A Study to Assess the Effect of Tocilizumab Plus Methotrexate on Safety and Signs and Symptoms in Patients With Moderate to Severe Active Rheumatoid Arthritis

ACR20 and ACR70 are defined as 20 and 70 percent improvement respectively in: a) SJC and TJC and b) Three of the following 5 assessments:

1. Participant's global assessment of pain by VAS
2. Participant's global assessment of disease activity (VAS)
3. Investigator/Physician's global assessment of disease activity (VAS)
4. Participant's assessment of disability measured by HAQ-DI
5. Acute phase reactant (ESR or CRP)

ACR20, ACR50 and ACR70 are defined as 20, 50 and 70 percent improvement respectively in: a) SJC and TJC and b) Three of the following 5 assessments:

1. Participant's global assessment of pain by VAS
2. Participant's global assessment of disease activity (VAS)
3. Investigator/Physician's global assessment of disease activity (VAS)
4. Participant's assessment of disability measured by HAQ-DI
5. Acute phase reactant (ESR or CRP)

The number of swollen joints (66 joint count) were scored as swollen=1 and not swollen=0, and the number of tender joints (68 joint count ) were scored as tender=1 and not tender=0, and counted. Scores ranged from 0 to 66 for swollen joint counts and from 0 to 68 for tender joint counts. A positive change from baseline represents an improvement (a reduction in the number of swollen or tender joints).

The number of swollen joints (66 joint count) were scored as swollen=1 and not swollen=0, and the number of tender joints (68 joint count ) were scored as tender=1 and not tender=0, and counted. Scores ranged from 0 to 66 for swollen joint counts and from 0 to 68 for tender joint counts. A positive change from baseline represents an improvement (a reduction in the number of swollen or tender joints).

The participants assessed their pain using a 0 to 100 millimeter (mm) VAS. The left-hand extreme of the line equals 0 mm, and is described as "no pain" and the right-hand extreme equals 100 mm as "unbearable pain". The participants marked the line corresponding to the level of their pain and the distance from the left edge was measured. A positive change from baseline represents an improvement.

The participants assessed their pain using a 0 to 100 millimeter (mm) VAS. The left-hand extreme of the line equals 0 mm, and is described as "no pain" and the right-hand extreme equals 100 mm as "unbearable pain". The participants marked the line corresponding to the level of their pain and the distance from the left edge was measured. A positive change from baseline represents an improvement.

The participant's global assessment of disease activity is assessed on a 0 to 100 mm horizontal VAS by the participant. The left-hand extreme of the line equals 0 mm, and is described as "no disease activity" (symptom-free and no arthritis symptoms) and the right-hand extreme equals 100 mm, as "maximum disease activity" (maximum arthritis disease activity). A positive change from baseline represents an improvement (reduced level of disease activity).

The participant's global assessment of disease activity is assessed on a 0 to 100 mm horizontal VAS by the participant. The left-hand extreme of the line equals 0 mm, and is described as "no disease activity" (symptom-free and no arthritis symptoms) and the right-hand extreme equals 100 mm, as "maximum disease activity" (maximum arthritis disease activity). A positive change from baseline represents an improvement (reduced level of disease activity).

The physician's global assessment of disease activity is assessed on a 0 to 100 mm VAS by the physician. The left-hand extreme of the line equals 0 mm, and is described as "no disease activity" (symptom-free and no arthritis symptoms) and the right-hand extreme equals 100 mm as "maximum disease activity" (maximum arthritis disease activity). The physicians marked the line corresponding to their assessment and the distance from the left edge was measured. A positive change from baseline represents an improvement (reduced level of disease activity).

The physician's global assessment of disease activity is assessed on a 0 to 100 mm VAS by the physician. The left-hand extreme of the line equals 0 mm, and is described as "no disease activity" (symptom-free and no arthritis symptoms) and the right-hand extreme equals 100 mm as "maximum disease activity" (maximum arthritis disease activity). The physicians marked the line corresponding to their assessment and the distance from the left edge was measured. A positive change from baseline represents an improvement (reduced level of disease activity).

