This multicenter study with a randomized, double-blind, parallel-group phase will evaluate the safety and efficacy of RoActemra/Actemra (tocilizumab) in combination with methotrexate versus RoActemra/Actemra monotherapy in patients with mild to moderate rheumatoid arthritis, with an inadequate response to methotrexate. Patients will receive RoActemra/Actemra 8 mg/kg intravenously every 4 weeks plus oral methotrexate 15-25 mg weekly for 12 weeks. Patients with a good/moderate EULAR response will then be randomized to receive either RoActemra/Actemra plus methotrexate or RoActemra/Actemra plus placebo for the following 12 weeks. Anticipated time on study treatment is 6 months.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
DOUBLE
Enrollment
77
15-25 mg orally weekly, Weeks 1-12
15-25 mg orally weekly, Weeks 13-24
methotrexate placebo orally weekly, Weeks 13-24
8 mg/kg iv every 4 weeks, 24 weeks
Unnamed facility
Graz, Austria
Unnamed facility
Graz-Eggenberg, Austria
Unnamed facility
Hollabrunn, Austria
Unnamed facility
Innsbruck, Austria
Unnamed facility
Linz, Austria
Unnamed facility
Salzburg, Austria
Unnamed facility
Stockerau, Austria
Unnamed facility
Vienna, Austria
Unnamed facility
Vienna, Austria
Unnamed facility
Vienna, Austria
...and 3 more locations
Change From Week 12 (Randomization) to Week 24 in DAS28
The DAS28 is a combined index for measuring disease activity in rheumatoid arthritis (RA). The index includes swollen joint counts (SJC) and tender joint counts (TJC), both scored 0-28 (higher scores indicate higher disease activity), as well as acute phase response (APR) determined as erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), and general health (GH), both scored 1-100 (higher scores indicate higher disease activity). DAS28 was calculated according to the following formula: DAS28 equals (=) \[0.56 multiplied by (\*) the square root (√) of TJC\] plus (+) \[0.28 \* √ of SJC\] + (0.70 \* the natural logarithm (ln) ESR in millimeters per hour (mm/h)\] + \[0.014 \* GH in mm visual analogue assessment (VAS)\]. A negative change from randomization indicated improvement.
Time frame: Weeks 12 and 24
Percentage of Participants With DAS28 Remission at Week 24
The DAS28 is a combined index for measuring disease activity in RA. The index includes SJC and TJC, both scored 0-28 (higher scores indicate higher disease activity, as well as APR determined as ESR, and GH, both scored 1-100 (higher scores indicate higher disease activity). DAS28 was calculated according to the following formula: DAS28 = 0.56 \* √ of TJC + 0.28 \* √ of SJC + 0.70 \* ln ESR mm/hr + 0.014 \* GH in mm VAS. DAS28 \< 2.6 = remission.
Time frame: Week 24
vPercentage of Participants With Clinical Disease Activity Index (CDAI) Remission at Week 24
The CDAI is a combined index for measuring disease activity in RA. CDAI is the sum of TJC and SJC, both scored 0-28 (higher scores indicate higher disease activity), as well as patient global assessment (PGA) and evaluator global assessment (EGA) of disease activity, both scored 0 to 10 centimeter (cm) as assessed by VAS. CDAI was calculated according to the following formula: CDAI = SJC + TJC + PGA + EGA. CDAI \< 2.8 = remission.
Time frame: Week 24
Percentage of Participants With Simplified Disease Activity Index (SDAI) Remission at Week 24
The SDAI is a combined index for measuring disease activity in RA. SDAI is the sum of TJC and SJC, both scored 0-28 (higher scores indicate higher disease activity), PGA and EGA of disease activity, both scored 0 to 10 cm as assessed by VAS, and C-reactive protein level (CRP) in milligrams per deciliter (mg/dL) where normal \< 1 mg/dL. CDAI was calculated according to the following formula: SDAI = TJC + SJC + PGA + EGA + CRP. SDAI \< 3.3 = remission.
Time frame: Week 24
Percentage of Participants With Rheumatoid Arthritis Disease Activity Index-5 (RADAI-5) Remission at Week 24
The RADAI-5 is a combined index for measuring disease activity in RA. RADAI-5 is comprised of the following 5 questions: how active was your arthritis the last 6 months? (0 = completely inactive to 10 = extremely active); how active is your arthritis today with respect to joint tenderness and swelling? (0 = completely inactive to 10 = extremely active); how severe is your arthritis pain today? (0 = no pain to 10 = unbearable pain); how would you describe your general health today? (0 = very good to 10 = very bad); and did you experience joint (hand) stiffness on awakening yesterday morning? If yes, how long did this stiffness last? (0 = no stiffness to 10 = stiffness the whole day). RADAI was calculated according to the following formula: \[question (Q) 1 + Q2 + Q3 + Q4 + Q5\]/5. RADAI-5 from 0-1.4 = remission.
Time frame: Week 24
Change From Week 12 (Randomization) to Week 24 in Health Assessment Questionnaire - Disability Index (HAQ-DI) Score
HAQ-DI scores were obtained by scoring participants' responses to a 20-item questionnaire. HAQ-DQ evaluated 8 domains of health: dressing/grooming, arising, eating, walking, hygiene, reach, grip, and common daily activities from a range of 0 (without any difficulty) to 3 (unable to do). The sum of scores was divided by the number of domains for a total score of 0 (best) to 3 (worst). A negative change from randomization indicated improvement.
Time frame: Weeks 12 and 24
Change From Week 12 (Randomization) to Week 24 in Short Form-36 Health Survey (SF-36) Score
SF-36 scores were obtained by scoring participants' responses to a 36-item questionnaire. SF-36 evaluated 8 aspects of functional health and well being: physical and social functioning, physical and emotional role limitations, bodily pain, general health, vitality, mental health from a range of 1 (better) to 5 (worst). The score for each section was an average of the individual question scores, which were scaled 0-100 (100=highest level of functioning). These 8 aspects were summarized as physical and mental component scores. A negative change from randomization indicated improvement.
Time frame: Weeks 12 and 24
Change From Week 12 (Randomization) to Week 24 in Visual Analog Scales (VAS) Scores
VAS scores were obtained by scoring participants' disease activity as assessed on a 0-100 millimeter (mm) horizontal visual scale. The left-hand extreme of the line = 0 mm (no disease activity = symptom-free and no arthritis symptoms), and the right-hand extreme of the line = 100 mm (maximum disease activity). A negative change from randomization indicated improvement.
Time frame: Weeks 12 and 24
Participant Satisfaction With Treatment as Assessed by Treatment Satisfaction Questionnaire for Medication (TSQM) Score
TSQM scores were obtained by scoring participants' responses to a 14-item questionnaire. TSQM evaluated 4 aspects of treatment satisfaction: effectiveness, side effects, convenience, and global satisfaction from a range of 0 to 100 percent (%), with 100% being the best possible result.
Time frame: Week 24
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