A Phase 4 interventional study of Strategy to attempt discontinuation of MTX or LEF (and restart when necessary) and Continuation of MTX or LEF in Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA), sponsored by Sint Maartenskliniek. Recruiting at 4 sites in Netherlands. Open to participants aged 18 Years and older. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2026-09-03.
Sponsored by Sint Maartenskliniek · Phase 4, Interventional, and Treatment
The goal is to investigate whether a strategy of attempting to discontinue of MTX or LEF (and restart when necessary) in RA patients treated with an optimal dose (allowed dose or lower, tapered to the maximum, or according to patient preference) TNFi is not worser to a continuation of combination therapy. The study will also examine the disease-related effects of treatment that attempts to discontinue MTX or LEF, how patients experience it, its safety, and its impact on medication usage and healthcare costs.
The main outcome is the difference between treatments in average disease activity over 24 months. The study will compare whether disease activity remains similar between patients who attempt to discontinue MTX or LEF and those who continue combination therapy.
Patients will be followed for 24 months with scheduled hospital visits at baseline, after 3, 6, 12, 18, and 24 months, remote visits, and additional visits for disease flares. X-rays of the hands and feet will be taken at baseline and after 24 months. During some visits, additional blood samples will be taken to measure inflammation markers and medication levels.
Rationale Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a long-term inflammatory disease that causes joint pain, swelling, and stiffness. Many patients are treated with a combination of medications to control inflammation. These usually include a biological medicine called a TNF inhibitor (TNFi) and another medicine, methotrexate (MTX) or leflunomide (LEF). Although this combination treatment is effective, patients often experience side effects (such as gastro-intestinal complaints and fatigue), require frequent blood tests, and may experience treatment fatigue from taking multiple medications. Patients would therefore prefer to reduce their medication. The safe reduction of TNFi treatment has been studied before. It is still unclear whether patients can safely discontinue MTX or LEF when their disease is well controlled. This study investigates whether attempting to discontinue MTX or LEF while using a TNF inhibitor is no worse than continuing combination treatment in terms of disease activity, with the hope of reducing side effects, the need for monitoring, and healthcare costs.
Objective The objective is to investigate whether a strategy of attempting to discontinue of MTX or LEF (and restart when necessary) in RA patients treated with an optimal dose (allowed dose or lower, tapered to the maximum, or according to patient preference) TNFi is not worser to a continuation of combination therapy. The study will also examine the disease-related effects of treatment that attempts to discontinue MTX or LEF, how patients experience it, its safety, and its impact on medication usage and healthcare costs.
Main trial endpoints The main endpoint is the difference between treatments in average disease activity over 24 months. The study will compare whether disease activity remains similar between patients who attempt to discontinue MTX or LEF and those who continue combination therapy.
Secondary trial endpoints Other study outcomes include the proportion of patients in the discontinuation strategy group using MTX/LEF and/or a TNFi after 24 months, and differences between treatments in patient-reported outcomes, joint damage measured by X-ray, blood levels of TNF inhibitors, safety and cost-effectiveness.
Trial design This study is being conducted in multiple hospitals. A total of 202 patients with RA will be randomly assigned to stopping MTX/LEF or continuation of combination therapy and followed for 24 months. Two-thirds of the patients will attempt to discontinue MTX or LEF (discontinuation group), and one-third will continue using the combination treatment (continuation group).
Trial population Adult patients aged 18 years and older with RA are eligible to participate if their disease has low disease activity for at least six months during treatment with a TNFi in combination with MTX or LEF.
Interventions In this study, we examine the difference between two groups: the discontinuation group and the continuation group. In the discontinuation group, patients immediately stop taking MTX or LEF and use only the TNFi at a stable dose. When disease activity increases, MTX or LEF can be restarted at the previous dose. If necessary, temporary treatment, such as glucocorticoids, can be administered. In the continuation group, patients continue using combination therapy with MTX or LEF and a TNFi at stable doses. In both groups, the goal is to maintain a stable dose of the TNFi throughout the study. Dosage adjustments or switching to a different biologic drug are permitted if disease activity increases or if side effects occur. These decisions are made by the treating rheumatologist in consultation with the patient.
During the 24-month study, patients continue to receive regular care, including six-monthly check-ups and laboratory tests. An additional study visit takes place after 3 months to detect changes in disease activity at an early stage. In addition, remote visits (by telephone) will take place at 9, 15 and 21 months. Additional visits can be scheduled if a disease flare is suspected.
3,332 studies on the registry are indexed under Arthritis, Rheumatoid; 443 are open to participants now.
This study's planned enrollment of 202 is above the median of 96 across 2,220 interventional studies indexed under Arthritis, Rheumatoid.
Browse Arthritis, Rheumatoid studies →Sint Maartenskliniek is the lead sponsor of 29 studies on the registry; 5 are open to participants now.
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Go through the criteria one by one — yes, no or not sure — and take the list to your doctor or the study team. Kept in this browser only.
