RA-PRO PRAGMATIC TRIAL

NCT ID: NCT04692493

Last Updated: 2025-07-18

Study Results

Results pending

The study team has not published outcome measurements, participant flow, or safety data for this trial yet. Check back later for updates.

Basic Information

Get a concise snapshot of the trial, including recruitment status, study phase, enrollment targets, and key timeline milestones.

Recruitment Status

RECRUITING

Clinical Phase

PHASE3

Total Enrollment

924 participants

Study Classification

INTERVENTIONAL

Study Start Date

2021-09-22

Study Completion Date

2028-12-31

Brief Summary

Review the sponsor-provided synopsis that highlights what the study is about and why it is being conducted.

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.

Detailed Description

Dive into the extended narrative that explains the scientific background, objectives, and procedures in greater depth.

Treatment of RA with a non-TNFi biologic (rituximab, abatacept, tocilizumab, or sarilumab) was associated with improved function, quality of life, and productivity. TsDMARDs (tofacitinib, baricitinib, upadacitinib) were similarly effective. No meaningful differences were noted in non-TNFi-biologic vs. tsDMARD, but head-to-head studies of biologics are lacking. HAQ is a sensitive outcome for RA trials. A PCORI systematic review for early RA treatment concluded that "Evidence was insufficient to evaluate any differences between biologics for their impact on either functional capacity or HRQOL", a key knowledge gap our study will fill.

The 2021 ACR RA treatment guideline, based on widely acknowledged low to moderate quality evidence, recommends switching to a non-TNFi biologic or a tsDMARD in patients with active RA despite the use of a TNFi-biologic. In practice, most patients receive another TNFi-biologic first, i.e., a second TNFi. This is not based on solid evidence, but on arbitrary algorithms often proposed by health insurance plans, and physician experience (first TNFi launched 22 yrs ago vs. the first tsDMARD 8 yrs 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. This will facilitate informed decision-making, since PROs may be more sensitive to different mechanisms of action, and are highly relevant to patients.

The proposed study will also provide needed evidence for real-world treatment decisions made by public and private payers. This head-to-head pragmatic trial will be the first to provide CER data for improvement in key PROs with recommended strategies in active RA despite the use of a TNFi-biologic and addresses PCORI and IOM priority areas by comparing the two most commonly used RA treatment strategies for people with active RA despite the use of a TNFi-biologic. This research is patient-centered, as study outcomes were identified by patients and payers. Currently, treatment choices are based on physician experience and insurance payer limitations. Investigators will generate evidence to help patients make decisions for themselves based on outcomes they care most about based on the relative efficacy of outcomes.

Investigators will: (1) compare improvements in PROs with RA treatment strategies to each other using a state-of-the-art real-world pragmatic effectiveness study design, which will for the first time include most RA patients with comorbidities;(2) compare their toxicity in a real-world population for TNFi-biologic vs. tsDMARD. To our knowledge, no previous RCT comparing these drugs has examined a PRO as a primary outcome in RA, which our study will pioneer by using HAQ. HAQ is sensitive to change with effective treatments.

Conditions

See the medical conditions and disease areas that this research is targeting or investigating.

Rheumatoid Arthritis

Study Design

Understand how the trial is structured, including allocation methods, masking strategies, primary purpose, and other design elements.

Allocation Method

RANDOMIZED

Intervention Model

PARALLEL

Primary Study Purpose

TREATMENT

Blinding Strategy

NONE

Study Groups

Review each arm or cohort in the study, along with the interventions and objectives associated with them.

targeted synthetic DMARD class

Switching to a targeted synthetic DMARD (choice from targeted synthetic DMARDs; currently available are tofacitinib, baricitinib, upadacitinib) in people with active RA despite current treatment

Group Type ACTIVE_COMPARATOR

targeted synthetic DMARD class

Intervention Type DRUG

Switching to a targeted synthetic DMARD (choice from targeted synthetic DMARDs; currently available are tofacitinib, baricitinib, upadacitinib) in people with active RA despite current treatment

non-TNFi-biologic class

Switching to a non-TNFi-biologic (choice from non-TNFi-biologics; currently available are rituximab, abatacept, tocilizumab, or sarilumab) in people with active RA despite current treatment,

Group Type ACTIVE_COMPARATOR

non-TNFi-biologic class

Intervention Type DRUG

Switching to a non-TNFi-biologic (choice from non-TNFi-biologics; currently available are rituximab, abatacept, tocilizumab, or sarilumab) in people with active RA despite current treatment,

Interventions

Learn about the drugs, procedures, or behavioral strategies being tested and how they are applied within this trial.

targeted synthetic DMARD class

Switching to a targeted synthetic DMARD (choice from targeted synthetic DMARDs; currently available are tofacitinib, baricitinib, upadacitinib) in people with active RA despite current treatment

Intervention Type DRUG

non-TNFi-biologic class

Switching to a non-TNFi-biologic (choice from non-TNFi-biologics; currently available are rituximab, abatacept, tocilizumab, or sarilumab) in people with active RA despite current treatment,

Intervention Type DRUG

Eligibility Criteria

Check the participation requirements, including inclusion and exclusion rules, age limits, and whether healthy volunteers are accepted.

