CSP #551 - Rheumatoid Arthritis: Comparison of Active Therapies in Patients With Active Disease Despite Methotrexate Therapy
The main objective of this proposal is to compare two successful treatment strategies that
have significantly different economic implications head-to-head in patients with rheumatoid
arthritis who have active disease despite methotrexate therapy.
Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic inflammatory disease of the joints leading to joint
destruction, with significant long-term morbidity and mortality. Early treatment of RA
patients with disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs) significantly decreases these
complications. Methotrexate (MTX) is an excellent, economical first-line DMARD used to treat
a majority of RA patients. While most patients respond well to MTX, many continue to have
active disease. Therefore, understanding how to best treat RA patients with active disease
despite MTX therapy is critically important. Although a number of therapies with
significantly different economic implications have been shown to be effective when added to
MTX, no trial has directly compared active therapies. This study will compare therapeutic
strategies using two regimens with proven efficacy when added to MTX therapy; a)
hydroxychloroquine and sulfasalazine (cost ~ $1000 per year); b) the tumor necrosis factor
inhibitor, etanercept (cost ~ $12,000 per year).
We propose a bi-national multi-center randomized, double-blind equivalency trial comparing
(A) the strategy of initially adding hydroxychloroquine and sulfasalazine to MTX in patients
with active disease despite MTX, with a switch at 24 weeks to etanercept in nonresponders to
(B) a strategy of adding etanercept to MTX, with a switch to hydroxychloroquine and
sulfasalazine in nonresponders at 24 weeks. If we find that the strategy of first adding
hydroxychloroquine and sulfasalazine to MTX identifies a subset of responsive patients and
that there is no harm to nonresponders because of early rescue with etanercept, then this
less expensive option should become the standard treatment for MTX resistant patients.
Four hundred and fifty RA patients with active disease despite treatment with MTX as
indicated by a Disease Activity Score with 28 joints (DAS28) of greater than or equal to 4.4
units will be randomized. A DAS improvement of greater than or equal to 1.2 (validated as
clinically significant) at 24 weeks will be used to identify early nonresponder who will
switch therapy. Subjects with a DAS28 improvement of > 1.2 at 24 weeks will remain on their
initial therapy. The primary endpoint is the change of DAS 28 scores from baseline to 48
weeks. The secondary endpoint is comparison of radiographic progression of disease at 48
weeks, as measured by the change in Sharp score. Economic and functional outcomes will be
assessed and a serum and DNA bank will be established to evaluate potential biomarkers
predictive of treatment response/toxicity and disease progression. This trial will recruit
450 subjects over 40 months. At the end of the 48 week blinded active therapy portion of the
trial, the blind will be broken and data will be collected in an open fashion until all 450
patients have completed the 48 week portion of the trial.
Interventional
Allocation: Randomized, Endpoint Classification: Efficacy Study, Intervention Model: Parallel Assignment, Masking: Double Blind (Subject, Caregiver, Investigator, Outcomes Assessor), Primary Purpose: Treatment
Change of DAS28 score between baseline and week 48
Week 48
No
James R. O'Dell
Study Chair
VA Medical Center, Omaha
United States: Federal Government
551
NCT00405275
July 2007
May 2012
Name | Location |
---|---|
Mayo Clinic | Rochester, Minnesota 55905 |
Geisinger Medical Center | Danville, Pennsylvania 17822-0001 |
VA Medical Center, Long Beach | Long Beach, California 90822 |
VA Medical Center, San Francisco | San Francisco, California 94121 |
VA Greater Los Angeles HCS, Sepulveda | Sepulveda, California 91343 |
VA Medical Center, Portland | Portland, Oregon 97201 |
VA Pittsburgh Health Care System | Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15240 |
VA North Texas Health Care System, Dallas | Dallas, Texas 75216 |
VA Medical Center, DC | Washington, District of Columbia 20422 |
VA Medical Center, St Louis | St Louis, Missouri 63106 |
VA Medical Center, Minneapolis | Minneapolis, Minnesota 55417 |
VA Medical & Regional Office Center, White River | White River Junction, Vermont 05009-0001 |
VA Medical Center, Loma Linda | Loma Linda, California 92357 |
Ralph H Johnson VA Medical Center, Charleston | Charleston, South Carolina 29401-5799 |
VA Salt Lake City Health Care System, Salt Lake City | Salt Lake City, Utah 84148 |
Pacific Arthritis Center (RAIN) | Santa Maria, California 93454-6945 |
St. Mary's/ Duluth Clinic Health System (RAIN) | Duluth, Minnesota 55804 |
Park Nicollet (RAIN) | Minneapolis, Minnesota 55417 |
Lincoln Medical Center | Lincoln, Nebraska 68506 |
VA Medical Center, Omaha | Omaha, Nebraska 68105-1873 |
Univesity of Nebraska Medical Center | Omaha, Nebraska 68198 |
Bone, Spine Sports Clinic (RAIN) | Bismarck, North Dakota 58501 |
VA Medical Center, Fargo | Fargo, North Dakota 58102 |
VA Medical Center, Philadelphia | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104 |
Geisinger Medical Group - State College | State College, Pennsylvania 16801 |
Geisinger Medical Group- Wilkes Barre | Wyoming Valley, Pennsylvania 18711 |
Rapid City Medical Center (RAIN) | Rapid City, South Dakota 57701 |
Avera Research Institute (RAIN) | Sioux Falls, South Dakota 57117-5046 |