A Study of JHL1101 Versus MabThera® in Subjects With Severe Rheumatoid Arthritis

This is a multicentre, randomised, double-blind, parallel group study to compare the pharmacokinetics (PK), pharmacodynamics (PD), immunogenicity, safety, tolerability and efficacy of JHL1101 versus MabThera in subjects with moderate to severe RA who have previously failed at least 1 tumour necrosis factor alpha (TNF) inhibitor (i.e., intolerance or documented active disease despite at least 12 weeks treatment according to the TNF inhibitor-approved treatment and dosage), and are on concomitant treatment with MTX.

This study will take place across approximately 31 centres across 12 countries and will randomise approximately 150 subjects as outpatients.

The primary objective is to investigate and compare the pharmacokinetic profiles of JHL1101 and MabThera (rituximab). The secondary objectives are to investigate the safety, tolerability, and immunogenicity of JHL1101 versus MabThera, to investigate the pharmacodynamics profile of JHL1101 versus MabThera, and investigate the efficacy of JHL1101 versus MabThera.

Eligibility Criteria:
Inclusion Criteria:

* Moderate to severe active RA
* Documented intolerance to or inadequate response to at least 12 weeks of treatment with the licensed regimen of at least one TNF inhibitor therapy
* Women of childbearing potential must use a medically acceptable means of birth control and agree to continue its use during the study and for at least twelve months after the last dose of study drug.

Exclusion Criteria:

* History of a severe allergic reaction or anaphylactic reaction to a biological agent or history of hypersensitivity to any component of the study drug including known hypersensitivity or allergy to a murine product
* Class IV as per the Classification of Global Functional Status in Rheumatoid Arthritis or wheelchair/bed-bound
* Have any significant systemic involvement with RA such as vasculitis, pulmonary fibrosis or Felty's syndrome
* History of or current inflammatory joint disease other than RA or other systemic disorder where the treatment or current or potential symptoms could confound the assessment of RA, with the exception of secondary Sjögren's syndrome
* Concomitant or recent DMARD treatments for RA
* Oral corticosteroids \>10mg/day prednisone equivalent or dose which has not been stable for the 4 weeks prior to Baseline
* Receipt of an intra-articular or other injectable corticosteroid within 4 weeks prior to Screening
* Intolerance or contraindications to IV corticosteroids
* Use of NSAIDs which have not been at a stable dose within 2 weeks prior to Baseline.
* Have undergone surgical treatments for RA including synovectomy and arthroplasty in more than 3 joints and/or within the last 8 weeks prior to Screening
* History of major surgery within the 12 weeks prior to Screening
* History of an infected joint prosthesis which subsequently has not been surgically removed/replaced
* Positive serological test for HBsAg, hepatitis B core antibody or hepatitis C serology.
* History of HIV infection, or a positive test at Screening
* History of tuberculosis (TB) infection.
* Acute clinical manifestations of herpes zoster virus or herpes simplex.
* Active infection of any kind or any major episode of infection requiring hospitalization within 24 week prior to Baseline or requiring treatment with IV anti-infective agents within 8 weeks prior to Baseline or oral anti infective agents within 2 weeks prior to Baseline
* Subjects at risk of progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML) as per protocol
* Any significant cardiac disease
* Subjects with a history of solid-organ transplantation
* History of lympho- or myeloproliferative disorder or malignancy within the last 5 years

Other protocol-defined inclusion/exclusion criteria may apply.