RA-PRO PRAGMATIC TRIAL
About
The 2021 ACR RA treatment guideline, based on widely acknowledged low to moderate quality evidence, recommends switching to a non-tumor necrosis factor (TNFi) biologic (choose among existing medications, currently, rituximab, abatacept, tocilizumab, or sarilumab) or a targeted synthetic DMARD arm (tsDMARD; choose among existing medications, currently, tofacitinib, baricitinib, upadacitinib) in patients with active RA despite the use of a TNFi-biologic. In practice, most patients receive another TNFi-biologic, i.e., a second TNFi-biologic first. This is not based on solid evidence, but on arbitrary algorithms often proposed by health insurance plans, and/or physician experience and habit (TNFis launched 22 yrs ago vs. the first tsDMARD 8 years ago vs. first non-TNF-biologic launched 17 years ago). This study will fill a critical knowledge gap by generating CER data for important PROs between these treatment options, switching to a non-TNFi biologic or a tsDMARD in patients with active RA despite the use of a TNFi-biologic.
Eligibility
Inclusion Criteria:
- Patients with active, disabling RA (CDAI ≥10 and HAQ ≥0.5) despite the use/experience for ≥ 3 months of a TNFi-biologic OR discontinued the medication(s) due to intolerability or toxicity irrespective of treatment duration prior to the first dose of study drug ;
- If receiving glucocorticoids (≤10 mg/day of prednisone of equivalent) or NSAIDs, on stable doses for ≥2 weeks prior to randomization; and
- Insurance plan or patient assistance program allows access to at least 1 drug in each of the two treatment strategies, TNFi-biologic vs. tsDMARD. Participants will be allowed to continue their conventional synthetic DMARD (csDMARD) therapy if they had been using it for ≥ 3 months and on a stable dose for ≥ 4 weeks prior to the first dose of study drug. The following csDMARDs are allowed: methotrexate (MTX), sulfasalazine, hydroxychloroquine, and leflunomide (TNFi-biologic and tsDMARD) through insurance plan or a patient assistance program/plan.
Exclusion Criteria:
- Prior treatment with more than three biologics, defined as TNFi-biologic or non-TNFi biologic
- Prior treatment with targeted synthetic DMARD
- Concomitant use of leflunomide, sulfasalazine, cyclosporine, or azathioprine within 2-months before randomization;
- History of sensitivity to all 4 non-TNF-biologic or a targeted synthetic DMARD;
- Glucocorticoid injection (intravenous, intramuscular, or intraarticular) within 1 month of study entry;
- Live vaccine within 90 days of study entry;
- Acute or chronic infections with parenteral antibiotics or hospitalization (including tuberculosis, bacterial sepsis; invasive fungal infections (such as histoplasmosis)) within 1 month or oral antibiotics within 2 weeks of study entry;
- History of HIV or any opportunistic infection;
- New York Heart Association Class III or IV heart failure;
- Latent TB for which anti-tubercular treatment has not been started;
- Untreated Hepatitis B or C infection;
- History of deep venous thrombosis or pulmonary embolism; or
- Pregnant or nursing women; or
- History of herpes zoster or shingles.
Join this Trial
- UCLA Alhambra
- UCLA Arcadia
- UCLA Beverly Hills
- UCLA Burbank
- UCLA Calabasas
- UCLA Encino
- UCLA Fountain Valley
- UCLA Hollywood
- UCLA Irvine
- UCLA Laguna Hills
- UCLA North Hollywood
- UCLA Parkside
- UCLA Pasadena
- UCLA Playa Marina
- UCLA Porter Ranch
- UCLA Redondo Beach
- UCLA San Luis Obispo
- UCLA Santa Barbara
- UCLA Santa Monica
- UCLA Simi Valley
- UCLA Torrance
- UCLA Valencia
- UCLA Ventura
- UCLA Westlake Village
- UCLA Westwood
- UCLA Woodland Hills