Trial Outcomes & Findings for A Study of RoActemra/Actemra (Tocilizumab) Given Subcutaneously in Combination With Traditional DMARDs in Patients With Moderate to Severe Active Rheumatoid Arthritis (NCT NCT01232569)

Of the 656 patients randomized into the study (437 to the tocilizumab arm and 219 to the placebo arm), 438 patients received tocilizumab as their first dose and 218 received placebo as their first dose because of a dose administration error with 1 patient.

A Study of RoActemra/Actemra (Tocilizumab) Given Subcutaneously in Combination With Traditional DMARDs in Patients With Moderate to Severe Active Rheumatoid Arthritis

A patient had an ACR20 response if there was at least a 20% improvement, ie, reduction from baseline, in tender and swollen joint counts (28 assessed joints) and in at least 3 of the following 5 parameters: Separate patient and physician assessments of patient disease activity in the previous 24 hours on a visual analog scale (VAS, left end=no disease activity \[symptom-free and no arthritis symptoms\], right end=maximum disease activity; patient assessment of pain in previous 24 hours on a VAS (left end=no pain and right end=unbearable pain); Health Assessment Questionnaire-Disability Index (20 questions, 8 components: dressing/grooming, arising, eating, walking, hygiene, reach, grip, and activities, 0=without difficulty to 3=unable to do); and acute-phase reactant (either C-reactive protein or erythrocyte sedimentation rate).

A patient had an ACR50 response if there was at least a 50% improvement in the ACR scores. A patient had an ACR70 response if there was at least a 70% improvement in the ACR scores.

Time to first ACR response was calculated as the number of days between the date of the first ACR response minus the date of the first dose of study drug. Median days are reported.

Joints (28 joints) will be assessed and classified as swollen/not swollen and tender/not tender by pressure and joint manipulation on physical examination.

Patients and physicians assessed the patient's disease activity in the previous 24 hours on a 100 mm visual analog scale, where the extreme left end of the line represented "no disease activity" (symptom-free and no arthritis symptoms) and the extreme right end represented "maximum disease activity". Scores ranged from 0 to 100 with a higher score indicating more disease activity. A negative change score indicated less disease activity.

Patients assessed their pain in the previous 24 hours on a visual analog scale, where the extreme left end of the line represented "no pain" and the extreme right end represented "unbearable pain". Scores ranged from 0 to 100 with a higher score indicating more pain. A negative change score indicated less pain.

The HAQ-DI is a questionnaire specific for rheumatoid arthritis and consists of 20 questions referring to 8 domains: Dressing/grooming, arising, eating, walking, hygiene, reach, grip, and activities. Patients completed the questionnaire by answering the 20 questions on a scale of 0 (without difficulty) to 3 (unable to do). The total score ranges from 0 (no disability) to 3 (completely disabled). A negative change score indicates improvement.

The HAQ-DI is a questionnaire specific for rheumatoid arthritis and consists of 20 questions referring to 8 domains: Dressing/grooming, arising, eating, walking, hygiene, reach, grip, and activities. Patients completed the questionnaire by answering the 20 questions on a scale of 0 (without difficulty) to 3 (unable to do). The total score ranges from 0 (no disability) to 3 (completely disabled). A negative change score indicates improvement.

The DAS28 is a combined index for measuring disease activity in rheumatic arthritis (RA) and includes swollen and tender joint counts, erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), and general health (GH) status. The index is calculated with the following formula: DAS28 = (0.56 × √(TJC28)) + (0.28 × √(SJC28)) + (0.7 × log(ESR)) + (0.014 × GH), where TJC28 = tender joint count and SJC28 = swollen joint count, each on 28 joints. GH = a patient's global assessment of disease activity in the previous 24 hours on a 100 mm visual analog scale (left end = no disease activity \[symptom-free and no arthritis symptoms\], right end = maximum disease activity \[maximum arthritis disease activity\]). When ESR equaled 0 mm/hr, it was set to 1 mm/hr. The DAS28 scale ranges from 0 to 10, where higher scores represent higher disease activity. A negative change score indicates improvement.

The DAS28 is a combined index for measuring disease activity in rheumatic arthritis (RA) and includes swollen and tender joint counts, erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), and general health (GH) status. The index is calculated with the following formula: DAS28 = (0.56 × √(TJC28)) + (0.28 × √(SJC28)) + (0.7 × log(ESR)) + (0.014 × GH), where TJC28 = tender joint count and SJC28 = swollen joint count, each on 28 joints. GH = a patient's global assessment of disease activity in the previous 24 hours on a 100 mm visual analog scale (left end = no disease activity \[symptom-free and no arthritis symptoms\], right end = maximum disease activity \[maximum arthritis disease activity\]). When ESR equaled 0 mm/hr, it was set to 1 mm/hr. The DAS28 scale ranges from 0 to 10, where higher scores represent higher disease activity. A negative change score indicates improvement.

The DAS28 is a combined index for measuring disease activity in rheumatic arthritis (RA) and includes swollen and tender joint counts, erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), and general health (GH) status. The index is calculated with the following formula: DAS28 = (0.56 × √(TJC28)) + (0.28 × √(SJC28)) + (0.7 × log(ESR)) + (0.014 × GH), where TJC28 = tender joint count and SJC28 = swollen joint count, each on 28 joints. GH = a patient's global assessment of disease activity in the previous 24 hours on a 100 mm visual analog scale (left end = no disease activity \[symptom-free and no arthritis symptoms\], right end = maximum disease activity \[maximum arthritis disease activity\]). When ESR equaled 0 mm/hr, it was set to 1 mm/hr. The DAS28 scale ranges from 0 to 10, where higher scores represent higher disease activity. A negative change score indicates improvement.

Change of the Disease Activity Score 28 score from baseline was used to determine EULAR responses of good, moderate, or no response. For a post-baseline score ≤ 3.2, a change from baseline of \< -1.2 was a good response, \< -0.6 to ≥ -1.2 was a moderate response, and ≥ -0.6 was no response. For a post-baseline score \> 3.2 to ≤ 5.1, a change from baseline of \< -0.6 was a moderate response and ≥ -0.6 was no response. For a post-baseline score \> 5.1, a change from baseline \< -1.2 was a moderate response and ≥ -1.2 was no response. A good response could not be achieved for post-baseline scores \> 3.2.

The degree of joint damage was assessed using the van der Heijde modified total Sharp score (mTSS). The methodology quantifies the extent of bone erosions for 44 joints and joint space narrowing (JSN) for 42 joints, with higher scores representing greater damage. The independent read of X-ray images was performed by 2 primary readers. In case of discrepancy between the 2 primary readers, an adjudicator was involved. The mTSS can range from 0 to 448 with a higher score indicating more joint damage. A negative change score indicates improvement.

The SF-36 Health Survey uses patient-reported symptoms on 8 subscales to assess health-related quality of life (HRQoL). The Physical Component Summary (PCS) score summarizes the subscales Physical Functioning, Role-Physical, Bodily Pain, and General Health. The Mental Component Summary (MCS) score summarizes the subscales Vitality, Social Functioning, Role-Emotional, and Mental Health. Each score was scaled from 0 to 100 with a higher score indicating better HRQoL. A positive change score indicates an improvement in HRQoL.