Condition

Rheumatoid arthritis

Clinical trials and treatment information for Rheumatoid arthritis

17.9M
People Affected
50
Active Trials
269K
New Cases/Year
37K
Deaths/Year

Treatment Rankings

Ranked by evidence volume first. Medicine has spent centuries ranking things by vibes. This is an improvement.

1
Methotrexate
75% Effectiveness• 95% Confidence• 30% Safety• 693 trials• 150K participants
HIGH EvidenceExcellent ValueDose: 7.5-25 mg once weekly
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Comparative Safety Scale(Higher is safer)

Cyanide☠️
Meth💀
Cigarettes🚬
Chemo☢️
Alcohol🍺
Morphine💊
Antibiotics💉
Tylenol💊
Exercise🏃
Water💧
30
DangerousModerateSafe

Time to Effect

4-6 weeks

Duration

lifetime

Response Rate

65%

Remission Rate

20%

Number Needed to Treat (NNT)

3

Number Needed to Harm (NNH)

10

Common Side Effects:

Nausea: 30%
Fatigue: 20%
Hair thinning: 10%
Elevated liver enzymes: 15%
Mouth sores (stomatitis): 10%
Myelosuppression: 5%

Annual Cost of Care

Drug Cost

$100

Monitoring

$1,200

Side Effects

$300

Total Annual

$1,600

Cost-Effectiveness

EXCELLENT

QALYs Gained

1

ICER

$15,000/QALY

Cost per Remission

$8,000

Cost per Responder

$2,461.54

Treatment Outcomes
Primary Outcomes
Disease Activity Score 28 (DAS28-CRP)DAS28-CRP score: 5.5/9.4
-36% (-2.0 points)
Tender Joint Count (TJC)18/28 joints
-50% (-9 joints)
Swollen Joint Count (SJC)14/28 joints
-43% (-6 joints)
Secondary Benefits
Health Assessment Questionnaire-Disability Index (HAQ-DI)HAQ-DI score: 1.8/3
-28% (-0.5 points)
C-reactive protein (CRP)25 mg/L
-60% (-15 mg/L)
Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate (ESR)45 mm/hr
-44% (-20 mm/hr)
Common Side Effects
Nausea
+30%
Fatigue
+20%
Hair thinning
+10%

Clinical Trial Phases:

Phase 3Phase 4
2
Adalimumab
82% Effectiveness• 92% Confidence• 42% Safety• 249 trials• 75K participants
HIGH EvidenceModerate ValueDose: 40 mg every other week (subcutaneous)
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Comparative Safety Scale(Higher is safer)

Cyanide☠️
Meth💀
Cigarettes🚬
Chemo☢️
Alcohol🍺
Morphine💊
Antibiotics💉
Tylenol💊
Exercise🏃
Water💧
42
DangerousModerateSafe

Time to Effect

2-4 weeks

Duration

lifetime

Response Rate

70%

Remission Rate

30%

Number Needed to Treat (NNT)

4

Number Needed to Harm (NNH)

30

Common Side Effects:

Injection site reactions: 20%
Upper respiratory tract infections: 15%
Headache: 10%
Nausea: 8%
Serious infections (e.g., TB, sepsis): 3%
Malignancy (rare): 1%

Annual Cost of Care

Drug Cost

$60,000

Monitoring

$1,500

Side Effects

$1,000

Total Annual

$62,500

Cost-Effectiveness

MODERATE

QALYs Gained

1.5

ICER

$110,000/QALY

Cost per Remission

$208,333.33

Cost per Responder

$89,285.71

Treatment Outcomes
Primary Outcomes
DAS28-CRP Score5.5
-54.5% (-3.0 points)
C-reactive protein (CRP)15 mg/L
-60% (-9 mg/L)
HAQ-DI Score1.8
-16.7% (-0.3 points)
Tender Joint Count (TJC28)15 joints
-50% (-7.5 joints)
Secondary Benefits
SF-36 Physical Component Summary (PCS) Score35
+14.3% (+5 points)
Pain (Visual Analog Scale - VAS)70 mm
-40% (-28 mm)
FACIT-Fatigue Score25
+16% (+4 points)
Common Side Effects
Injection site reactions
+20%
Upper respiratory tract infections
+15%
Headache
+10%

