In a study of tocilizumab versus methotrexate,26
tocilizumab monotherapy was associated
with superior ACR 20, ACR 50, and ACR 70
responses as compared with methotrexate monotherapy,
but radiographs were not obtained.
The structural joint preservation observed with
tofacitinib monotherapy in our trial extends the
results from the ORAL Scan study, which involved
patients who had rheumatoid arthritis and
an inadequate response to methotrexate. In that
study, tofacitinib was compared with placebo in
patients who were receiving background methotrexate
monotherapy.17 Our findings further establish
the structure-preserving effects of tofacitinib
at a dose of 5 mg or 10 mg twice daily