A Study With Tocilizumab [RoActemra/Actemra] Monotherapy or in Combination With Methotrexate in Patients With Rheumatoid Arthritis (PICTURE)

A Single-arm, Open-label, Multicenter Study of Tocilizumab Monotherapy or in Combination With Methotrexate to Assess Safety and the Efficacy in Reducing Disease Activity in Patients With Active Rheumatoid Arthritis Who Have an Inadequate Response to Non-biologic DMARDs (PICTURE)

This single-arm, open-label, multicenter study evaluated the safety and tolerability and the efficacy in reducing disease activity of tocilizumab [RoActemra/Actemra] as monotherapy or in combination with methotrexate in patients with active moderate to severe rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Patients were eligible to participate in this study if they are currently experiencing an inadequate response to a stable dose of a non-biologic disease-modifying antirheumatic drug (DMARD). Patients received 8 mg/kg tocilizumab [RoActemra/Actemra] as an intravenous infusion every 4 weeks for a total of 6 infusions. The anticipated time on study treatment was 24 weeks. The target sample size was 50-200 patients.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Adult patients ≥ 18 years of age
• Moderate to severe rheumatoid arthritis (RA) for at least 6 months (defined as a Disease Activity Score (DAS28) > 3.2 at screening)
• Patients with active RA after more than 12 weeks of treatment with DMARDs
• Patients with inadequate response to a stable dose of non-biologic DMARD

Exclusion Criteria:

• Autoimmune disease other than RA. Patients with interstitial pulmonary fibrosis and able to tolerate methotrexate (MTX) and patients with Sjögren's Syndrome and RA are permitted
• Major surgery (including joint surgery) within 8 weeks prior to screening or planned major surgery within 6 months following enrollment
• Prior history of or current inflammatory joint disease other than RA