A Study to Evaluate the Safety and Effectiveness of Novantrone Therapy Followed by Copaxone for Multiple Sclerosis.

Study Overview
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Brief Summary
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It is thought that treating multiple sclerosis with Novantrone for a short period of time prior to treatment with Copaxone may enhance the onset effect of Copaxone.

Official Title
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A Multi-Center, Randomized, Open Label Study To Evaluate Safety, Tolerability And Efficacy Of Treatment With Mitoxantrone; Pre-Treatment With Glatiramer Acetate (GA) Versus Treatment With GA Alone In Relapsing Forms Of Multiple Sclerosis.

Conditions
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Relapsing Remitting Multiple Sclerosis

Intervention / Treatment
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* Drug: glatiramer acetate 20 mg
* Drug: glatiramer acetate 20 mg, with mitoxantrone


Participation Criteria
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Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria: Definite MS as determined by the McDonald criteria (Ann Neurol, July 2001) with a relapsing disease course. 2.EDSS 0.0 - 6.5 inclusive 18 to 55 years of age 1 or more T1 Gadolinium-enhancing lesions but no more than 15 lesions Able and willing to sign and date an informed consent form Exclusion Criteria: Patients ever treated with Glatiramer Acetate or Mitoxantrone. Patients treated with interferons or IV immunoglobulins (IV Ig) in the previous 4 weeks prior to screening visits. Patients treated with methotrexate or azathioprine in the previous 6 months prior to screening visits. Patients ever treated with cyclophosphamide or Total Lymphoid Irradiation (TLI), or cladribine for injection or anthracenediones or anthracyclines, or prior mediastinal radiotherapy. Patients treated with intravenous or oral steroids within 28 days prior to initial MRI. Female patients must be non-pregnant, non-lactating, have a negative screening pregnancy test, and must use contraceptive methods deemed reliable by the investigator. Male patients and their partners must use contraceptive methods deemed reliable by the investigator LVEF < 50% Patients using catheters or Foley catheters Patients who have any other known significant systemic medical disease which may confound the evaluation of the study results such as: ALS, cervical spondylitic myelopathy, syphilis, arteritis, cerebellar syndrome (i.e., due to heredodegeneration), B12/folate deficiency, lyme disease, HTLV 1-myelopathy Patients with immune deficiency or other medical condition that would preclude treatment with Mitoxantrone or Glatiramer Acetate Abnormal screening blood tests exceeding any of the limits defined below: Alanine transaminase (ALT) - twice the upper limit of normal Aspartate transaminase (AST) - twice the upper limit of normal Total white blood cell count < 2.3 x 103/uL Baseline neutrophil counts of < 1.5 x103/uL Platelet count < 80 x 103/uL Creatinine >1.5 mg/dL Prothrombin time greater than 150% upper limit of normal Patients with any medical or psychiatric conditions that would make the patient unsuitable for this research, as determined by the investigator.

Ages Eligible for Study
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Minimum Age: 18 Years
Maximum Age: 55 Years

Sexes Eligible for Study
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All

Accepts Healthy Volunteers
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No

Study Plan
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How is the study designed?
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Design Details

Primary Purpose: Diagnostic
Allocation: Randomized
Intervention Model: Parallel Assignment
Masking: None (Open Label)


Arms and Interventions

| Participant Group/Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
| --- | --- |
| Active Comparator: Copaxone 20 mg<br>Copaxone 20 mg | Drug: glatiramer acetate 20 mg<br>* glatiramer acetate 20 mg<br>* Other names: Copaxone;|
| Active Comparator: Copaxone 20mg with Novantrone induction<br>Copaxone 20mg with Novantrone induction | Drug: glatiramer acetate 20 mg, with mitoxantrone<br>* glatiramer acetate 20 mg, with mitoxantrone<br>* Other names: Copaxone, Novantrone;|

What is the study measuring?
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Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Determine if short-term immunosuppression with mitoxantrone (Novantrone®) followed by chronic treatment with Glatiramer Acetate (GA) in comparison to treatment with GA for the same period of time but without immunosuppression is well-tolerated and safe |  | 15 months |