Clinical Trial Phases:

Phase 3Phase 4
3
Etanercept
82% Effectiveness• 92% Confidence• 42% Safety• 196 trials• 70K participants
HIGH EvidenceModerate ValueDose: 50 mg once weekly (subcutaneous)
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Comparative Safety Scale(Higher is safer)

Cyanide☠️
Meth💀
Cigarettes🚬
Chemo☢️
Alcohol🍺
Morphine💊
Antibiotics💉
Tylenol💊
Exercise🏃
Water💧
42
DangerousModerateSafe

Time to Effect

1-2 weeks

Duration

lifetime

Response Rate

70%

Remission Rate

30%

Number Needed to Treat (NNT)

4

Number Needed to Harm (NNH)

30

Common Side Effects:

Injection site reactions: 20%
Upper respiratory tract infections: 15%
Headache: 10%
Nausea: 8%
Serious infections (e.g., TB, sepsis): 3%
Malignancy (rare): 1%

Annual Cost of Care

Drug Cost

$60,000

Monitoring

$1,500

Side Effects

$1,000

Total Annual

$62,500

Cost-Effectiveness

MODERATE

QALYs Gained

1.5

ICER

$115,000/QALY

Cost per Remission

$208,333.33

Cost per Responder

$89,285.71

Treatment Outcomes
Primary Outcomes
DAS28-CRP score6.0 (scale 0-9)
-30% (-1.8 points)
Tender Joint Count (TJC28)18 joints
-50% (-9 joints)
Swollen Joint Count (SJC28)12 joints
-50% (-6 joints)
C-reactive protein (CRP)30 mg/L
-60% (-18 mg/L)
Secondary Benefits
HAQ-DI (Health Assessment Questionnaire-Disability Index)1.8 (scale 0-3)
-33.3% (-0.6 points)
SF-36 Physical Component Summary (PCS)32 (normed to 50)
+25% (+8 points)
Fatigue Visual Analog Scale (VAS)75 mm (scale 0-100 mm)
-33.3% (-25 mm)
Common Side Effects
Injection site reactions
+20%
Upper respiratory tract infections
+15%
Headache
+10%

Clinical Trial Phases:

Phase 3Phase 4
4
Abatacept
78% Effectiveness• 88% Confidence• 42% Safety• 139 trials• 30K participants
HIGH EvidenceModerate ValueDose: 125 mg once weekly (subcutaneous) or IV infusion based on weight
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Comparative Safety Scale(Higher is safer)

Cyanide☠️
Meth💀
Cigarettes🚬
Chemo☢️
Alcohol🍺
Morphine💊
Antibiotics💉
Tylenol💊
Exercise🏃
Water💧
42
DangerousModerateSafe

Time to Effect

4-12 weeks

Duration

lifetime

Response Rate

60%

Remission Rate

25%

Number Needed to Treat (NNT)

5

Number Needed to Harm (NNH)

40

Common Side Effects:

Headache: 15%
Nausea: 10%
Upper respiratory tract infections: 18%
Infusion-related reactions (IV): 8%
Serious infections: 3%

Annual Cost of Care

Drug Cost

$55,000

Monitoring

$1,500

Side Effects

$1,000

Total Annual

$57,500

Cost-Effectiveness

MODERATE

QALYs Gained

1.4

ICER

$125,000/QALY

Cost per Remission

$230,000

Cost per Responder

$95,833.33

Treatment Outcomes
Primary Outcomes
DAS28-CRP Score6.0 (0-9 scale)
-33.3% (-2.0 points)
HAQ-DI Score1.8 (0-3 scale)
-22.2% (-0.4 points)
C-reactive protein (CRP)20 mg/L
-60% (-12 mg/L)
Tender Joint Count (TJC28)18/28 joints
-55.6% (-10 joints)
Secondary Benefits
Patient Global Assessment of Pain (NRS)6.5/10
-30.8% (-2.0 points)
FACIT-Fatigue Scale Score28/52
+14.3% (+4 points)
Morning Stiffness Duration75 minutes
-34.7% (-26 minutes)
Common Side Effects
Headache
+15%
Nausea
+10%
Upper respiratory tract infections
+18%

