Conditions: Rheumatoid Arthritis
Allocation: RANDOMIZED | Intervention model: PARALLEL
Enrollment: 556
Healthy volunteers: no

Brief summary:
This 2 arm study will compare 2 treatment strategies based on tocilizumab in combination with methotrexate or placebo in patients with moderate to severe rheumatoid arthritis. Patients receiving methotrexate treatment will be randomized to receive either a) tocilizumab 8 mg intravenous (iv) every 4 weeks + methotrexate orally (po) weekly or b) tocilizumab 8 mg iv every 4 weeks + placebo po weekly. After the first 24 weeks of blinded treatment, treatment adjustments (increase or decrease of treatment intensity) may be introduced at intervals, based on response. The anticipated time on study treatment is up to 3 years, and the target sample size is approximately 470 patients.

Detailed description:

Arms:
arm 1: Tocilizumab 8 mg/kg (up to 800 mg) intravenous (IV) once every 4 weeks + weekly oral methotrexate continuing at the patient's pre-study dose for 24 weeks. Patients taking oral corticosteroids remained on their pre-study dose (up to 10 mg/day). Week 24 to Week 52 the dose of tocilizumab and methotrexate remained the same. Based on DAS28 assessments, corticosteroid dose was adjusted and disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDS) added. Week 52 to Week 104, based on the DAS28 assessment, treatment was adjusted to one of four protocol specified treatment regimens: Treatment tapering, Continued treatment, Treatment intensification or Maintenance treatment. After Week 100, patients who discontinued tocilizumab because of remission were retreated with the last effective dose of tocilizumab or blinded methotrexate if a flare occurred. arm 2: Tocilizumab 8 mg/kg (up to 800 mg) IV once every 4 weeks + weekly oral placebo to methotrexate continuing at the patient's pre-study dose for 24 weeks. Patients taking oral corticosteroids remained on their pre-study dose (up to 10 mg/day). Week 24 to Week 52 the dose of tocilizumab and placebo to methotrexate remained the same. Based on DAS28 assessments, corticosteroid dose was adjusted and disease-modifying antirheumatic drug (DMARDS) added. Week 52 to Week 104, based on the DAS28 assessment, treatment was adjusted to one of four protocol specified treatment regimens: Treatment tapering, Continued treatment, Treatment intensification or Maintenance treatment. After Week 100, patients who discontinued tocilizumab because of remission were retreated with the last effective dose of tocilizumab or blinded placebo to methotrexate if a flare occurred.

Interventions: intervention 1: tocilizumab [RoActemra/Actemra] intervention 2: methotrexate intervention 3: placebo
Intervention descriptions: intervention 1: tocilizumab 8 mg IV every 4 weeks. intervention 2: Approximately 15-17 mg methotrexate capsule orally once a week. intervention 3: Placebo matching methotrexate capsule taken orally once a week.

Protocol document: