TREMERA

• Research type

  Research Study

• Full title

  Prospective, Single-centre, Open-Label, Randomised, Pilot Study Assessing the changes in expression of JAK-STAT and Speed & Depth of Remission Induced by Tocilizumab & Methotrexate Combination and Tocilizumab Monotherapy in Patients with Early Rheumatoid Arthritis (TREMERA).

• IRAS ID

  85588

• Contact name

  Maya Buch

• Sponsor organisation

  The University of Leeds

• Eudract number

  2011-004017-17

• Research summary

  The TREMERA study focuses on patients with newly diagnosed, untreated, rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Recent international treatment recommendations emphasise the need to diagnose RA early and start treatment immediately (this being associated with better response rates); and to aim for the goal of remission - i.e. the absence of signs and symptoms of active inflammatory disease activity which is associated with better outcomes for the patient. Remission is more achievable with significant treatment advances that have been made in the form of highly effective biologic therapies. Tocilizumab (TCZ) is a newly introduced biologic drug that is used in established RA. The TREMERA study primarily aims to investigate the biological changes seen in blood and tissue following TCZ therapy - this will contribute to a better understanding of how the drug works as well as disease processes; and will also identify whether administering a biologic drug such as TCZ can also switch off immunological parameters associated with a disrupted immune system of RA. The study will assess the effectiveness of TCZ given on its own or in combination with methotrexate (MTX; a standard therapy usually given with biologic treatments)in patients with early onset RA - to determine the proportion that achieve remission. This study also aims to find out how quickly remission can be achieved with TCZ and the depth of remission achieved. This will be done using usual clinical assessment but also imaging such as ultrasound and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) which can detect inflammation not apparent on clinical assessment.Â

• REC name

  North West - Greater Manchester South Research Ethics Committee

• REC reference

  13/NW/0025

• Date of REC Opinion

  8 Apr 2013

• REC opinion

  Further Information Favourable Opinion