A Study to Evaluate Rituximab in Combination With Methotrexate in Methotrexate-Naive Patients With Active Rheumatoid Arthritis

Rate of progression in structural joint damage (PJD) by change in Total Modified Sharp Score (TMSS) from screening to Week 52 in the modified intent-to-treat (MITT) population. TMSS is the sum of the erosion score (ES) and the joint space narrowing (JSN) score and has a range of 0 to 398. The ES is the sum of joint scores collected for 46 joints and has a range of 0 to 230. The JSN is the sum of joint scores collected for 42 joints and has a range of 0 to 168. A score of 0 would indicate no change and higher scores represent a worsening of joint erosions and joint space narrowing.

Rate of progression in structural joint damage (PJD) by change in modified Sharp erosion score from screening to Week 52. The ES is the sum of joint scores collected for 46 joints and has a range of 0 to 230. A score of 0 would indicate no change and higher scores represent a worsening of joint erosions.

Percentage of patients without radiographic progression at Week 52, defined as change in total modified Sharp score (TMSS) <= 0. TMSS is the sum of the erosion score (ES) and the joint space narrowing (JSN) score and has a range of 0 to 398. The ES is the sum of joint scores collected for 46 joints and has a range of 0 to 230. The JSN is the sum of joint scores collected for 42 joints and has a range of 0 to 168. A score of 0 would indicate no change.

No radiographic progression is defined as a change in the total erosion score at Week 52 of less than or equal to zero.

Rate of progression in structural joint damage (PJD) by change in modified joint space narrowing (JSN) from screening to Week 52. The JSN is the sum of joint scores collected for 42 joints and has a range of 0 to 168. A score of 0 would indicate no change and higher scores represent a worsening of joint space narrowing.

The modified total sharp score is the sum of the erosion score (ES) and the joint space narrowing (JSN) score and has a range of 0 to 398. The ES is the sum of joint scores collected for 46 joints and has a range of 0 to 230. The JSN is the sum of joint scores collected for 42 joints and has a range of 0 to 168. A score of 0 would indicate no change and higher scores represent a worsening of joint erosions and joint space narrowing.

Total Erosion Score is determined by evaluation of fourteen sites in each wrist and hand and six joints in each foot using an eight-point scale from 0 (normal: no erosions) to 3.5 (Very severe; erosions of 100% of the articular surfaces. The Total Erosion Score at Week 24 - Total Erosion Score at baseline is calculated.

Joint Space Narrowing is the sum of joint scores collected for 42 joints and has a range of 0 to 168. A score of 0 would indicate no change and higher scores represent a worsening of joint space narrowing.

Percentage of patients without radiographic progression at Week 24 defined as change in total modified Sharp score (TMSS) ≤ 0. TMSS is the sum of the erosion score (ES) and the joint space narrowing (JSN) score and has a range of 0 to 398. The ES is the sum of joint scores collected for 46 joints and has a range of 0 to 230. The JSN is the sum of joint scores collected for 42 joints and has a range of 0 to 168. A score of 0 would indicate no change.

To achieve an ACR50 response requires at least a 50% improvement compared with baseline in both Total Joint Count and Swollen Joint Count, as well as a 50% improvement in three of five additional measurements from:

• the physician's global assessment of disease activity
• patient's global assessment of disease activity
• patient's assessment of pain
• HAQ-DI (Health Assessment Questionnaire disability index)
• an acute phase reactant C-Reactive Protein (CRP). (If CRP was missing then Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate (ESR) was used if available.)

DAS28-ESR is calculated from the following formula:

(0.56 * TJC) + (0.28 * SJC) + (0.70 * ln ESR) + (0.014 * GH) TJC = tender joint count, based on 28 joints SJC = swollen joint count, based on 28 joints ESR = erythrocyte sedimentation rate in mm/h GH = patient's global assessment of disease activity A DAS28-ESR score of 5.1 or above is considered to indicate high disease activity. Patients can also be defined as having low disease activity (DAS28-ESR ≤ 3.2) or remission (DAS28-ESR < 2.6).