Inclusion Criteria

1. Patients with active, disabling RA (CDAI ≥10 and HAQ ≥0.5) despite the use/experience of a TNFi-biologic OR discontinued the medication(s) due to intolerability or toxicity irrespective of treatment duration prior to the first dose of study drug ;
2. If receiving glucocorticoids (≤10 mg/day of prednisone of equivalent) or NSAIDs, on stable doses for ≥2 weeks prior to randomization; and
3. Insurance plan or patient assistance program allows access to at least 1 drug in each of the two treatment strategies, TNFi-biologic vs. tsDMARD.(TNFi-biologic and tsDMARD) will be obtained through insurance plan or a patient assistance program/plan.

Participants will be allowed to continue their conventional synthetic DMARD (csDMARD) therapy if they had been using it for ≥ 3 months and on a stable dose for ≥ 4 weeks prior to the first dose of study drug. The following csDMARDs are allowed: methotrexate (MTX), sulfasalazine, hydroxychloroquine, and leflunomide

Exclusion Criteria

1. Prior treatment with more than three biologics, defined as TNFi-biologic or non-TNFi biologic
2. Prior treatment with targeted synthetic DMARD
3. Concomitant use of leflunomide, sulfasalazine, cyclosporine, or azathioprine within 2-months before randomization;
4. History of sensitivity to all 4 non-TNF-biologic or a targeted synthetic DMARD;
5. Glucocorticoid injection (intravenous, intramuscular, or intraarticular) within 1 month of study entry;
6. Live vaccine within 90 days of study entry;
7. Acute or chronic infections with parenteral antibiotics or hospitalization (including tuberculosis, bacterial sepsis; invasive fungal infections (such as histoplasmosis)) within 1 month or oral antibiotics within 2 weeks of study entry;
8. History of HIV or any opportunistic infection;
9. New York Heart Association Class III or IV heart failure;
10. Latent TB for which anti-tubercular treatment has not been started;
11. Untreated Hepatitis B or C infection;
12. History of deep venous thrombosis or pulmonary embolism; or
13. Pregnant or nursing women; or
14. History of herpes zoster or shingles in the previous 12 months and not subsequently vaccinated with herpes zoster vaccine.
Minimum Eligible Age

18 Years

Eligible Sex

ALL

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Sponsors

Meet the organizations funding or collaborating on the study and learn about their roles.

Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute

OTHER

Sponsor Role collaborator

University of Alabama at Birmingham

OTHER

Sponsor Role lead

Responsible Party

Identify the individual or organization who holds primary responsibility for the study information submitted to regulators.

Jasvinder A Singh

Professor of Medicine

Responsibility Role PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Principal Investigators

Learn about the lead researchers overseeing the trial and their institutional affiliations.

Jasvinder Singh, MD

Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

University of Alabama at Birmingham

Locations

Explore where the study is taking place and check the recruitment status at each participating site.

