Title

Rheumatoid Arthritis Treatment After First Anti-TNF INvestiGation
Open-label, Randomized Controlled Trial Comparing Tocilizumab to Anti-TNF Treatment and Discovery of Biomarkers for Treatment Selection in Rheumatoid Arthritis Patients With Inadequate Response to a First Anti-TNF
  • Phase

    Phase 4
  • Study Type

    Interventional
  • Status

    Terminated
  • Study Participants

    208
To compare the efficacy of switching to a different molecular target (from TNF to IL6) versus cycling to a second TNF inhibitor in patients with active RA, who have not adequately responded to a previous treatment with a first anti-TNF.
New drugs for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) with action on specific molecular target (e.g. anti-TNF) have improved the prognosis of patients with an inadequate response to conventional therapy such as methotrexate (MTX).

However, approximately 50% of patients treated with first-line anti-TNF discontinue treatment after two years due to ineffectiveness or adverse events. The second line treatment involves the use of another anti-TNF drug or switching to a different molecular target (anti-IL6, -CD20 or CTLA-4-Ig) in combination with MTX.
Study Started
Mar 01
2018
Primary Completion
Dec 01
2021
Study Completion
Dec 31
2021
Last Update
Sep 19
2022

Drug Tocilizumab

8 mg/kg i.v. every 4 weeks OR 162 mg s.c every seven days

Drug Etanercept

a. Etanercept if initial failure to monoclonal antibodies: infliximab, adalimumab, golimumab or certolizumab

Drug Infliximab

infliximab if initial failure to the receptor fusion protein, etanercept.

Drug Adalimumab

adalimumab if initial failure to the receptor fusion protein, etanercept.

Drug Golimumab

golimumab if initial failure to the receptor fusion protein, etanercept.

Drug Certolizumab Pegol

Certolizumab Pegol if initial failure to the receptor fusion protein, etanercept.

"Switching" strategy Experimental

Tocilizumab [RoActemra®] [ATC: L04AC07] 8 mg/kg i.v. every 4 weeks OR 162 mg s.c every seven days

"Cycling" strategy Active Comparator

Etanercept if initial failure to monoclonal antibodies: infliximab, adalimumab, golimumab or certolizumab OR Infliximab, adalimumab, golimumab or certolizumab if initial failure to the receptor fusion protein, etanercept.

Criteria

Inclusion Criteria:

Age ≥18 years at the time of signing the informed consent form and either male or female.
Diagnosis of RA according to the 1987 ACR classification criteria OR 2010 ACR/EULAR classification criteria at least 6 months prior to screening.
Patients with persistent RA disease activity whilst being treated with an initial TNFi agent on a background MTX up to 20-25 mg/week for at least 12 weeks defined according to SIR and EULAR guidelines as: primary non-response: failing to improve DAS28 by ≥ 1.2 or failing to achieve DAS28 ≤ 3.2 within the first three to six months of starting the initial TNFi; secondary non-response: determined by physician decision with evidence of flare and deterioration in DAS28 of ≥ 1.2.
Methotrexate (MTX) dose stable for 28 days prior to screening.
Patients on NSAIDs and / or corticosteroids must remain on an unchanged regimen for at least 28 days prior to study drug administration.
The patient must be able to comply with the study visit schedule and other protocol requirements.
The patient understands the purpose of the study and is able and willing to sign the informed consent form, according to ICH/GCP.
Signed written informed consent for biological analysis.
Female patients with reproductive potential must have a negative serum pregnancy test within 7 days prior to start of trial. Women of childbearing potential and male patients must be willing to practice acceptable methods of contraception during treatment and for 6 months (female patients) and 3 months (male patients) after discontinuation of treatment.

Exclusion Criteria:

Patients who have previously received more than 1 TNFi drug OR any other biological therapy.
Patients with inflammatory joint disease of different origin or any arthritis with onset prior to 16 years of age.
Patients taking any disease-modifying antirheumatic drug (DMARDs) (e.g. all except methotrexate). Discontinuation must occur at least 28 days prior to study treatment start.
History or presence of other disease, metabolic dysfunction, physical examination finding, or clinical laboratory finding giving reasonable suspicion of a disease or condition that contraindicates the use of an investigational drug.
Known hypersensitivity to any active substance or excipients of study drug.
Pregnancy or breast feeding.
No Results Posted