To achieve an ACR70 response requires at least a 70% improvement compared with baseline in both Total Joint Count and Swollen Joint Count, as well as a 70% improvement in three of five additional measurements from:

• the physician's global assessment of disease activity
• patient's global assessment of disease activity
• patient's assessment of pain
• HAQ-DI (Health Assessment Questionnaire disability index)
• an acute phase reactant C-Reactive Protein (CRP). (If CRP was missing then Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate (ESR) was used if available.)

The DAS28-4(ESR) score is a measure of the subject's disease activity. It is based on the tender joint count (28 joints), swollen joint count (28 joints), patient's global assessment of disease activity (mm), and ESR. DAS28-4(ESR) scores range from 0 - 10.

Remission is defined as achieving a DAS28-ESR score of less than 2.6

European League Against Rheumatism (EULAR) criteria reflects an improvement in disease activity and an attainment of a lower degree of disease activity. A good response is defined as an improvement in the DAS28-ESR of > 1.2 compared with baseline, and attainment of a DAS28-ESR of < 3.2.

Major clinical response is defined as a continuous six-month period of success by the ACR70.

ACR70= 70% improvement compared with baseline in both Total Joint Count and Swollen Joint Count, as well as a 70% improvement in 3 of five additional measurements from:

• the physician's global assessment of disease activity
• patient's global assessment of disease activity
• patient's assessment of pain
• HAQ-DI (Health Assessment Questionnaire disability index)
• an acute phase reactant C-Reactive Protein (CRP). (If CRP was missing then Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate (ESR) was used if available.)

The DAS28-4(ESR) score is a measure of the subject's disease activity. It is based on the tender joint count (28 joints), swollen joint count (28 joints), patient's global assessment of disease activity (mm), and ESR. DAS28-4(ESR) scores range from 0 - 10.

Low disease activity is defined as achieving a DAS28-ESR score of less than or equal to 3.2

To achieve an ACR20 response requires at least a 20% improvement compared with baseline in both Total Joint Count and Swollen Joint Count, as well as a 20% improvement in three of five additional measurements from:

• the physician's global assessment of disease activity
• patient's global assessment of disease activity
• patient's assessment of pain
• HAQ-DI (Health Assessment Questionnaire disability index)
• an acute phase reactant C-Reactive Protein (CRP). (If CRP was missing then Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate (ESR) was used if available.)

To achieve an ACR90 response requires at least a 90% improvement compared with baseline in both Total Joint Count and Swollen Joint Count, as well as a 90% improvement in three of five additional measurements from:

• the physician's global assessment of disease activity
• patient's global assessment of disease activity
• patient's assessment of pain
• HAQ-DI (Health Assessment Questionnaire disability index)
• an acute phase reactant C-Reactive Protein (CRP). (If CRP was missing then Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate (ESR) was used if available.)

FACIT-F is a 13-item questionnaire. Patients scored each item on a 5-point scale: 0 (Not at all) to 4 (Very much). The larger the patient's response to the questions (with the exception of 2 negatively stated), the greater the patient's fatigue. For all questions, except for the 2 negatively stated ones, the code was reversed and a new score was calculated as (4 minus the patient's response). 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 patient's health status.

The Stanford Health Assessment Questionnaire disability index (HAQ-DI) is a patient completed questionnaire specific for rheumatoid arthritis. It consists of 20 questions referring to 8 domains: dressing/grooming, arising, eating, walking, hygiene, reach, grip,and common daily activities. Each domain has at least two component questions. There are four possible responses for each component ranging from 0(without any difficulty) to 4 (unable to do).HAQ-DI=sum of worst scores in each domain divided by the number of domains answered. A negative change from baseline indicates improvement.

The SF-36 is a questionnaire used to assess physical functioning and is made up of eight domains: Physical Functioning, Role Physical, Bodily Pain, General Health, Vitality, Social Functioning, Role-Emotional and Mental Health. Transforming and standardizing these domains leads to the calculation of the Physical (PCS) and Mental (MCS) Component Summary measures. Scores ranging from 0 to 100, with 0=worst score (or quality of life) and 100=best score. A positive change from baseline indicates improvement.

Means are adjusted for baseline value, Rheumatoid Factor status and region.