East Alabama Arthritis Center PC

Auburn, Alabama, United States

Site Status RECRUITING

Bendcare, LLC

Birmingham, Alabama, United States

Site Status RECRUITING

University of Alabama at Birmingham

Birmingham, Alabama, United States

Site Status RECRUITING

SunValley Arthritis Center, Ltd

Peoria, Arizona, United States

Site Status RECRUITING

University of Arizona

Tucson, Arizona, United States

Site Status RECRUITING

Pacific Arthritis Care Center

Los Angeles, California, United States

Site Status RECRUITING

University of California, Los Angeles

Los Angeles, California, United States

Site Status RECRUITING

Arthritis Medical Center

Nipomo, California, United States

Site Status RECRUITING

Turlock Arthritis & Osteoporosis Center,

Turlock, California, United States

Site Status RECRUITING

Center for Rheumatology Research

Woodland Hills, California, United States

Site Status RECRUITING

George Munoz MD, PC

Aventura, Florida, United States

Site Status RECRUITING

American Arthritis and Rheumatology Associates LLC

Clearwater, Florida, United States

Site Status RECRUITING

CZ Rheumatology

Coral Springs, Florida, United States

Site Status RECRUITING

American Arthritis and Rheumatology Associates LLC

Fort Lauderdale, Florida, United States

Site Status RECRUITING

Mayo Clinic Jacksonville

Jacksonville, Florida, United States

Site Status RECRUITING

Palm Beach Rheumatology and Wellness

Jupiter, Florida, United States

Site Status RECRUITING

Arthritis & Rheumatology Center of South Florida

Margate, Florida, United States

Site Status RECRUITING

Life Medical Research Group

Miami Gardens, Florida, United States

Site Status RECRUITING

Southwest Florida Rheumatology

Riverview, Florida, United States

Site Status RECRUITING

Southeast Georgia Physician Associates-Rheumatology

Brunswick, Georgia, United States

Site Status RECRUITING

Indiana University Health

Carmel, Indiana, United States

Site Status RECRUITING

Johns Hopkins University

Baltimore, Maryland, United States

Site Status RECRUITING

Tufts University

Boston, Massachusetts, United States

Site Status RECRUITING

University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School

Worcester, Massachusetts, United States

Site Status RECRUITING

American Arthritis and Rheumatology Associates -Mi PLLC

Okemos, Michigan, United States

Site Status RECRUITING

Saint Paul Rheumatology, P.A.

Eagan, Minnesota, United States

Site Status RECRUITING

Mayo Clinic Rochester

Rochester, Minnesota, United States

Site Status RECRUITING

Dr. Jayashree Sinha

Clovis, New Mexico, United States

Site Status RECRUITING

Inspire Santa Fe Medical Group

Santa Fe, New Mexico, United States

Site Status RECRUITING

New York University

New York, New York, United States

Site Status RECRUITING

Hospital for Special Surgery

New York, New York, United States

Site Status RECRUITING

University Hospital Cleveland Medical Ctr

Cleveland, Ohio, United States

Site Status RECRUITING

The MetroHealth System

Cleveland, Ohio, United States

Site Status RECRUITING

Arthritis and Rheumatology of Southwest Ohio

Liberty Township, Ohio, United States

Site Status RECRUITING

Southern Ohio Rheumatology

Wheelersburg, Ohio, United States

Site Status RECRUITING

Oregon Health and Science University

Portland, Oregon, United States

Site Status RECRUITING

Altoona Center for Clinical Research

Duncansville, Pennsylvania, United States

Site Status RECRUITING

Rheumatology and Arthritis Care Center

Exton, Pennsylvania, United States

Site Status RECRUITING

Allegheny Health Network

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States

Site Status RECRUITING

PA Regional Center for Arthritis and Osteoporosis Research

Wyomissing, Pennsylvania, United States

Site Status RECRUITING

Cumberland Rhematology

Crossville, Tennessee, United States

Site Status RECRUITING

Vanderbilt University

Nashville, Tennessee, United States

Site Status RECRUITING

Heritage Rheumatology and Arthritis Care

Colleyville, Texas, United States

Site Status RECRUITING

Southwest Medical Center

Dallas, Texas, United States

Site Status RECRUITING

Texas Arthritis Center, PA

El Paso, Texas, United States

Site Status RECRUITING

American Arthritis and Rheumatology Associates-Tx PLLC

Harlingen, Texas, United States

Site Status RECRUITING

Baylor University

Houston, Texas, United States

Site Status RECRUITING

Northern Virginia Center for Arthritis-Reston

Reston, Virginia, United States

Site Status RECRUITING

Mount Sinai Hospital (Canada)

Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Site Status RECRUITING

Countries

Review the countries where the study has at least one active or historical site.

United States Canada

Central Contacts

Reach out to these primary contacts for questions about participation or study logistics.

Jasvinder Singh

Role: CONTACT

205-975-2405

Jeff Foster, MPH

Role: CONTACT

205-996-6086

Facility Contacts

Find local site contact details for specific facilities participating in the trial.

