Rheumatoid Arthritis clinical trials at UCLA

The 2021 ACR RA treatment guideline, based on widely acknowledged low to moderate quality evidence, recommends switching to a non-tumor necrosis factor (TNFi) biologic (choose among existing medications, currently, rituximab, abatacept, tocilizumab, or sarilumab) or a targeted synthetic DMARD arm (tsDMARD; choose among existing medications, currently, tofacitinib, baricitinib, upadacitinib) in patients with active RA despite the use of a TNFi-biologic. In practice, most patients receive another TNFi-biologic, i.e., a second TNFi-biologic first. This is not based on solid evidence, but on arbitrary algorithms often proposed by health insurance plans, and/or physician experience and habit (TNFis launched 22 yrs ago vs. the first tsDMARD 8 years ago vs. first non-TNF-biologic launched 17 years ago). This study will fill a critical knowledge gap by generating CER data for important PROs between these treatment options, switching to a non-TNFi biologic or a tsDMARD in patients with active RA despite the use of a TNFi-biologic.

Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) is a chronic inflammatory disease causing pain, stiffness, swelling and loss of joint function. This study will assess how safe and effective upadacitinib is in treating RA when compared to adalimumab in adult participants with inadequate response or intolerance to one TNF-inhibitor who are on a stable dose of methotrexate (MTX). Adverse events and change in disease activity will be assessed. Upadacitinib is an approved drug for the treatment of RA. This study is double-blinded means that neither the participants nor the study doctors will know who will be given upadacitinib and who will be given adalimumab. Study doctors put the participants in 1 of the 2 groups, called treatment arms randomly, to receive either upadacitinib or adalimumab. There is 1 in 2 chance that participants will receive adalimumab. Each group consists of 2 periods. Approximately 480 participants diagnosed with RA will be enrolled in approximately 250 sites across the world. Participants will receive the oral upadacitinib once daily and matching adalimumab placebo every other week, or the subcutaneous adalimumab every other week and matching upadacitinib placebo once daily during Period 1. Eligible participants will continue to receive same study treatment in Period 2 as assigned in Period 1 and will be followed for 30 days and 70 days. There may be higher treatment burden for participants in this trial compared to their standard of care. Participants will attend regular visits during the study at a hospital or clinic. The effect of the treatment will be checked by medical assessments, checking for side effects and completing questionnaires.

This is a Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) study. The purpose of this research study is to determine in RA flare, whether musculoskeletal ultrasound (MSUS) inflammatory scores and/or disease activity scores improve with Acthar treatment.