What the trial was testing
The SELECT-CHOICE enrolled 657 patients with rheumatoid arthritis. The study was sponsored by AbbVie and tracked outcomes across the full group of patients who matched the trial's eligibility profile.
It was a large trial designed to confirm whether the treatment works well enough for wider use. Trials at this stage are designed to produce evidence regulators and physicians can act on — not just observations to follow up later.
What the results showed
Upadacitinib helped 30% of patients reach remission at 12 weeks, compared to 13% with abatacept.
The New England journal of medicine · 2020 · NCT03086343
These findings — that patients taking upadacitinib achieved disease remission versus 13% with abatacept — were published in the The New England journal of medicine and represent the headline result of the study.
Researchers tracked outcomes across 657 patients enrolled in the trial. The result was consistent enough across the group that the team felt confident reporting it.
What this means for patients
For patients with rheumatoid arthritis, this result changes the calculus on what to ask their care team about. Whether it changes day-to-day care depends on factors like disease subtype, prior treatments, and where the patient is in their care journey.
What you can do now
Upadacitinib (Rinvoq) is FDA-approved for rheumatoid arthritis that hasn't responded well to other medications. This study showed it worked better than abatacept, but patients taking upadacitinib had more serious side effects including liver problems and blood clots. Talk to your rheumatologist about whether this treatment is right for you and what risks to watch for.
Eligibility for the treatments mentioned above depends on specific test results and clinical history. Bring this summary, the trial name, and your most recent labs or pathology report to your next visit.
Open rheumatoid arthritis trials
Efficacy and Safety of Telitacicept Combined With Tofacitinib for Refractory Rheumatoid Arthritis
The aim of this study is to observe the clinical efficacy and safety of telitacicept combined with tofacitinib in the treatment of D2TRA patients
Ultrasound Neuroimmune Modulation in Adults With Rheumatoid Arthritis
This two-stage, multicenter clinical trial is designed to evaluate the feasibility, safety, and preliminary efficacy of splenic ultrasound stimulation to activate immune-neuromodulation (SUSTAIN) in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and at least moderate disease activity. The findings from this trial will directly inform the design and power calculations for a future pivotal trial by identifying an appropriate effect size and confirming protocol feasibility and safety.