Comparison of Complarate® (Tocilizumab Biosimilar) and Actemra® in Patients With Rheumatoid Arthritis

Complarate® (INN: tocilizumab) is being developed as a biosimilar to the drug Actemra®, a concentrate for the preparation of a solution for infusion.

Tocilizumab is a recombinant humanized monoclonal antibody to the human interleukin-6 (IL-6) receptor from the immunoglobulin G1 (IgG1) subclass of immunoglobulins. Tocilizumab binds to and inhibits both soluble and membrane IL-6 receptors.

This III phase study is aimed to compare the effectiveness, safety and immunogenicity of Complarate® and Actemra®. The study included patients aged 18-75 years at the time of signing the informed consent form with a documented diagnosis of rheumatoid artritis, established according to the 2010 ACR/EULAR classification criteria, at least 6 months before screening, with moderate or high degree of disease activity and insufficient response to methotrexate monotherapy (preservation of moderate/high disease activity for at least 3 months) and/or poor tolerability of methotrexate (including the subcutaneous form of the drug) and/or insufficient response to or intolerance to other synthetic disease-modifying anti-inflammatory drugs (sDMARDs) with or without methotrexate inclusive, who meet all criteria for participation in the study. The study included a screening period and a treatment period. Allocation of patients to treatment groups was carried out by randomization in a ratio of 2:1 to the study drug (Complarate®) and comparator drug (Actemra®). 465 patients (310 to the study drug group and 155 to the comparator drug group) were randomized.

Inclusion criteria

• Availability of written informed consent obtained from the patient before the start of any procedures related to the study.
• Men and women 18-75 years of age, inclusive, at the time of signing the informed consent form.
• Patients with a documented diagnosis of rheumatoid artritis (RA), established according to the 2010 ACR/EULAR classification criteria at least 6 months before screening, with moderate to high disease activity and an insufficient response to methotrexate monotherapy (maintaining moderate/high disease activity for at least 3 months) and/or poor tolerability of methotrexate (including the subcutaneous form of the drug) and/or insufficient response to or intolerance to other synthetic disease-modifying anti-inflammatory drugs (sDMARDs) in combination with methotrexate or without methotrexate.
• The number of swollen and/or painful joints is 6 or more.
• No changes in the dosage regimen of standard RA therapy with oral glucocorticosteroids and NSAIDs for ≥ 4 weeks before screening.
• No changes in the dosing regimen of standard RA sDMARD therapy for ≥ 4 weeks before screening.
• Agreement to adhere to adequate methods of contraception throughout the study and for 3 months after the end of tocilizumab therapy.

Exclusion criteria

• A history of rheumatic autoimmune disease other than rheumatoid arthritis.
• Functional Class IV according to the ACR Functional Status Classification or wheelchair/bedridden.
• Development of pronounced extra-articular (systemic) manifestations of the disease and complications (rheumatoid vasculitis, amyloidosis, Felty's syndrome, neuropathy, damage to the organ of vision).
• Use of oral corticosteroids in doses greater than >10 mg daily prednisolone equivalent, or change in oral corticosteroid dose within 4 weeks before or during screening.
• Use of injectable corticosteroids (including intra-articular corticosteroids) or intra-articular hyaluronic acid injections within 4 weeks before or during screening.
• Therapy with tumor necrosis factor-alfa (TNF-alpha) inhibitors or any other genetically engineered biological drugs within 1 month before screening.
• History of tocilizumab therapy.
• Major surgery (including joint surgery) within 8 weeks before the start of the study or elective surgery within 6 months after the start of the study.
• A history of an adverse drug reaction to any of the components of the study drug or a reference drug.
• Immunization with any live or live attenuated vaccine within 1 month before the first dose of the study or comparator drug.
• A history of a disease associated with the accumulation of immune complexes (including serum sickness).
• Concomitant diseases and conditions that, in the opinion of the Investigator and/or Sponsor, jeopardize the safety of the patient during participation in the study, or which will influence the analysis of safety data.
• Active systemic infection (bacterial, viral or fungal) within 14 days before signing the informed consent form or at the time of screening.
• Blood donation or blood loss (450 ml of blood or more) less than 2 months before the start of the study.
• Pregnancy or breastfeeding.
• History of demyelinating disease of the central nervous system.
• History of diverticulosis/intestinal diverticulitis or chronic ulcerative diseases of the lower gastrointestinal tract, such as Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis.
• History of tuberculosis.
• Positive/doubtful test with tuberculosis allergen.
• Participation in clinical trials of drugs less than 3 months before signing the informed consent form.
• Positive tests for hepatitis B or C, HIV or syphilis.
• Unwillingness or inability to comply with the recommendations prescribed by this protocol.
• Identification during screening of other diseases/conditions not listed above that, in the opinion of the physician-researcher, prevent the inclusion of the patient in the study.