Anti-TNF Agents for the Treatment of Rheumatoid Arthritis

Summary

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic disease that leads to inflammation and progressive joint damage. RA is a systemic inflammatory autoimmune disorder affecting almost 1% of the United States population. Current therapies target the immune system early in the disease process before joint damage occurs, and include drugs such as methotrexate (MTX) and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-blocking agents. The primary purpose of this study is to determine the effectiveness of two TNF inhibitors, etanercept and adalimumab, on memory B lymphocytes (B-cells) in the peripheral blood of participants with RA. Additionally, there are 4 optional sub-studies as part of the trial: * B-Cell Kinetic Sub-Study to look at changes in B-cell subsets over time and how quickly reductions in B-cell memory occur * Vaccine Response Sub-Study to assess B cell memory in response to immunization with hepatitis B,-hepatitis A, and diphtheria/tetanus vaccines, and to determine whether T-cell vaccine responses are altered with TNF blockade * Tonsil Biopsy Sub-Study to evaluate how TNF blockade affects memory B-cells in the tonsil dendritic cells and germinal cells * Synovial Biopsy Sub-Study to evaluate how TNF blockade affects changes in memory B-cells in lymphoid tissue.

Timeline

Start

2009-03

Primary completion

2013-11

Completion

2014-01

Publications

• Background Bingham CO 3rd. Emerging therapeutics for rheumatoid arthritis. Bull NYU Hosp Jt Dis. 2008;66(3):210-5.
• Background Otomo K, Koike T. [TNF inhibitors for treatment of rheumatoid arthritis]. Nihon Naika Gakkai Zasshi. 2008 Oct 10;97(10):2405-12. doi: 10.2169/naika.97.2405. No abstract available. Japanese.
• Background Soen S. [Daily practice using the guidelines for prevention and treatment of osteoporosis. The effects of anti-TNF therapy on bone and joint manifestations in rheumatoid arthritis]. Clin Calcium. 2008 Aug;18(8):1169-75. Japanese.
• Results Meednu N, Barnard J, Callahan K, Coca A, Marston B, Thiele R, Tabechian D, Bolster M, Curtis J, Mackay M, Graf J, Keating R, Smith E, Boyle K, Keyes-Elstein L, Welch B, Goldmuntz E, Anolik JH. Activated Peripheral Blood B Cells in Rheumatoid Arthritis and Their Relationship to Anti-Tumor Necrosis Factor Treatment and Response: A Randomized Clinical Trial of the Effects of Anti-Tumor Necrosis Factor on B Cells. Arthritis Rheumatol. 2022 Feb;74(2):200-211. doi: 10.1002/art.41941. Epub 2021 Dec 27.

Drugs

Indications