Abatacept versus tocilizumab for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis in TNF inhibitor inadequate responders: study protocol of the SUNSTAR randomised controlled open-label superiority trial.

ABSTRACT:

Introduction

Biological disease modifying antirheumatic drugs (bDMARDs) have a central role in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Tumour necrosis factor inhibitors (TNFis) are commonly used as first-line agents, while non-TNFis (tocilizumab, abatacept and rituximab) have shown to be non-inferior to TNFis in head-to-head trials. In case of TNFi inadequate response, using other mechanisms of action provides a better response than using an alternate TNFi. Which non-TNFi bDMARD administered subcutaneously to allow for ambulatory management to choose in case of first line TNFi inadequate response has not been tested in a randomised clinical trial, while observational data support a potential superiority of tocilizumab over abatacept.

Methods and analysis

The SUNSTAR (SUb

SUBMITTER: Pascart T 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12182147 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature