Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine Combined for Severe Rheumatoid Arthritis

Plain-English translation of NCT07721142 on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗ · Source last updated July 2026 · Translation generated August 2026 · How we translate trials

Phase 4 — The treatment has already been approved. Researchers are tracking how it works in a large number of people over time.

What is this trial?

This trial is testing whether , a traditional Chinese herbal medicine, works better when combined with two standard arthritis medications (methotrexate and tofacitinib) to treat severe rheumatoid arthritis that hasn't responded to other treatments. About half of participants will receive the real medication while the other half receive a placebo (a fake pill that looks identical), so researchers can see if the treatment truly makes a difference. Everyone will be monitored closely over 6 months to measure pain, swelling, and overall improvement.

Many people with rheumatoid arthritis don't get enough relief from standard Western medicines alone, and their joints continue to suffer damage. This trial explores whether combining traditional Chinese medicine with conventional treatments might offer better results and help doctors develop more effective treatment strategies.

Do you qualify?

You likely qualify if…

you are age 50 or older (men with no plans to have children) or a postmenopausal woman under age 70
you have been diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis using standard medical criteria
you have moderate to severe active arthritis with at least 6 painful and 6 swollen joints, plus elevated inflammation markers
your arthritis has not responded adequately to at least two different disease-modifying drug treatments, each tried for at least 12 weeks
your arthritis symptoms match a specific traditional Chinese medicine pattern (wandering joint pain and swelling, plus certain tongue or pulse characteristics)

You likely don't qualify if…

you are allergic to any of the study medications or have severe allergies that could compromise your safety
you have other inflammatory joint diseases like psoriatic arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, or lupus
you have serious, uncontrolled, or progressive problems with your kidneys, liver, lungs, heart, blood vessels, or mental health
you have a history of cancer or blood-related cancers
you have active tuberculosis or recent exposure to someone with active tuberculosis

What participation looks like

You will visit the study clinic multiple times over 6 months. For the first 12 weeks, you'll either receive the herbal capsule three times daily along with your standard arthritis medications, or a placebo capsule with the same medications—you won't know which. After 12 weeks, everyone switches to receiving the actual herbal treatment combined with the standard medications for another 12 weeks. At each visit, doctors will examine your joints, check blood work to measure inflammation, and ask about your symptoms and any side effects.

AI-generated summary from trial data · Aug 3, 2026 · Not medical advice

Trial locations(1 site)

China

Guanghua Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai