III/IV heart failure within the last 6 months
- History or presence of Mobitz Type II second-degree or third-degree AV block or sick sinus syndrome without a functioning pacemaker
- Baseline QTc interval >= 500 msec
- Cardiac arrhythmias requiring anti-arrhythmic treatment with Class Ia or Class III anti-arrhythmic drugs
- Hypersensitivity to fingolimod or any excipient in fingolimod capsules
- Known hypersensitivity to glatiramer acetate or mannitol, including anaphylaxis
Adverse Reactions
Most common (>=10%) Headache, liver transaminase elevation, diarrhea, cough, influenza, sinusitis, back pain, abdominal pain, pain in extremity
Serious Bradyarrhythmia, AV block, infections, progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy, macular edema, liver injury, posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome, fetal risk, malignancies, hypersensitivity reactions
Postmarketing Hemolytic anemia, thrombocytopenia, cryptococcal infections, HPV infection, seizures including status epilepticus, melanoma, Merkel cell carcinoma, cutaneous T-cell lymphoma, Kaposi's sarcoma, squamous cell carcinoma
Most common (>=2%) Injection site erythema, pain, pruritus, mass, edema, and inflammation; vasodilatation, rash, dyspnea, chest pain, nausea, palpitations, lymphadenopathy, asthenia, anxiety, infection
Serious Anaphylactic reactions, immediate post-injection reaction, chest pain, lipoatrophy and skin necrosis, potential effects on immune response, hepatic injury
Postmarketing Sepsis, SLE syndrome, thrombosis, myocardial infarct, thrombocytopenia, lymphoma-like reaction, acute leukemia, cirrhosis, hepatic injury, anaphylactic reactions, cerebrovascular accident, pulmonary embolus, blindness
Pharmacology
Sphingosine 1-phosphate (S1P) receptor modulator; fingolimod is metabolized to fingolimod-phosphate, which binds S1P receptors 1, 3, 4, and 5 with high affinity, blocking lymphocyte egress from lymph nodes and reducing peripheral blood lymphocyte counts, potentially reducing lymphocyte migration into the central nervous system.
Glatiramer acetate is an immunomodulator thought to act by modifying immune processes responsible for MS pathogenesis; upon SC administration, glatiramer acetate-specific suppressor T-cells are induced and activated in the periphery.
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Most Common Insurance
Anthem BCBS
Fingolimod
- Covered on 5 commercial plans
- PA (11/12) · Step Therapy (2/12) · Qty limit (11/12)
Copaxone
- Covered on 5 commercial plans
- PA (12/12) · Step Therapy (1/12) · Qty limit (11/12)
UnitedHealthcare
Fingolimod
- Covered on 4 commercial plans
- PA (6/8) · Step Therapy (0/8) · Qty limit (8/8)
Copaxone
- Covered on 4 commercial plans
- PA (6/8) · Step Therapy (0/8) · Qty limit (7/8)
Humana
Fingolimod
- Covered on 0 commercial plans
- PA (3/3) · Step Therapy (2/3) · Qty limit (3/3)
Copaxone
- Covered on 0 commercial plans
- PA (3/3) · Step Therapy (1/3) · Qty limit (3/3)
Coverage data sourced from MMIT. Updated monthly.
Savings
Cost estimate not availableAssistance Fund: Multiple Sclerosis: Waitlist
Commercial or private insurance
Medicare, Medicaid, VA, TRICARE
Cost estimate not availableAccessia Health: Multiple Sclerosis - Private Insurance: Waitlist
Commercial or private insurance
Medicare, Medicaid, VA, TRICARE
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FingolimodView full Fingolimod profile
CopaxoneView full Copaxone profile
Clinical data sourced from FDA-approved labeling. Coverage data via MMIT. Updated monthly.