Exclusion Criteria:
Underlined terms in the criteria open these too. Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
Before you join, the study team explains what taking part involves — its purpose, what happens, the risks and possible benefits — and answers your questions, so you can decide freely. Consent is usually recorded on a form (the informed consent form, ICF) signed by you or, where the law allows, by someone legally authorised to decide for you.
You can keep asking questions during the study, you are told of new information that matters, and you can choose to leave at any time.
A reason a treatment, test or procedure should not be given to a particular person, such as an allergy, another illness or a medicine they take.
Informed consent
Before you join, the study team explains what taking part involves — its purpose, what happens, the risks and possible benefits — and answers your questions, so you can decide freely. Consent is usually recorded on a form (the informed consent form, ICF) signed by you or, where the law allows, by someone legally authorised to decide for you.
You can keep asking questions during the study, you are told of new information that matters, and you can choose to leave at any time.
Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
Contraindication
A reason a treatment, test or procedure should not be given to a particular person, such as an allergy, another illness or a medicine they take.
Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
Participants will discontinue their csDMARD (MTX or LEF) immediately following randomization and continue TNFi monotherapy at their current stable dose.
Drug: Strategy to attempt discontinuation of MTX or LEF (and restart when necessary)
Participants will aim to continue combination therapy with csDMARD (MTX or LEF) and TNFi at their current stable doses.
Drug: Continuation of MTX or LEF
Participants will discontinue their csDMARD (MTX or LEF) immediately following randomization and continue TNFi monotherapy at their current stable dose.
Participants will aim to continue combination therapy with csDMARD (MTX or LEF) and TNFi at their current stable doses.
The between-group difference in mean time-weighted DAS28-CRP during 24 months of follow-up.
The between-group difference in mean time-weighted DAS28-CRP during 24 months of follow-up. A mean time-weighted DAS28-CRP is chosen to balance the limitations of assessing disease activity at a single timepoint with solely considering the occurrence of flare. The time-weighted DAS28-CRP consists of a weighted average of a patient's DAS28-CRP scores, calculated using the trapezoid method and weighed by the time interval between measurements.
Time frame: At 24 months of follow-up.
Between-group difference in disease activity
Disease activity measured by DAS28-CRP at 3, 6, 12, 18 and 24 months.
Time frame: At 3, 6, 12, 18 and 24 months of follow-up.
Between-group difference at specific timepoint disease activity
Proportion of patients in remission (DAS28-CRP ≤ 2.4) or LDA (DAS28-CRP ≤ 2.9) at 3, 6, 12, 18, and 24 months.
Time frame: At 3, 6, 12, 18 and 24 months of follow-up.
Between-group difference in PROM
Fatigue and pain are measured by the Numeric Pain Rating Scale (NRS 0-10), where the minimum value is 0 and the maximum value is 10, meaning higher scores indicate a worse outcome of greater pain intensity and more severe fatigue. This scale is administered at baseline, 3, 6, 12, 18, and 24 months, as well as at flare visits.
Time frame: At baseline and 3, 6, 12, 18 and 24 months of follow-up and flare-visits.
Between-group difference in PROM
Disease impact is measured by the Rheumatoid Arthritis Impact of Disease (RAID) Questionnaire, where the minimum value is 0 and the maximum value is 10, meaning higher scores indicate a worse outcome of greater overall disease impact on the patient's life. This questionnaire is administered at baseline, 3, 6, 12, 18, and 24 months, as well as at flare visits.
Time frame: At baseline and 3, 6, 12, 18 and 24 months of follow-up and flare-visits.
Between-group difference in PROM
Disease impact is also measured by the Rheumatoid Arthritis Flare Questionnaire (RA-FQ), where the minimum value is 0 and the maximum value is 50, meaning higher scores indicate a worse outcome of a more severe or active disease flare. This questionnaire is administered at baseline, 3, 6, 12, 18, and 24 months, as well as at flare visits.
Time frame: At baseline and 3, 6, 12, 18 and 24 months of follow-up and flare-visits.
Between-group difference in PROM
Disease impact is further measured by the Patient Acceptable Symptom State (PASS), where the minimum value is 0 (representing Unacceptable) and the maximum value is 1 (representing Acceptable), meaning higher scores indicate a better outcome where the patient considers their current symptom state to be acceptable. This assessment is completed at baseline, 3, 6, 12, 18, and 24 months, as well as at flare visits.
Time frame: At baseline and 3, 6, 12, 18 and 24 months of follow-up and flare-visits.
Between-group difference in PROM
Medication adherence is measured by the Medical Adherence Rating Scale (MARS), where the minimum value is 5 and the maximum value is 25, meaning lower scores indicate a better outcome of higher medication adherence. This scale is administered at baseline, 3, 6, 12, 18, and 24 months, as well as at flare visits.
Time frame: At baseline and 3, 6, 12, 18 and 24 months of follow-up and flare-visits.
Between-group difference in PROM
Disease impact is additionally measured by the Transition Scale, where the minimum value is -3 (representing Much worse) and the maximum value is +3 (representing Much better), meaning higher scores indicate a better outcome of subjective improvement in health status compared to baseline. This scale is administered at baseline, 3, 6, 12, 18, and 24 months, as well as at flare visits.
