This 3 arm randomized open label study will evaluate the safety, tolerability and efficacy of tocilizumab in patients with moderate to severe active rheumatoid arthritis, who have had inadequate response to or are unable to tolerate DMARDs. The protocol incorporates risk mitigation strategies developed in partnership with the FDA to manage known and potential risks associated with the treatment of tocilizumab. Patients will be randomized to receive tocilizumab either 4 mg/kg intravenous (iv) or 8 mg/kg iv with concomitant non-biologic DMARDs, or 8 mg/kg iv without concomitant non-biologic DMARDs, every 4 weeks, for a total of 6 infusions. The anticipated time on study treatment is 3-12 months, and the target sample size is 500-1000 individuals.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
NONE
Enrollment
886
8 mg/kg intravenous every 4 weeks for 24 weeks
4 mg/kg every 4 weeks for 24 weeks
Nonbiologic disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs) As prescribed
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Anniston, Alabama, United States
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Birmingham, Alabama, United States
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Birmingham, Alabama, United States
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Huntsville, Alabama, United States
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Mobile, Alabama, United States
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Percentage of Participants Experiencing at Least One Serious Adverse Event (SAE) During the 24 Week Treatment Period
An SAE was any adverse event that at any dose fulfilled at least one of the following criteria: * Was fatal (results in death) * Was life-threatening * Required in-patient hospitalization or prolongation of existing hospitalization * Resulted in persistent or significant disability/incapacity * Was a congenital anomaly/birth defect * Was medically significant or required intervention to prevent one or other of the outcomes listed above.
Time frame: 24 Weeks
Percentage of Participants Experiencing Serious Adverse Events of Special Interest
Serious Adverse Events of Special interest include: * Serious infections including opportunistic infections * Complications of diverticulitis (including lower gastrointestinal \[GI\] perforations) * Myocardial infarction/acute coronary syndrome * Stroke * Spontaneous or serious bleeding * Malignant neoplasms
Time frame: 24 Weeks
Percentage of Participants Experiencing Non-serious Adverse Events of Special Interest
Non-serious adverse Events of Special interest include: * Serious/Medically Significant Hepatic Events * Spontaneous /Serious Bleeding * Malignant Neoplasms
Time frame: 24 Weeks
Percentage of Participants Achieving Clinical Remission at Weeks 8, 16, and 24
Clinical Remission is defined as a Disease Activity Score 28 \[DAS28\] \< 2.6. The DAS28 is a combined index for measuring disease activity in RA. The index includes tender joint count (TJC) -28 joints and swollen joint count (SJC)-28 joints, acute phase response (CRP) and general health status. The DAS28 scale ranges from 0 to 10, where higher scores represent higher disease activity.
Time frame: Weeks 8,16,24
Change From Baseline in DAS28 Score at Weeks 8, 16 and 24
The DAS28 is a combined index for measuring disease activity in rheumatoid arthritis (RA). The index includes tender joint count (TJC) -28 joints and swollen joint count (SJC)-28 joints, acute phase response C-reactive protein (CRP) and general health status. The DAS28 scale ranges from 0 to 10, where higher scores represent higher disease activity. A score of \< 2.6 represents clinical remission, a score of ≤ 3.2 represents low disease activity, and a score of \> 5.1 represents high disease activity. The Change from Baseline to Weeks 8, 16 and 24 is reported.
Time frame: Baseline, Weeks 8,16,24
Percentage of Participants Achieving American College of Rheumatology (ACR) (ACR20/50/70) Responses at Weeks 8, 16, and 24
The ACR response rates ACR20, ACR50, and ACR70 are defined as ≥20%, ≥50%, and ≥70% improvement from baseline, respectively, in: 1. Swollen Joint Count (66 joints) and Tender Joint Count (68 joints) and 2. At least 3 of the following 5 assessments: * Patient's global assessment of pain-Visual Analog Scale (VAS) * Patient global assessment of disease activity-(VAS) * Physician global assessment of disease activity-(VAS) * Patient assessment of disability (physical function scale of the Multidimensional Health Assessment Questionnaire) * Acute phase response C-Reactive Protein (CRP)
Time frame: Baseline, Weeks 8,16,24
Percentage of Participants With Tocilizumab Dose Increased From 4 mg/kg to 8 mg/kg at Week 8
Dosage could be increased from 4 mg/kg Tocilizumab to 8 mg/kg due to failure to achieve 20% improvement from baseline in swollen and tender joint counts.
Time frame: Baseline, Week 8
Number of Participants Having Their Tocilizumab Dose Increased From 4 mg/kg to 8 mg/kg at Weeks 12, 16, and 20
Dosage of Tocilizumab 4 mg/kg could be increased to 8 mg/kg at the discretion of the investigator based on assessment of the patient's benefit-risk after Week 12.
Time frame: Weeks 12,16, 20
Change From Baseline in Routine Assessment Patient Index Data (RAPID3) Score at Weeks 8, 16, and 24
The RAPID3 is a combined index derived from the Multidimensional Health Assessment Questionnaire that includes physical function score, pain Visual Analog Scale (VAS), and global assessment of disease activity VAS. The total RAPID3 score ranges from 0 to 10 where higher scores represent worse outcomes. A negative change from baseline indicates improvement.
Time frame: Baseline, Weeks 8,16,24
Change From Baseline in Fatigue Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) at Weeks 8, 16, and 24
The fatigue VAS is a single-item, patient-reported outcome that measures the severity of the fatigue over the past week. Patients rate their fatigue on a scale of 0 (fatigue is no problem) to 100 (fatigue is a major problem). Higher scores represent higher disease activity and a negative change from baseline indicates improvement.
Time frame: Baseline, Weeks 8,16,24
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Montgomery, Alabama, United States
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Tuscaloosa, Alabama, United States
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Hot Springs, Arizona, United States
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Paradise Valley, Arizona, United States
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Peoria, Arizona, United States
...and 217 more locations