RUBY: Real world Use of tocilizumab Biosimilar study

  • Research type

    Research Study

  • Full title

    A multinational, prospective, non-interventional study, to assess real world use of a tocilizumab biosimilar in rheumatoid arthritis patients.

  • IRAS ID

    334468

  • Contact name

    James Galloway

  • Contact email

    james.galloway@kcl.ac.uk

  • Sponsor organisation

    Fresenius Kabi SwissBioSim GmbH

  • Duration of Study in the UK

    2 years, 3 months, 5 days

  • Research summary

    Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic, potentially debilitating disease characterised by inflammation of the joints leading `joint damage, functional disability, pain, poor quality of life and premature mortality.
    This is non-interventional study aims to assess real world use of a tocilizumab biosimilar in RA patients treatment. Tocilizumab, recombinant humanised monoclonal antibody, a biological disease-modifying antirheumatic drug is worldwide approved. Patients are selected by the study doctor after clinical decision to prescribe tocilizumab FK biosimilar is made. There are two type of patients, initiation of treatment naïve patients (first time receiving tocilizumab), and second, switched from the originator product to tocilizumab FK biosimilar. Enrolled patients will be followed for 12 months once they start receiving tocilizumab biosimilar treatment, or until they permanently discontinue FK tocilizumab biosimilar product, whichever occurs first. Data collection will be performed ideally during four study visits (Baseline, 3 months follow-up, 6 months follow-up and 12 months follow-up). Patients will be asked to complete questionnaires (online or in a paper format) during the study visits. All follow-up visits will be conducted according to the doctor's current clinical practice and will not be affected by this protocol. The study will end as soon the last study patient has completed last assessment 1 year after the study enrolment or has discontinued earlier.
    Patients who discontinue the treatment temporarily will continue participating in the study until the data collection completion or FK tocilizumab permanent withdrawal, whichever occurs first.
    The main endpoint is persistence of tocilizumab. Sample size is 600 patients and approximately 60 sites plan to recruit from four EU countries including the UK.

  • REC name

    Wales REC 2

  • REC reference

    24/WA/0057

  • Date of REC Opinion

    26 Feb 2024

  • REC opinion

    Favourable Opinion