Adahli Massey, MD

Role: primary

334-501-4424

Millionnah Thompson

Role: backup

334-501-4424

Howard Busch, MD

Role: primary

Debra Stevenson

Role: backup

Rouhin Sen

Role: primary

205-275-2405

Joy Schectman, MD

Role: primary

623-566-3350

Jack Tuber, DO

Role: backup

623-566-3350

Kent C Kwoh, MD

Role: primary

Gina Schwartzberg

Role: backup

520-626-3618

Dan Furst, MD

Role: primary

Omar Aly

Role: backup

310-297-6812

Veena K. Ranganath, MD

Role: primary

Michelle Ramirez

Role: backup

310-825-9956

Frank Scott, M/D

Role: primary

805-473-4001

Adrienne Abu-Assal

Role: backup

805-473-4001

Iraj Sabahi, M/D

Role: primary

209-634-3898

Role: backup

209-634-3898

Lauren Jackson

Role: primary

818-598-0000

George Munoz, MD

Role: primary

305-682-1441

Robert Levin, MD

Role: primary

727-734-6631

Conrad Ziembinski, MD

Role: primary

954-341-5034

Fredder Guanipa

Role: backup

954-341-5034

Yvonne Sherrar, MD

Role: primary

954-229-7030

Vikas Majithia, MD

Role: primary

Tiffany Cribb

Role: backup

904-953-4525

Reshma Khan, MD

Role: primary

561-316-7033

Rebecca Bautista

Role: backup

561-316-7033

Jigar Shah, MD

Role: primary

954-281-8891

Ruth Tecier

Role: backup

(954) 281-8891

Marisley Benitez

Role: primary

305-705-4111

Shanmugapriya Reddy, MD

Role: primary

305-300-4990

Michelle Stojkov

Role: backup

305-300-4990

Erick Bournigal, MD

Role: primary

912-466-7310

Sneha Pai

Role: primary

917-375-3112

Uzma Haque, MD

Role: primary

Marilyn Towns

Role: backup

410-550-0579

Sreelakshmi Panginikkod, MD

Role: primary

Madison Negron

Role: backup

617-636-3224

Jonathan Kay, MD

Role: primary

Chelsea Botang

Role: backup

774-455-3528

Srijana Bakshi, MD

Role: primary

860-679-3605

Angela Arsenault

Role: backup

860-679-3605

David Ridley, MD

Role: primary

651-644-4277

Yolanda Fabelo

Role: backup

651-644-4277

Lynne Peterson, MD

Role: primary

Amber Woltzen

Role: backup

507-422-6732

Jayashree Sinha, MD

Role: primary

575-935-5051

Lanthan Hicks

Role: backup

575-935-5051

Arianna Lundquist

Role: primary

412-578-5676

Pamela Rosenthal, MD

Role: primary

Claudine Davis

Role: backup

646.501.7379

Susan Goodman, MD

Role: primary

Chloe Heiting

Role: backup

212-774-7045

Marina N Magrey, MD

Role: primary

Alexis Anderson

Role: backup

216-286-8159

Nora Singer, MD

Role: primary

Emma Barnboym

Role: backup

216-778-3752

Soha Mousa, MD

Role: primary

513-779-5610

Allison Koelblin

Role: backup

513-779-5610

Rajesh Kataria, MD

Role: primary

740-355-8562

Angela Bahl

Role: backup

740-355-8562

Cong-Qiu Chu, MD

Role: primary

Kim Nguyen

Role: backup

503-494-5571

Alan J Kivitz, MD, CPI

Role: primary

Ashli Lutz, RN

Role: backup

814-693-0300 ext. 154

Sucharitha Shanmugam, MD

Role: primary

484-206-4447

Melissa Netzel

Role: backup

484-206-4447

Paige Rutter

Role: primary

412-578-5676

Dana Cullen

Role: primary

610-374-8133

Sivalingam Kanagasegar, MD

Role: primary

931-459-7720

Wendy LaFever

Role: backup

931-459-7720

Kevin W Byram, MD

Role: primary

Pam Krueger

Role: backup

615-875-8356

Dhiman Basu, MD

Role: primary

817-590-0880

Natalie Pachinger

Role: backup

8175900880

Safia Shaikh

Role: primary

469-893-1242

Sanjay Chabra, MD

Role: primary

915-317-1660

Monica Chabra

Role: backup

915-317-1660

Naiara Alvarez, MD

Role: primary

956-422-3122

Heather Margain

Role: backup

956-422-3122

Kalpana Bhairavarasu

Role: primary

713-798-3390

Phong Nguyen, MD

Role: primary

703-293-5239

Lynn Kincaid

Role: backup

703-293-5239

Bindee Kuriya, MD

Role: primary

Shafina Hasmani

Role: backup

416-586-4800 ext. 5489

Other Identifiers

Review additional registry numbers or institutional identifiers associated with this trial.

CER-2020C1-19193

Identifier Type: OTHER_GRANT

Identifier Source: secondary_id

IRB-300006596

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id

More Related Trials

Additional clinical trials that may be relevant based on similarity analysis.