Certolizumab inhibits radiographic progression in patients with early rheumatoid arthritis and high rheumatoid factor levels: a pooled, post‑hoc analysis of the phase 3 C‑EARLY and C‑OPERA trials

Smolen, JS; Taylor, PC; Burmester, G; Tanaka, Y; Takeuchi, T; Curtis, JR; Lopez‑Medina, C; Robinson, WH; Huizinga, T; Mahoney, P; Lauwerys, B; Ufuktepe, B; Mikuls, TR

Journal article

Certolizumab inhibits radiographic progression in patients with early rheumatoid arthritis and high rheumatoid factor levels: a pooled, post‑hoc analysis of the phase 3 C‑EARLY and C‑OPERA trials

Abstract:: Objective: To assess radiographic progression in patients with early rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and poor prognostic factors treated with certolizumab pegol (CZP)+methotrexate (MTX) versus placebo (PBO)+MTX, stratified by rheumatoid factor (RF) level.

Methods: In a pooled, post‑hoc analysis of phase 3 randomized trials (C‑EARLY [NCT01519791] and C‑OPERA [NCT01451203], patients were stratified by baseline RF level (low: <200 IU/mL; high: ≥200 IU/mL). Change from baseline (Δ) in modified Total Sharp Score (mTSS) and components, predicted risk of RP, and disease activity are reported up to Week (Wk)52.

Results: 813 CZP+MTX‑randomized (low RF: N=571; high RF: N=242) and 367 PBO+MTX‑randomized (low RF: N=242; high RF: N=125) patients were included. Baseline characteristics were similar between treatments; however, patients with high RF had more severe disease. The proportion of patients with clinically meaningful radiographic worsening (ΔmTSS >5) at Wk24 was more comparable between patients with high and low RF levels randomized to CZP+MTX (low RF: 1.0% vs high RF: 0.0%) and was numerically lower than with PBO+MTX (2.8% vs 6.5%) and this pattern was maintained through Wk52. Clinical outcomes were generally favorable with PBO+MTX, but better with CZP+MTX.

Conclusion: In MTX-naïve patients with early RA, radiographic progression was more similar between CZP+MTX-treated patients with high and low RF levels, and consistently numerically lower, than PBO+MTX-treated patients. Irrespective of RF level, CZP+MTX better attenuated than MTX alone and was associated with more favorable clinical outcomes. Our findings suggest that RF level does not adversely influence radiographic response to CZP+MTX.

Publication status:: Accepted

Peer review status:: Peer reviewed

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APA Style

Smolen, J. S., Taylor, P. C., Burmester, G., Tanaka, Y., Takeuchi, T., Curtis, J. R., Lopez‑Medina, C., Robinson, W. H., Huizinga, T., Mahoney, P., Lauwerys, B., Ufuktepe, B., & Mikuls, T. R. (2026). Certolizumab inhibits radiographic progression in patients with early rheumatoid arthritis and high rheumatoid factor levels: a pooled, post‑hoc analysis of the phase 3 C‑EARLY and C‑OPERA trials. Joint Bone Spine.

MLA Style

Smolen, JS, et al. “Certolizumab Inhibits Radiographic Progression in Patients with Early Rheumatoid Arthritis and High Rheumatoid Factor Levels: a Pooled, Post‑Hoc Analysis of the Phase 3 C‑EARLY and C‑OPERA Trials.” Joint Bone Spine, 2026.

Chicago Style

Smolen, JS, PC Taylor, G Burmester, et al. 2026. “Certolizumab Inhibits Radiographic Progression in Patients with Early Rheumatoid Arthritis and High Rheumatoid Factor Levels: a Pooled, Post‑Hoc Analysis of the Phase 3 C‑EARLY and C‑OPERA Trials.” Joint Bone Spine.
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