Time frame: At baseline and 3, 6, 12, 18 and 24 months of follow-up and flare-visits.
Between-group difference in radiographic progression
Radiographic joint damage is measured by the change between baseline and 24 months in the Simple Erosion Narrowing Score (SENS), where the minimum value is 0 and the maximum value is 86, meaning higher scores indicate a worse outcome of more severe joint destruction and progression of structural damage.
Time frame: At 24 months of follow-up.
Between-group difference in physical functioning
Physical functioning is measured by the Health Assessment Questionnaire-Disability Index (HAQ-DI), where the minimum value is 0 and the maximum value is 3, meaning higher scores indicate a worse outcome of greater functional disability and impairment. This questionnaire is administered at baseline, 3, 6, 12, 18, and 24 months, as well as at flare visits.
Time frame: At baseline and 3, 6, 12, 18 and 24 months of follow-up and flare-visits.
Between-group difference in quality of life
Health-related quality of life is measured by the Euro Quality of Life 5-Dimensions 5-Levels (EQ-5D-5L) questionnaire, where the minimum value is 0 or 1 (0 for the visual analogue scale and 5 for the level sum scores) and the maximum value is 5 or 100 (5 for the level sum scores and 100 for the visual analogue scale), meaning higher scores indicate a worse outcome of better overall health status. This questionnaire is administered at baseline, 3, 6, 12, 18, and 24 months, as well as at flare visits.
Time frame: At baseline and 3, 6, 12, 18 and 24 months of follow-up and flare-visits.
Between-group difference in pharmacokinetic and immunogenicity parameters
TNFi and ADA serum levels at baseline, 3 (csDMARD discontinuation group only), and 24 months.
Time frame: At baseline and 3 and 24 months of follow-up.
Between-group difference in flares
Proportion of patients relapsing/restarting combination therapy over 24 months.
Time frame: At 24 months of follow-up.
Between-group difference in flares
Flare (DAS28-CRP increase from baseline of \>1.2, or \>0.6 if current DAS28-CRP \>2.9) incidence calculated by cumulative incidence and incidence density (events per person-years) over 24 months.
Time frame: At 24 months of follow-up.
Between-group difference in flares
Time-to-event analysis of first flare over 24 months.
Time frame: At 24 months of follow-up.
Between-group difference in safety
Frequency and severity of adverse events (AEs) and serious adverse events (SAEs) using the Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events version 5 (CTCAEv5) over 24 months.
Time frame: At 24 months of follow-up.
Between-group difference in medication use
Proportion of patients in the csDMARD discontinuation group using a csDMARD and/or TNFi at 24 months.
Time frame: At 24 months of follow-up.
Between-group difference in medication use
Proportion of patients who have discontinued the baseline TNFi at month 24, including those who discontinue or switch to another b/tsDMARD at the 24-month visit.
Time frame: At 24 months of follow-up.
Between-group difference in medication use
Dosing and route of administration of csDMARD and/or TNFi at 24 months.
Time frame: At 24 months of follow-up.
Between-group difference in medication use
MTX and LEF usage characteristics, including route of administration, use and dosage of folic acid, and other RA-related comedication over 24 months.
Time frame: At 24 months of follow-up.
Cost-effectiveness
Healthcare resource utilization and related expenses are evaluated by medical costs measured using the institute for Medical Technology Assessment Medical Consumption Questionnaire (iMTA MCQ), where the minimum value is 0 euros and the maximum value is unbounded, meaning higher scores indicate a worse outcome of higher economic burden and increased healthcare consumption. This questionnaire is administered at baseline, 3, 6, 12, 18, and 24 months.
Time frame: At baseline and 3, 16, 12, 18 and 24 months of follow-up.
Cost-effectiveness
Economic impact and work limitations are evaluated by productivity losses and participation measured using the institute for Medical Technology Assessment Productivity Cost Questionnaire (iMTA PCQ), where the minimum value is 0 hours or euros and the maximum value is unbounded, meaning higher scores indicate a worse outcome of greater productivity loss, higher societal costs, and lower work participation. This questionnaire is administered at baseline, 3, 6, 12, 18, and 24 months.
Time frame: At baseline and 3, 16, 12, 18 and 24 months of follow-up.
Predictors of successful csDMARD discontinuation
Prediction modelling using baseline pharmacological factors (TNFi levels and ADA levels) and drug and ADA levels after discontinuation of csDMARDs (3 months).
Time frame: At 24 months of follow-up.
Plan to share: Yes — Pseudonymised IPD will be shared after publication of the primary results under controlled access upon reasonable request and after approval of a research proposal and data use agreement.
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Started Jul 2026 (actual). Primary completion is estimated for May 2029, 33 months after the start.
Of 79 non-industry phase 4 interventional studies under Arthritis, Rheumatoid, half reached primary completion within 49 months of starting (the median), counting those still running; a quarter within 30 and three quarters within 92. This study's planned 33 months is below that.
Counting every sponsor, half of 104 studies reached it within 42 months; a quarter within 25 and three quarters within 74.
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