A Study of the Safety and Effectiveness of Infliximab (Remicade) in Patients With Rheumatoid Arthritis.

This is a randomized (patients are assigned different treatments based on chance), double-blind (neither the patient nor the physician knows whether drug or placebo is being taken, or at what dosage) trial of the safety of anti-tumor necrosis factor (TNF) chimeric monoclonal antibody (Infliximab) in combination with methotrexate (MTX) compared to methotrexate alone in patients with rheumatoid arthritis on standard disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drug background therapy. The purpose of the study is to better understand the safety and occurrence of infections in patients treated with either placebo or 3 mg/kg and 10 mg/kg of infliximab in combination with methotrexate (MTX).

Patients will receive infusions of either placebo or 3 to 10mg/kg Infliximab at weeks 0, 2, 6, and 14 then every 8 weeks through week 46.

Safety evaluations will be performed at specified intervals throughout the study and will consist of laboratory tests, vital signs (such as blood pressure), physical examinations and the occurrence and severity of adverse events as well as other study specific procedures. Patients will receive 3 to10mg/kg Infliximab (Remicade) or placebo via infusion at weeks 0, 2, 6, and 14 then every 8 weeks through week 46.

Inclusion criteria

• Patients must have a diagnosis of Rheumatoid Arthritis at least 3 months before screening
• If the patient is of childbearing potential, must have been using adequate birth control measures
• Patients must be receiving MTX for =3 months before randomization and at a stable dose(=25 mg/week) for =4 weeks before randomization

Exclusion criteria

• Patients must not be pregnant, nursing, or planning a pregnancy within 18 months of enrollment
• Patients must not have rheumatic disease other than Rheumatoid Arthritis or had any systemic inflammatory condition
• Patients must not be confined to a wheelchair
• Patients must not be treated with any approved or investigational biologic agent except for approved vaccines for immunizations