Clinical Trial Phases:

Phase 3Phase 4
5
Tofacitinib
78% Effectiveness• 88% Confidence• 38% Safety• 105 trials• 25K participants
HIGH EvidenceModerate ValueDose: 5 mg twice daily or 11 mg extended-release once daily (oral)
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Comparative Safety Scale(Higher is safer)

Cyanide☠️
Meth💀
Cigarettes🚬
Chemo☢️
Alcohol🍺
Morphine💊
Antibiotics💉
Tylenol💊
Exercise🏃
Water💧
38
DangerousModerateSafe

Time to Effect

2-4 weeks

Duration

lifetime

Response Rate

60%

Remission Rate

25%

Number Needed to Treat (NNT)

5

Number Needed to Harm (NNH)

25

Common Side Effects:

Upper respiratory tract infections: 20%
Headache: 12%
Diarrhea: 8%
Herpes zoster: 5%
Serious infections: 4%
Venous thromboembolism (VTE): 1%

Annual Cost of Care

Drug Cost

$50,000

Monitoring

$1,800

Side Effects

$1,200

Total Annual

$53,000

Cost-Effectiveness

MODERATE

QALYs Gained

1.3

ICER

$135,000/QALY

Cost per Remission

$212,000

Cost per Responder

$88,333.33

Treatment Outcomes
Primary Outcomes
Number of Participants Who Achieved Low Disease Activity (LDA) Based on Clinical Disease Activity Index (CDAI) at Month 6: Tofacitinib Overall Versus TNFis Overall
0%
Number of Participants Who Achieved LDA Based on CDAI at Month 6: Tofacitinib Monotherapy Versus Tofacitinib Combination Therapy
0%
Number of Participants Who Achieved LDA Based on CDAI at Month 6: TNFi Monotherapy Versus TNFis Combination Therapy
0%
Number of Participants Who Achieved LDA Based on CDAI at Month 6: Tofacitinib Monotherapy Versus TNFis Combination Therapy
0%
Number of Participants Who Achieved LDA Based on CDAI at Month 6: Tofacitinib Combination Therapy Versus TNFis Combination Therapy
0%
Number of Participants Who Achieved LDA Based on CDAI at Month 12: Tofacitinib Overall Versus TNFis Overall
0%
Number of Participants Who Achieved LDA Based on CDAI at Month 12: Tofacitinib Monotherapy Versus Tofacitinib Combination Therapy
0%
Number of Participants Who Achieved LDA Based on CDAI at Month 12: TNFis Monotherapy Versus TNFis Combination Therapy
0%
Number of Participants Who Achieved LDA Based on CDAI at Month 12: Tofacitinib Monotherapy Versus TNFis Combination Therapy
0%
Number of Participants Who Achieved LDA Based on CDAI at Month 12: Tofacitinib Combination Therapy Versus TNFis Combination Therapy
0%
Number of Participants With Treatment Escalations
0%
Time to Treatment Escalation
0%
Number of Participants as Per Type of Insurance Plan36 Participants
+736% (+265.0 Participants)
Number of Participants in Each Geographic Region81 Participants
-6% (-5.0 Participants)
Number of Participants With Biologic Disease Modifying Antirheumatic Drug (bDMARD) Use During Pre-Index Period
0%
Number of Participants With Biologic Disease Modifying Antirheumatic Drug (bDMARD) Use During Variable Length Pre-Index Period
0%
Mean Number of Biologic Disease Modifying Antirheumatic Drug (bDMARD) Received During Pre-Index Period
0%
Mean Number of Biologic Disease Modifying Antirheumatic Drug (bDMARD) Received During Variable Length Pre-Index Period
0%
Number of Participants With Non-biologic Disease Modifying Antirheumatic Drug (NB-DMARD) Use During Pre-Index Period
0%
Number of Participants With Non-Biologic Disease Modifying Antirheumatic Drug (NB-DMARD) Use During Variable Length Pre-Index Period
0%
Mean Number of Non-Biologic Disease Modifying Antirheumatic Drug (NB-DMARD) Received During Pre-Index Period
0%
Mean Number of Non-Biologic Disease Modifying Antirheumatic Drug (NB-DMARD) Received During Variable Length Pre-Index Period
0%
Mean Quan-Charlson Comorbidity Score of Participants
0%
Number of Participants With Top 25 Comorbid Conditions as Per Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) During Pre-Index Period
0%
Number of Participants With Top 25 Comorbid Conditions as Per Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) During Post-Index Period
0%
Mean Claims Based Index of RA Severity (CIRAS) Score During Pre-Index Period
0%
Number of Participants With 25 Most Common Medications Use During Pre-Index Period
0%
Number of Participants With 26 Most Common Medications Use During Post-Index Period
0%
Number of Participants Who Used Opioids During Pre-Index Period
0%
Number of Participants Who Used Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs) During Pre-Index Period
0%
Number of Participants Who Used Opioids During Post-Index Period
0%
Number of Participants Who Used NSAIDs During Post-Index Period
0%
Mean Number of Pharmacy Claims for Opioids During Pre-Index Period
0%
