Rheumatoid arthritis affects about 1 in 100 adults, causing the immune system to attack joint linings and sometimes organs. Most people now start treatment with methotrexate and move to biologics or JAK inhibitors if needed. The goal is remission or low disease activity, which many people achieve.
What's actually going on in research
Trials are testing new JAK inhibitors with different selectivity profiles, drugs that target specific immune cells like B cells or T cells, and combinations that might work for people who haven't responded to current treatments. Researchers are also studying biomarkers to predict which drug will work best for each person, and treatments to prevent RA in people at high risk.
Targeted JAK inhibitors
Newer JAK inhibitors aim to block specific parts of the immune system while leaving others intact, potentially reducing side effects. Several are in late-stage testing against established JAK inhibitors like tofacitinib and upadacitinib.
Precision medicine
Studies are looking for blood tests and genetic markers that predict whether someone will respond to methotrexate, TNF blockers, or other drug classes. The aim is to skip the trial-and-error period that many people experience.
Prevention trials
For people with RA antibodies but no joint symptoms yet, trials are testing whether early treatment with drugs like methotrexate or abatacept can delay or prevent the disease from starting. Results could change how we think about early intervention.
What to know before you search
Eligibility usually depends on disease activity level, how long you've had RA, which treatments you've tried, and whether you have antibodies like rheumatoid factor or anti-CCP.
What types of trials are currently open
- New drug trials — Testing JAK inhibitors, biologics targeting immune proteins like IL-6 or IL-17, and other novel mechanisms. Most compare the new drug to an established treatment.
- Treatment sequencing — Studies testing which drug to try first, second, or third, and whether combining treatments works better than switching between them.
- Biomarker studies — Looking for genetic or blood markers that predict treatment response, often within a larger treatment trial.
- Prevention trials — Testing whether treatment can prevent RA in people who have antibodies or early symptoms but no diagnosed disease yet.
- Observational studies — Following people with RA over time to understand disease patterns, treatment outcomes, and long-term safety of medications.
Recently added Rheumatoid Arthritis trials
Clinical Study Comparing Diosmin vs Rebamipide as Adjuvant Therapies vs Conventional Therapy in Patients With Rheumatoid Arthritis
This study will be a randomized controlled parallel study that will be conducted on 66 patients with active rheumatoid arthritis who will be diagnosed with RA according to American College of Rheumatology (ACR)/European League Against Rheumatism (EULAR, 2010). The patients will be recruited from Outpatient Clinic of Rheumatology, Physical Medicine, Rheumatology and Rehabilitation Department, Tanta University Hospital, Tanta, Egypt. The study duration will be 3 months. The patients will be randomized into three groups: \- Group 1 (control group): will include 22 patients who will receive the conventional therapy for RA for 3 months. \- Group 2 (diosmin group): will include 22 patients who will receive the conventional therapy for RA plus 1000 mg diosmin once daily for 3 months. \- Group 3 (rebamipide group): will include 22 patients who will receive the conventional therapy for RA plus 100 mg rebamipide three times daily for 3 months.
Take a herbal capsule combined with standard arthritis medications
To evaluate the efficacy and safety of Kunxian Capsule combined with Methotrexate and Tofacitinib in the treatment of difficult-to-treat rheumatoid arthritis through a multicenter, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial, and to identify the therapeutic advantages of integrated Chinese and Western medicine for optimizing the clinical strategy of D2T RA.
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