This study will assess the safety and pharmacokinetic comparability of two VAY736 drug products in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Fulfill 2010 ACR/EULAR criteria for RA Aletaha et al 2010 at Screening
• Active disease defined as ≥ 2 swollen joints (of 58 evaluable joints) and ≥ 2 tender joints (of 60 evaluable joints) despite stable MTX ≤ 25 mg/week and/or hydroxychloroquine ≤ 400 mg/day treatment for at least 2 months prior to randomization

Exclusion Criteria:

• Prior or previous use of (specific dosages and intervals prior to study start may apply): other investigational drugs, B-cell depleting therapy (e.g. rituximab), monoclonal antibodies (mAb), i.v. / s.c. Ig, thymoglobulin, i.v. or oral cyclophosphamide, oral cyclosporine, soluble cytokine receptors, azathioprine.
• Currently receiving prednisone >10 mg/day (or equivalent oral glucocorticoid) or dose adjustment within 2 weeks prior to randomization
• Active viral, bacterial or other infections requiring systemic treatment at the time of screening or enrollment, or history of recurrent clinically significant infection or of bacterial infections with encapsulated organisms
• Receipt of live/attenuated vaccine within a 2-month period before randomization
• Pregnant or nursing (lactating) women
• Women of child-bearing potential, defined as all women physiologically capable of becoming pregnant, unless they are using highly effective methods of contraception from screening and for 4 months after stopping of investigational drug