A Phase 3 interventional study of Olokizumab and Placebo in Polymyalgia Rheumatica, sponsored by R-Pharm International, LLC. Active, not recruiting at 20 sites in Russia. Open to participants aged 50 Years and older. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2026-06-30.
Sponsored by R-Pharm International, LLC · Phase 3, Interventional, and Treatment
The primary objective of the study is to evaluate the efficacy of olokizumab (OKZ) 64 mg administered subcutaneously every 2 weeks compared with placebo in participants with polymyalgia rheumatica (PMR). The secondary objectives are to evaluate the steroid-sparing effect, inflammatory markers, safety, tolerability, immunogenicity, and pharmacokinetics of OKZ in participants with PMR compared with placebo. The exploratory objectives are to evaluate OKZ efficacy in selected participant subgroups, biomarkers of bone metabolism, pharmacodynamic parameters, glucocorticoid-related effects, and quality of life in participants with PMR compared with placebo
This is a Phase 3, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel-group study. A total of 120 participants with active polymyalgia rheumatica are planned to be randomized in a 1:1 ratio to one of the following treatment arms:
Participants may continue stable methotrexate or leflunomide therapy during the screening and treatment periods
The treatment period lasts 16 weeks, during which participants visit the study center every 2 weeks for safety assessments and evaluation of treatment response. Starting from Week 6 (Visit 4), in participants with PMR-AS \<10, a gradual weekly glucocorticoid taper is initiated, decreasing by 2.5 mg/week until a dose of 5 mg/day is reached, followed by reductions of 1.25 mg/week until complete discontinuation of glucocorticoids. If complete discontinuation is not feasible at a dose of 5 mg/day or lower, tapering may be paused based on the investigator's clinical judgment
Participants who do not enter an open-label extension study after completion of the 16-week double-blind treatment period enter a 22-week safety follow-up (SFU) period. During follow-up, participants attend clinic visits at 2, 10, and 22 weeks after the end-of-treatment (EOT) visit for SFU assessments. The total duration of the study for participants is approximately 42 weeks
At the time of randomization, participants must meet one of the following conditions:
PMR flare within 3 days prior to randomization meeting the following criteria:
Exclusion Criteria:
Use of the following medications prior to screening:
Screening laboratory abnormalities including:
Screening evidence of hepatitis B virus (HBV) and/or hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection:
Participants with the following cardiovascular diseases:
Olokizumab 64 mg every 2 weeks, administered as a single 0.4 mL subcutaneous injection
Biological: Olokizumab
Placebo every 2 weeks, administered as a single 0.4 mL subcutaneous injection
Drug: Placebo
Solution for subcutaneous injection in a prefilled syringe (1 mL) with a concentration of 160 mg/mL, administered as a 64 mg/0.4 mL dose
Also known as: Artlegia
0.9% Sodium Chloride solution for Injection
Achievement of treatment response
Treatment response is defined as Polymyalgia Rheumatica Activity Score (PMR-AS) \<10 and glucocorticoid (GC) dose ≤5 mg/day, or a reduction of ≥10 mg/day, or no new initiation of GC therapy (in participants not receiving GC at baseline), up to Week 16
Time frame: Up to Week 16 (visit 9)
Proportion of participants with Polymyalgia Rheumatica Activity Score (PMR-AS) <7 at each visit
PMR-AS index is calculated (to two decimal places) as the sum of five variables: duration of morning stiffness in minutes (MST, morning stiffness), multiplied by 0.1; elevation of the upper limbs (EUL, scored from 0 to 3); physician global assessment of disease activity using a 10-point visual analogue scale (VASphys); patient-reported pain intensity using a 10-point visual analogue scale (VASpain); and C-reactive protein (CRP) level (mg/dL)
Time frame: Up to Week 16 (visit 9)
Proportion of participants with Polymyalgia Rheumatica Activity Score (PMR-AS) <10 at each visit
PMR-AS index is calculated (to two decimal places) as the sum of five variables: duration of morning stiffness in minutes (MST, morning stiffness), multiplied by 0.1; elevation of the upper limbs (EUL, scored from 0 to 3); physician global assessment of disease activity using a 10-point visual analogue scale (VASphys); patient-reported pain intensity using a 10-point visual analogue scale (VASpain); and C-reactive protein (CRP) level (mg/dL)