Mean Number of Pharmacy Claims for Non-Steroidal Anti Inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs) During Pre-Index Period
0%
Mean Number of Pharmacy Claims for Opioids During Post-Index Period
0%
Mean Number of Pharmacy Claims for Non-Steroidal Anti Inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs) During Post-Index Period
0%
Mean Number of Days From The Index Date to The First Opioid Claim During Post Index Period
0%
Mean Number of Days From The Index Date to The First NSAIDs Claim During Post Index Period
0%
Number of Participants Who Used Opioids During Tofacitinib Persistency and Post-Persistency
0%
Number of Participants Who Used NSAIDs During Tofacitinib Persistency and Post-Persistency
0%
Number of Participants Who Used Oral Corticosteroids During Pre-Index Period
0%
Number of Participants Who Used Oral Corticosteroids During Post-Index Period
0%
Mean Total Dose of Oral Corticosteroids During Pre-Index Period
0%
Mean Total Dose of Oral Corticosteroid During Post-Index Period
0%
Mean Number of Visits to Rheumatologist During Pre-Index Period
0%
Mean Number of Visits to Rheumatologist During Variable-Length Pre-Index Period
0%
Mean Disease Duration
0%
Mean Out of Pocket Health Care Costs for Healthcare Services During Pre-Index Period
0%
Mean Out of Pocket Health Care Costs for Healthcare Services During Variable Length Pre-Index Period
0%
Number of Participants With Comorbidities of Interest During Pre-Index Period
0%
Number of Participants With Non-persistence to Index Medication (Tofacitinib)
0%
Number of Participants With Post-Persistence Treatment Patterns
0%
Number of Participants Who Switched From Index Medication (Tofacitinib) at Any Time During Post-Index Period
0%
Number of Participants Who Re-started Index Medication (Tofacitinib) at Any Time During Post-Index Period
0%
Mean Medication Possession Ratio (MPR) for Methotrexate (MTX)
0%
Mean Adherence To Methotrexate (MTX)
0%
Number of Participants Who Used Additional NB-DMARD During Post Index Period
0%
Number of Participants Who Met Medication Effectiveness Criteria: Adherence to Index Medication (Tofacitinib)
0%
Number of Participants Who Met Medication Effectiveness Criteria: No Dose Escalation for Index Medication (Tofacitinib)
0%
Number of Participants Who Met Medication Effectiveness Criteria: No Switch From Index Medication (Tofacitinib)
0%
Number of Participants Who Met Medication Effectiveness Criteria: No Addition of NB-DMARD
0%
Number of Participants Who Met Medication Effectiveness Criteria: Criteria for Oral Glucocorticoids
0%
Number of Participants Who Met Medication Effectiveness Criteria: Use of Injectable Glucocorticoids
0%
Number of Participants With All Cause Ambulatory Visits During Pre-Index Period
0%
Number of Participants With All Cause Emergency Department Visits During Pre-Index Period
0%
Number of Participants With All Cause Inpatient Admissions During Pre-Index Period
0%
Number of Participants With RA Related Ambulatory Visits During Pre-Index Period
0%
Number of Participants With RA Related Emergency Department Visits During Pre-Index Period
0%
Number of Participants With RA Related Inpatient Admissions During Pre-Index Period
0%
Number of Participants With All Cause Ambulatory Visits During Post-Index Period
0%
Number of Participants With All Cause Emergency Department Visits During Post-Index Period
0%
Number of Participants With All Cause Inpatient Admissions During Post-Index Period
0%
Number of Participants With RA Related Ambulatory Visits During Post Index Period
0%
Number of Participants With RA Related Emergency Department Visits During Post Index Period
0%
Number of Participants With RA Related Inpatient Admissions During Post Index Period
0%
Mean Total Health Care Cost All Cause During Pre-Index Period
0%
Mean Total Health Care Cost RA Related During Pre-Index Period
0%
Mean Total Health Care Cost Due to All Cause During Post-Index Period
0%
Mean Total Health Care Cost RA Related During Post-Index Period
0%
Mean Treatment Persistence Duration Measured for Index Medication (Tofacitinib)
0%
Secondary Benefits
Number of Participants Who Achieved Remission Based on CDAI at Month 6 and 12: Tofacitinib Overall Versus TNFis Overall
0%
Number of Participants Who Achieved Remission Based on CDAI at Month 6 and 12: Tofacitinib Monotherapy Versus Tofacitinib Combination Therapy
0%
Number of Participants Who Achieved Remission Based on CDAI at Month 6 and 12: TNFis Monotherapy Versus TNFis Combination Therapy
0%
Common Side Effects
Upper respiratory tract infections
+20%
Headache
+12%
Diarrhea
+8%

