Arthritis Clinical Trials

This randomized, blinded, parallel arm study will evaluate the efficacy and safety of tocilizumab [RoActemra/Actemra] versus adalimumab as monotherapy in patients with rheumatoid arthritis who are intolerant of methotrexate or where continued treatment with methotrexate is considered inappropriate. Patients will be randomized to receive either tocilizumab (8mg/kg intravenously) every 4 weeks plus placebo sc every 2 weeks, or adalimumab (40mg subcutaneously) every 2 weeks plus placebo iv every 4 weeks. Anticipated time on study treatment is 24 weeks. With regard to the blind, the study nurse will be unblinded due to the nature of the treatment administration, but the investigator and the patient will remain blinded. Target sample size is 200-400 patients.