Copaxone is transitioning to a smaller (thinner) needle. I got my new shipment of syringes last week and saw right away that they had the new needle on them. You will know if they cap over the needle is black instead of gray. If you are looking, the needle looks thinner. If I had not known to look, however, this might have gone unnoticed.
I poked around to find out more on the new needle ( get it? needle word play ). Some are recommending a new injection technique with this thinner needle. Before, if you were injecting manually, you were to "dart" it in. Now with the thinner needle, darting is not necessary. You can just gently press it in to your skin.
I have used the new needle a half dozen times now. It has made a very nice difference. It seems as if the thinner needle does less tissue damage and therefore is leaving a smaller copaxone lump. Perhaps that is from being able to just push it in gently rather than darting. It is much more comfortable to use. It literally slides right in and it is not only painless, usually you can't feel it at all.
I am not sure how this thinner needle will translate to auto-inject users. If anyone has experience with the auto-inject and the new needles, please post and let us know what you think.