evaluation of the optimal mtx dose as an add-on therapy to adalimumab for ra patients in japan, south korea and taiwan

Conditions: Rheumatoid Arthritis

Summary: this study will be conducted in japan, south korea and taiwan to evaluate the optimal dosage of methotrexate (mtx) as an add-on therapy to adalimumab (ada) in participants with rheumatoid arthritis (ra) who have not achieved remission by mtx monotherapy.

the erythrocyte mtx-polyglutamates (mtx-pg) concentration will be measured to evaluate its relationship to the efficacy and safety of mtx therapy.

Eligibility criteria:
inclusion criteria: 1. patients aged ≥18 years (≥20 years in taiwan) at the time of informed consent 2. patients who meet the 1987 revised acr criteria or 2010 acr/eular criteria 3. patients who have ra within 2 years from initial diagnosis to informed consent 4. patients who were previously untreated with mtx, jak inhibitor, or bdmards 5. patients who have disease activity of sdai \>11 at screening 6. patients who are no need for concomitant use of dmards other than hydroxychloroquine (only in south korea and taiwan) and study drugs during the study as judged by principal investigator/sub-investigator at screening 7. patients who are no need for concomitant use of corticoid steroid equivalent to \>10 mg/day prednisolone during the study as judged by principal investigator/sub-investigator at screening. 8. female of child-bearing potential who can use appropriate contraceptive during the study, female in whom time from menopause to informed consent is ≥1 year, or female of no child-bearing potential through sterilization (bilateral tubal ligation, bilateral ovariectomy or hysterectomy, etc.) 9. virile male who can use appropriate contraceptive during the study 10. patients who can adequately understand this study procedures, and voluntarily consent in writing to take part in this study (consent of a legally-acceptable representative is also required for patients aged \<20 years in japan and aged \<19 years in south korea) exclusion criteria: 1. patients who currently have a malignant tumor, except for non-melanoma forms of skin cancer limited within epidermis, and uterine cervix cancer limited within epidermis 2. patients who have serious infections such as sepsis 3. patients who have active tuberculosis 4. patients who have a history or current complication of demyelinating disease such as multiple sclerosis 5. patients who have congestive heart failure 6. pregnant female, or female who intend to conceive during the study period 7. patients who have bone marrow depression and whom investigator considered ineligible 8. patients who have chronic liver disease and whom investigator considered ineligible, and who is positive for hbs antigen 9. patients who have nephropathy and whom investigator considered ineligible 10. lactating female 11. patients who have pleural effusion or ascites 12. patients with a known hypersensitivity to mtx or ada 13. patients otherwise whom principal investigator/sub-investigator considered medically ineligible to participate in the study

Keywords: methotrexate adalimumab autoimmune disease connective tissue diseases rheumatic disease rheumatoid arthritis