The SF-36 is a questionnaire used to assess physical functioning and is made up of eight domains: Physical Functioning, Role Physical, Bodily Pain, General Health, Vitality, Social Functioning, Role-Emotional and Mental Health. Transforming and standardizing these domains leads to the calculation of the Physical (PCS) and Mental (MCS) Component Summary measures. Scores ranging from 0 to 100, with 0=worst score (or quality of life) and 100=best score. A positive change from baseline indicates improvement.

Means are adjusted for baseline value, Rheumatoid Factor status and region.

The Stanford Health Assessment Questionnaire disability index (HAQ-DI) is a patient completed questionnaire specific for rheumatoid arthritis. It consists of 20 questions referring to 8 domains: dressing/grooming, arising, eating, walking, hygiene, reach, grip, and common daily activities. Each domain has at least two component questions. There are four possible responses for each component on a scale of 0 (without difficulty) to 3 (unable to do). Higher scores=greater dysfunction.

Improved:HAQ-DI score change <=-0.22 Unchanged:HAQ-DI score change -0.22 to 0.22 Worsened:HAQ score => 0.22

MCID is defined as a change from baseline in SF-36 Physical Health Component Score of >5.42.

SF-36 is a questionnaire used to assess physical functioning and is made up of eight domains: Physical Functioning, Role Physical, Bodily Pain, General Health, Vitality, Social Functioning, Role-Emotional and Mental Health. Transforming and standardizing these domains leads to the calculation of the Physical (PCS) and Mental (MCS) Component Summary measures. Scores ranging from 0 to 100, with 0=worst score (or quality of life) and 100=best score. A positive change from baseline indicates improvement.

MCID is defined as a change from baseline in SF-36 Mental Health Component Score of >6.33.

SF-36 is a questionnaire used to assess physical functioning and is made up of eight domains: Physical Functioning, Role Physical, Bodily Pain, General Health, Vitality, Social Functioning, Role-Emotional and Mental Health. Transforming and standardizing these domains leads to the calculation of the Physical (PCS) and Mental (MCS) Component Summary measures. Scores ranging from 0 to 100, with 0=worst score (or quality of life) and 100=best score. A positive change from baseline indicates improvement.

The modified total sharp score is the sum of the erosion score (ES) and the joint space narrowing (JSN) score and has a range of 0 to 398. The ES is the sum of joint scores collected for 46 joints and has a range of 0 to 230. The JSN is the sum of joint scores collected for 42 joints and has a range of 0 to 168. A score of 0 would indicate no change and higher scores represent a worsening of joint erosions and joint space narrowing.

Total Erosion Score is determined by evaluation of fourteen sites in each wrist and hand and six joints in each foot using an eight-point scale from 0 (normal: no erosions) to 3.5 (Very severe; erosions of 100% of the articular surfaces. The change from the score at baseline to week 104 is calculated.

Percentage of patients without radiographic progression at Week 104, defined as change in total modified Sharp score (TMSS) ≤ 0. TMSS is the sum of the erosion score (ES) and the joint space narrowing (JSN) score and has a range of 0 to 398. The ES is the sum of joint scores collected for 46 joints and has a range of 0 to 230. The JSN is the sum of joint scores collected for 42 joints and has a range of 0 to 168. A score of 0 would indicate no change.

Total Erosion Score is determined by evaluation of fourteen sites in each wrist and hand and six joints in each foot using an eight-point scale from 0 (normal: no erosions) to 3.5 (Very severe; erosions of 100% of the articular surfaces. The score at baseline is compared to the score at week 104.

No progression is defined as a change from score at screening to week 104 ≤0.

The Stanford Health Assessment Questionnaire disability index (HAQ-DI) is a patient completed questionnaire specific for rheumatoid arthritis. It consists of 20 questions referring to 8 domains: dressing/grooming, arising, eating, walking, hygiene, reach, grip and common daily activities. Each domain has at least two component questions. There are four possible responses for each component ranging from 0(without any difficulty) to 4 (unable to do). HAQ-DI=sum of worst scores in each domain divided by the number of domains answered. A negative change from baseline indicates improvement.