To      : Chris in Cincinnati
Re      : Copolymer-1


Copolymer, used to treat Multiple sclerosis, is a mixture of random polymers of
four amino acids, L-alanine, L-glutamic acid, L-lysine, and L-tyrosine, in a
molar ratio of 4.2, 1.4, 3.4, and 1.0, respectively.  Its molecular weight
ranges from 4,700 to 13,000 daltons.  It apparently is an immune modifier,
suppressing T cell function.

No data are available on its transfer to human milk.

That said,  it is very unlikely any would transfer into human milk largely due
to its huge molecular weight. Products with molecular weight greater than 1000
have great difficulty penetrating milk,  unless the alveolar epithelial cell
has a specific transport system developed for that specific purpose.

In addition,  any present in milk would be rapidly destroyed in the infants GI
tract,  just like any other protein.

Regards
Tom Hale