Time frame: Up to Week 16 (visit 9)
Change in Polymyalgia Rheumatica Activity Score (PMR-AS) over the treatment period compared with baseline
PMR-AS index is calculated (to two decimal places) as the sum of five variables: duration of morning stiffness in minutes (MST, morning stiffness), multiplied by 0.1; elevation of the upper limbs (EUL, scored from 0 to 3); physician global assessment of disease activity using a 10-point visual analogue scale (VASphys); patient-reported pain intensity using a 10-point visual analogue scale (VASpain); and C-reactive protein (CRP) level (mg/dL)
Time frame: Baseline and Week 16 (visit 9)
Change from baseline in pain assessed using a visual analogue scale (VASpain)
Change from baseline in pain assessed by the patient using a visual analogue scale (VASpain). VASpain range: 0 to 10; where 0= no activity and 10= maximum activity
Time frame: Baseline and Week 16 (visit 9)
Change from baseline in duration of morning stiffness
Change from baseline in duration of morning stiffness measured in minutes
Time frame: Baseline and Week 16 (visit 9)
Change from baseline in upper limb elevation score
Change from baseline in upper limb elevation assessed on a 0-3 scale. Higher scores indicate worse outcome
Time frame: Baseline and Week 16 (visit 9)
Change from baseline in investigator-assessed disease activity
Change from baseline in disease activity assessed by the investigator using a visual analogue scale (VASphys). VASphys range: 0 to 10; where 0= no activity and 10= maximum activity
Time frame: Baseline and Week 16 (visit 9)
Proportion of participants with new initiation or dose increase of glucocorticoids
Proportion of participants with new initiation of glucocorticoid (GC) therapy or an increase in GC dose compared with baseline
Time frame: Baseline and Week 16 (visit 9)
Change in proportion of participants receiving glucocorticoids over time
Change from baseline in the proportion of participants receiving glucocorticoids (GC), overall and in subgroups of participants receiving or not receiving GC at baseline
Time frame: Baseline and Week 16 (visit 9)
Change from baseline in mean glucocorticoid dose
Change from baseline in mean daily glucocorticoid dose in each treatment arm
Time frame: Baseline and Week 16 (visit 9)
Cumulative glucocorticoid dose
Total cumulative glucocorticoid dose during the treatment period
Time frame: Baseline and Week 16 (visit 9)
Change from baseline in C-reactive protein (CRP) levels
Change from baseline in serum C-reactive protein (CRP) levels during the treatment period
Time frame: Baseline and Week 16 (visit 9)
Change from baseline in erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR)
Change from baseline in erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) during the treatment period
Time frame: Baseline and Week 16 (visit 9)
Change from baseline in patient global assessment of disease activity
Physician global assessment of disease activity (VAS range: 0 to 10; where 0= no activity and 10= maximum activity). Higher scores indicate better outcome
Time frame: Baseline and Week 16 (visit 9)
Change from baseline in Polymyalgia Rheumatica Activity Score (PMR-AS) in subgroups of participants receiving or not receiving glucocorticoids at baseline
Change from baseline in Polymyalgia Rheumatica Activity Score (PMR-AS) in subgroups of participants receiving or not receiving glucocorticoids at baseline
Time frame: Baseline and Week 16 (visit 9)
Change from baseline in interleukin-6 (IL-6) levels
Change from baseline in serum interleukin-6 (IL-6) levels during the treatment period
Time frame: Baseline and Week 16 (visit 9)
Change from baseline in soluble interleukin-6 (IL-6) receptor levels
Change from baseline in soluble interleukin-6 receptor levels during the treatment period
Time frame: Baseline and Week 16 (visit 9)
Change from baseline in matrix metalloproteinase-3 (MMP-3) levels
Change from baseline in serum matrix metalloproteinase-3 (MMP-3) levels during the treatment period
Time frame: Baseline and Week 16 (visit 9)
Change from baseline in serum ferritin levels
Change from baseline in serum ferritin levels during the treatment period
Time frame: Baseline and Week 16 (visit 9)
Change from baseline in bone metabolism biomarkers
