a study of subcutaneous roactemra/actemra (tocilizumab) as monotherapy or in combination with methotrexate or other non-biologic dmards in patients with active rheumatoid arthritis

Conditions: Rheumatoid Arthritis

Summary: this multicenter, open-label study will evaluate the efficacy and safety of subcutaneously administered roactemra/actemra (tocilizumab) as monotherapy or in combination with methotrexate or other non-biologic dmards in patients with active rheumatoid arthritis and an inadequate response to non-biologic dmards or to one anti-tnf. in phase 1, all patients will receive roactemra/actemra 162 mg subcutaneously (sc) weekly for weeks 1 to 24, with or without methotrexate or other non-biologic dmards. for part 2, patients who achieve sustained clinical das28-esr remission at weeks 20 and 24 will be randomized to receive roactemra/actemra 162 mg sc either weekly or every 2 weeks for weeks 24 to 48, with or without methotrexate or other non-biologic dmards. patients who do not achieve sustained clinical remission but achieve low disease activity (das-esr \</= 3.2) will continue the initial treatment of roactemra/actemra 162 mg sc weekly for weeks 24 to 48, with or without methotrexate or other non-biologic dmards.


Eligibility criteria:
inclusion criteria: * adult patients, \>/= 18 years of age * active rheumatoid arthritis (das28-esr \> 3.2), according to the revised (1987) acr criteria or eular/acr (2010) criteria of \> 6 months duration * patients with intolerance or inadequate response to methotrexate or other non-biologic dmrads or inadequate response to a first ant-tnf agent * oral corticosteroids (\ /= 4 weeks prior to baseline * permitted non-biologic dmrad is allowed if at stable dose for at least 4 weeks prior to baseline * females of childbearing potential and males with female partners of childbearing potential must be using a reliable means of contraception as defined by protocol during the study and for at least 3 months following the last dose of roactemra/actemra * patients with intolerance or inadequate response to methotrexate or other non-biologic dmards or inadequate response to first anti-tnf agent exclusion criteria: * major surgery (including joint surgery) within 8 weeks prior to screening or planned major surgery within 6 months following baseline * rheumatic autoimmune disease other than ra or significant systemic involvement secondary to ra; secondary sjögren's syndrome with ra is permitted * functional class iv as defined by the acr classification of functional status in rheumatoid arthritis * diagnosis of juvenile idiopathic arthritis or juvenile ra and/or ra before the age of 16 * prior history of current inflammatory joint disease other than ra * exposure to tocilizumab (either intravenous \[iv\] or sc) at any time prior to baseline * treatment with any investigational agent with four weeks (or five-half lives of the investigational drug, whichever is longer) of screening * intra-articular or parenteral corticosteroids within 4 weeks prior to baseline * previous treatment with abatacept * history of severe allergic of anaphylactic reactions to human, humanized, or murine monoclonal antibodies * evidence of serious uncontrolled concomitant cardiovascular, nervous system, pulmonary, renal, hepatic, endocrine, or gastrointestinal (gi) disease * history of diverticulitis, diverticulitis requiring antibiotic treatment, or chronic ulcerative lower gi disease such as crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis, or other symptomatic lower gi conditions that might predispose to perforation * known active current or history of recurrent bacterial, viral, fungal, mycobacterial, or other infections (including but not limited to tuberculosis \[tb\] and atypical mycobacterial disease, hepatitis b and c, and herpes zoster, but excluding fungal infections or nail beds) * any major episode of infection requiring hospitalization or treatment with iv antibiotics within 4 weeks of screening or oral antibiotics within 2 weeks of screening * active tb requiring treatment within the previous 3 years * positive hepatitis b or hepatitis c * primary or secondary immunodeficiency (history of or currently active) * evidence of active malignant disease, malignancies diagnosed with the previous 10 years (including hematological malignancies and solid tumors, except basal of squamous cell carcinoma of the skin diagnosed within the previous 20 years * pregnant and lactating women * history of alcohol, drug, or chemical abuse within 1 year prior to screening * neuropathies or other conditions that might interfere with pain evaluation * inadequate hematological, real of liver function