Clinical Trial Phases:

Phase 3Phase 4
6
Rituximab
76% Effectiveness• 85% Confidence• 38% Safety• 126 trials• 20K participants
HIGH EvidencePoor ValueDose: 1000 mg IV on Day 1 and Day 15, repeated as needed (typically every 6-12 months)
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Comparative Safety Scale(Higher is safer)

Cyanide☠️
Meth💀
Cigarettes🚬
Chemo☢️
Alcohol🍺
Morphine💊
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38
DangerousModerateSafe

Time to Effect

8-12 weeks

Duration

Repeated every 6-12 months

Response Rate

55%

Remission Rate

20%

Number Needed to Treat (NNT)

6

Number Needed to Harm (NNH)

25

Common Side Effects:

Infusion reactions: 30%
Upper respiratory tract infections: 15%
Nausea: 8%
Serious infections: 4%
PML (Progressive Multifocal Leukoencephalopathy) (rare): 0.1%

Annual Cost of Care

Drug Cost

$30,000

Monitoring

$3,000

Side Effects

$1,500

Total Annual

$34,500

Cost-Effectiveness

POOR

QALYs Gained

1.2

ICER

$160,000/QALY

Cost per Remission

$172,500

Cost per Responder

$62,727.27

Treatment Outcomes
Primary Outcomes
DAS28-ESR6.0 (scale 0-9.4)
-30% (-1.8)
Tender Joint Count (28 joints)19 joints
-50% (-9.5 joints)
Swollen Joint Count (28 joints)15 joints
-50% (-7.5 joints)
C-reactive protein (CRP)20 mg/L
-50% (-10 mg/L)
Secondary Benefits
HAQ-DI Score1.8 (scale 0-3)
-16.7% (-0.3)
SF-36 Physical Component Summary (PCS)32 (scale 0-100)
+21.9% (+7 points)
Patient Global Assessment of Disease Activity (VAS)75 mm (scale 0-100 mm)
-33.3% (-25 mm)
Common Side Effects
Infusion reactions
+30%
Upper respiratory tract infections
+15%
Nausea
+8%

Clinical Trial Phases:

Phase 3Phase 4