Bone metabolism biomarkers include bone-specific alkaline phosphatase, osteocalcin, procollagen type I N-terminal propeptide (P1NP), and C-terminal telopeptide of type I collagen (β-CrossLaps) during the treatment period
Time frame: Baseline and Week 16 (visit 9)
Change from baseline in SF-36v1 score
Change from baseline in SF-36 version 1 health survey scores during the treatment period
Time frame: Baseline and Week 16 (visit 9)
Change from baseline in Functional Assessment of Chronic Illness Therapy (FACIT) score
Change from baseline in Functional Assessment of Chronic Illness Therapy (FACIT) score during the treatment period
Time frame: Baseline and Week 16 (visit 9)
Change in glucocorticoid-related toxicity parameters
Change in parameters characterizing glucocorticoid-related toxicity during the treatment period
Time frame: Baseline and Week 16 (visit 9)
Proportion of participants with cranial symptoms of giant cell arteritis
Proportion of participants with cranial symptoms of giant cell arteritis during the treatment period
Time frame: Baseline and Week 16 (visit 9)
Mean plasma trough concentrations (Ctrough) of olokizumab (OKZ)
Mean plasma trough concentrations (Ctrough) of olokizumab (OKZ) in participants with Polymyalgia Rheumatica (PMR) prior to dosing during the treatment period
Time frame: Pre-dose at each visit up to Week 16 (visit 9) and at Week 26
Time to steady-state concentration of olokizumab (OKZ)
Time to steady-state concentration of olokizumab (OKZ)
Time frame: Pre-dose at each visit up to Week 16 (visit 9) and at Week 26
Proportion of participants with laboratory abnormalities
Laboratory assessments include: * Blood test for inflammatory markers (C-reactive protein, Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate, ferritin) * Blood test for bone metabolism markers (bone-specific alkaline phosphatase (bone ALP), osteocalcin, procollagen type I N-terminal propeptide (P1NP), C-terminal telopeptide of type I collagen (β-CrossLaps), matrix metalloproteinase-3 (MMP-3)) * Blood test for cytokine levels (IL-6, IL-6R)
Time frame: Baseline and Week 38
Proportion of participants with vital sign abnormalities
Vital signs include systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, heart rate, respiratory rate, body temperature
Time frame: Baseline and Week 38
Proportion of participants with physical examination abnormalities
Physical examination includes skin, heart, lungs, abdomen, liver, spleen, ENT organs, lymph nodes
Time frame: Baseline and Week 38
Incidence of anti-drug antibodies (ADA) to olokizumab (OKZ)
Incidence of anti-drug antibodies (ADA) to olokizumab (OKZ)
Time frame: Up to Week 26
Incidence of neutralizing antibodies (nAb) to olokizumab (OKZ)
Incidence of neutralizing antibodies (nAb) to olokizumab (OKZ)
Time frame: Up to Week 26
Titers of anti-drug antibodies (ADA) to olokizumab (OKZ)
Titers of anti-drug antibodies (ADA) to olokizumab (OKZ)
Time frame: Up to Week 26
Duration of neutralizing antibody (nAb) persistence
Duration of neutralizing antibody (nAb) persistence
Time frame: Up to Week 26
Proportion of participants discontinuing treatment due to adverse events
Safety assessments are conducted from first dose through safety follow-up 3 (SFU3). The end-of-study follow-up includes three SFU visits (SFU1-SFU3). Timing of SFU1 varies depending on treatment completion status: SFU1 occurs at the end-of-treatment (EOT) visit for participants completing the protocol treatment period, or approximately 14 days after early treatment discontinuation. SFU2 and SFU3 occur at approximately 70 and 154 days after EOT visit, respectively
Time frame: Up to Week 38
Character, frequency, severity and outcome of adverse events (AEs), including serious adverse events (SAEs)
Safety assessments are conducted from first dose through safety follow-up 3 (SFU3). The end-of-study follow-up includes three SFU visits (SFU1-SFU3). Timing of SFU1 varies depending on treatment completion status: SFU1 occurs at the end-of-treatment (EOT) visit for participants completing the protocol treatment period, or approximately 14 days after early treatment discontinuation. SFU2 and SFU3 occur at approximately 70 and 154 days after EOT visit, respectively Adverse event severity is graded 1-5 (mild, moderate, severe, life-threatening, death) per National Cancer Institute Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events (NCI CTCAE) version 5.0
Time frame: Up to Week 38
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R-Pharm International, LLC