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Recruiting Phase 4 NCT02714634

NCT02714634 Clinical Trial Evaluating Methotrexate or Leflunomide + Targeted Therapy Versus Methotrexate or Leflunomide + Sulfasalazine + Hydroxychloroquine in Patients With Rheumatoid Arthritis and Insufficient Response to Methotrexate or Leflunomide

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Clinical Trial Summary
NCT ID NCT02714634
Status Recruiting
Phase Phase 4
Sponsor University Hospital, Strasbourg, France
Condition Rheumatoid Arthritis
Study Type INTERVENTIONAL
Enrollment 286 participants
Start Date 2016-03-30
Primary Completion 2029-03

Eligibility & Interventions

Sex All sexes
Min Age 18 Years
Max Age N/A
Study Type INTERVENTIONAL
Interventions
Methotrexate + targeted therapy administrationmethotrexate or leflunomide + sulfasalazine + hydroxychloroquine administration

Eligibility Fast-Check

Enter your details for a quick preliminary check. This does not replace medical advice.

What to Expect as a Participant

You will actively receive the study intervention — which may be a drug, biologic, device, or procedure.

Phase 4 studies follow an already-approved treatment in real-world conditions to monitor long-term safety and effectiveness.

This trial targets 286 participants in total. It began in 2016-03-30 with a primary completion date of 2029-03.

⚠ This information is for research awareness only. Always consult your physician before joining any clinical trial. Participation is voluntary and you may withdraw at any time.

Brief Summary

Approximately, 40 to 50% of patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), the most frequent inflammatory arthritide, are non responders to the consensual 1st line of treatment : methotrexate. In these patients, it is well demonstrated that the addition of other immunomodulatory drug(s) often results in a significant improvement. However, the best option regarding the drug(s) to add remains unclear. Rheumatologists are currently used to adding a targeted therapy, such as anti-TNFα, and more recently abatacept or tocilizumab. Triple therapy using 3 conventional disease-modifying drugs (DMARDs), methotrexate or leflunomide+salazopyrine+hydroxychloroquine could be an alternative option to targeted therapies, all the more as they have a more favorable safety profile and a much lower cost. Uncertainty remains regarding the superiority of targeted therapies on triple therapy in methotrexate or leflunomide insufficient responders (IR). Investigators decided to address this issue by performing a randomized controlled pragmatic trial.

Eligibility Criteria

Inclusion Criteria: * Patient with rheumatoid arthritis according to EULAR/ACR 2010 criteria * DAS28-CRP\>3.2 * Insufficient response to methotrexate at a weekly dose≥15mg after at least 3 months or to leflunomide at a dose of 10 (in case 20 mg are not well tolerated) to 20 mg per day after 3 months of treatment * RA radiographic erosions and/or serum rheumatoid factor associated to anti-Cyclic Citrullinated Peptide (Anti-CCP) * Age greater or equal to 18 years * Written informed consent, dated and signed before initiating any trial-related procedure * Affiliation to a social insurance system * Women of child bearing potential, negative β-HCG assay (Human chorionic gonadotropin) * Effective method of birth control during the study and continuing after the discontinuation of the investigational drug or study. The duration will depend on the drug used (referred to the summary product characteristic). Exclusion Criteria: * Previous treatment with or contraindication to targeted therapies (biologic or JAK/STAT inhibitor) * Previous treatment with triple therapy * Other inflammatory arthritis except RA associated with Sjögren's syndrome * Contraindication to all biologics/ JAK/STAT inhibitors or to methotrexate, leflunomide, sulfasalazine and hydroxychloroquine * Corticosteroids at a dose \>15 mg/d of equivalent prednisone for at least 4 weeks before the inclusion * Absence of tuberculosis screening * Patient who cannot be followed during 12 months * Pregnancy, breastfeeding, desire of pregnancy in the 12 months * Drug addiction, addiction to alcohol * Participation in a clinical study with an investigational product within 4 weeks prior to the start of the study treatment * Women of child bearing potential, unless they are using an effective method of birth control * Patient under law protection * Prisoners

Contact & Investigator

Central Contact

Jacques-Eric GOTTENBERG, Professor

✉ jacques-eric.gottenberg@chru-strasbourg.fr

📞 3 88 12 79 53

Frequently Asked Questions

Who can join the NCT02714634 clinical trial?

This trial is open to participants of all sexes, aged 18 Years or older, studying Rheumatoid Arthritis. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria are listed in the Eligibility Criteria section. Always confirm your eligibility with the research team before applying.

What phase is the NCT02714634 trial and what does that mean for participants?

Phase 4 studies are conducted after a treatment has been approved. They monitor long-term safety and real-world effectiveness in a broader patient population.

Is NCT02714634 currently recruiting?

Yes, NCT02714634 is actively recruiting participants. Contact the research team at jacques-eric.gottenberg@chru-strasbourg.fr for enrollment information.

Where is the NCT02714634 trial being conducted?

This trial is being conducted at Strasbourg, France.

Who is sponsoring the NCT02714634 clinical trial?

NCT02714634 is sponsored by University Hospital, Strasbourg, France. The trial plans to enroll 286 participants.

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ClinicalMetric — Independent clinical trial intelligence platform. Not affiliated with NIH, ClinicalTrials.gov, the U.S. FDA, or any pharmaceutical company, hospital, or clinical research organization. Trial data is sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Do not make any treatment, enrollment, or health decisions based solely on information found here — always consult a qualified healthcare professional. Full Disclaimer  ·  Last Reviewed: April 2026  ·  Data Methodology