Assessing the role of patient support services on adherence rates in patients using glatiramer acetate for relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis.

OBJECTIVE

To assess predictors of achievement of 80% Medication Possession Ratio (MPR) in patients receiving manufacturer-provided self-management services for relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS) patients taking glatiramer acetate (Copaxone).

METHODS

De-identified patient records were selected for study inclusion if patients had been (1) continuously enrolled in one or more aspects of the self-management program for a minimum of 24 months and had adherence measured by MPR between the values of zero and one. Baseline patient univariate measures were assessed using chi-squared statistics for categorical variables and Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) for continuous variables. Bivariate logistic regression models were used to assess predictors of 80% MPR.

RESULTS

A total of 5825 patients met the study inclusion criteria. About 70% of patients received manufacturer-provided injection training and 75% were eligible for, and utilized, copayment assistance; 74.3% of patients accessing sponsor provided support achieved a desired MPR of greater than or equal to 80%. Patients were 40% more likely to reach goal if injection training was provided by the manufacturer (OR = 1.435; 95% CI = 1.258-1.636) and were 30.6% more likely to achieve goal when eligible patients utilized copayment assistance programs (OR = 1.306; 95% CI = 1.109-1.570). Patients reinitiating treatment were at risk of lower adherence rates (OR = 0.605; CI = 0.476-0.769) compared to those who were new to therapy.

CONCLUSIONS

Manufacturer-provided patient support programs improve adherence to glatiramer acetate therapy.