Abstract

Background: Tumour necrosis factor alpha (TNFα) is a proinflammatory cytokine involved in the pathogenesis of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Treatment with TNFα inhibitors reduces disease activity and improves outcomes for RA patients. This study evaluated the efficacy and safety of certolizumab pegol 400 mg, a novel, PEGylated, Fc-free TNFα inhibitor, as monotherapy in patients with active RA.

Methods: In this 24-week, multicentre, randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled study, 220 patients previously failing ≥1 DMARDs were randomised 1:1 to receive subcutaneous certolizumab pegol 400 mg (n = 111) or placebo (n = 109) every 4 weeks (q4w). The primary endpoint was ACR20 response at week 24. Secondary endpoints included ACR50/70 response, ACR component scores, (DAS28[ESR]-3), patient-reported outcomes (including physical function, HRQoL, pain and fatigue) and safety.

Results: At week 24, the ACR20 response rates were 45.5% for certolizumab pegol 400 mg q4w vs 9.3% for placebo (p<0.001). Differences for certolizumab pegol vs placebo in the ACR20 response were statistically significant as early as week 1 through to week 24 (p<0.001). Significant improvements in ACR50, ACR components, DAS28(ESR)-3 and all patient-reported outcomes were also observed early with certolizumab pegol and were sustained throughout the study. Most adverse events were mild or moderate and no deaths or cases of tuberculosis were reported.

Conclusions: Treatment with certolizumab pegol 400 mg monotherapy every 4 weeks effectively reduced the signs and symptoms of active RA in patients previously failing ≥1 DMARDs compared with placebo, and demonstrated an acceptable safety profile (ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT00548834).