HAQ-DI includes 20 questions concerning participant's activities of daily life, grouped in 8 scales of 2 to 3 questions for each activity. To respond to each question, a four-level response (score of 0 to 3 points), with higher scores showing larger functional limitations, was chosen. Scoring was as follows with respect to performance of participant's everyday activities: 0 =without difficulties; 1= with some difficulties; 2=with great difficulties; and 3= unable to perform these actions at all. Minimum score was 0, maximum score was 3. A positive change from baseline represents an improvement (reduced level of impairment).

HAQ-DI includes 20 questions concerning participant's activities of daily life, grouped in 8 scales of 2 to 3 questions for each activity. To respond to each question, a four-level response (score of 0 to 3 points), with higher scores showing larger functional limitations, was chosen. Scoring was as follows with respect to performance of participant's everyday activities: 0=without difficulties; 1=with some difficulties; 2=with great difficulties; and 3=unable to perform these actions at all. Minimum score was 0, maximum score was 3. A positive change from baseline represents an improvement (reduced level of impairment).

ACR-n was defined as the lowest of 3 values (the percent change in the swollen joint count, the percent change in the tender joint count, and the median of the other 5 measures in the ACR core data set which included Participant's global assessment of pain (VAS), Participant's global assessment of disease activity (VAS), Investigator/Physician's global assessment of disease activity (VAS), Participant's assessment of disability measured by the HAQ-DI Acute phase reactant levels - ESR or CRP). Therefore, a percentage value was assigned to each participant at each timepoint. AUC was calculated for each participant from baseline to Week 112. Mean and standard deviation values are are provided in percent*years.

ACR20 is defined as 20% improvement in: a) SJC and TJC and b) Three of the following 5 assessments:

1. Participant's global assessment of pain (VAS)
2. Participant's global assessment of disease activity (VAS)
3. Investigator/Physician's global assessment of disease activity (VAS)
4. Participant's assessment of disability measured by the HAQ-DI
5. Acute phase reactant levels - ESR or CRP

The probability of ACR positive response was determined using the GEE.

DAS28 calculated from the number of SJC and TJC using the 28 joints count, the ESR (mm/hour) and participant's global assessment of disease activity (participant rated arthritis activity assessment with transformed scores ranging 0 to 10; higher scores indicated greater affectation due to disease activity). DAS28 (less than or equal to ) ≤3.2 = low disease activity, DAS28 (greater than) >3.2 to 5.1 = moderate to high disease activity.

DAS28- based EULAR response criteria were used to measure individual response as none, good, and moderate, depending on the extent of change from baseline and the level of disease activity reached. Good response: change from baseline >1.2 with DAS28 < 3.2; moderate response: change from baseline >1.2 with DAS28 >3.2 to <5.1 or change from baseline >0.6 to <1.2 with DAS28 <5.1; No response: change from baseline < 0.6 or change from baseline >0.6 and <1.2 with DAS28 >5.1.

The AUC was computed using the trapezoidal rule, considering baseline value as 0, through NCSS software. For each participant, AUC for DAS28 units was calculated. Each individual AUC DAS28 value was divided by 52 to have the conversion of AUC DAS28 in unit weeks to AUC DAS28 in unit years, as 1 week is approximately 1/52 years. The set of individual AUC DAS28 was computed as summary statistics.

FACIT-F is a 13-item questionnaire. Participants scored each item on a 5-point scale: 0 (Not at all) to 4 (Very much). The larger the participant's response to the questions (with the exception of 2 negatively stated), the greater the participant's fatigue. The sum of all responses resulted in the FACIT-Fatigue score for a total possible score of 0 (worse score) to 52 (better score). A higher score reflects an improvement in the participant's health status.

DAS28 calculated from the SJC and TJC using the 28 joints count, the ESR (mm/hour) and participant's global assessment of disease activity (participant rated arthritis activity assessment with transformed scores ranging 0 to 10; higher scores indicated greater affectation due to disease activity). DAS28 (less than or equal to ) ≤3.2 = low disease activity, DAS28 (greater than) >3.2 to 5.1 = moderate to high disease activity and DAS28<2.6 = remission

SF-36 is a standardized survey evaluating 8 aspects of functional health and well-being: physical and social functioning, physical and emotional role limitations, bodily pain, general health, vitality, and mental health. Total of 3 variables were analyzed (2 composite subscales and vitality score). The score for a section is an average of the individual question scores, which are scaled 0-100 (100=highest level of functioning).