UCB announced pivotal RAPID 1 (RA PreventIon of structural Damage) data published in Arthritis & Rheumatism shows Cimzia (certolizumab pegol), the only PEGylated anti-TNF (Tumour Necrosis Factor alpha), together with methotrexate (MTX), rapidly reduced symptoms of disease and inhibited progression of joint damage in adult patients with active rheumatoid arthritis (RA), with sustained results for up to one year.

"In the RAPID 1 study Cimzia, together with MTX, had a rapid onset of action and inhibited structural damage early in adults with rheumatoid arthritis. This demonstrated a clear therapeutic benefit for patients with a reduction in swollen and tender joints, pain and fatigue as early as one week after treatment, and signs of preventing long-term structural damage by 16 weeks," said lead investigator Edward Keystone, The Rebecca MacDonald Center for Arthritis, Mount Sinai Hospital, The University of Toronto.

The one year study showed Cimzia, together with MTX, had a rapid and significant effect in reducing the signs and symptoms of active RA as early as week one and shown by a significant difference in ACR20 and 50 responses with Cimzia compared with placebo, by week-1 and week-2 respectively (p<0.001 and p<0.01). Peak responses achieved at 12 and 14 weeks were sustained throughout the study.

Patients treated with Cimzia, together with MTX, experienced significant improvements in physical function and quality of life from week-1 and sustained for up to one year, measured by mean change from baseline in HAQ-DI (p<0.001).

Radiographic data showed Cimzia, together with MTX, inhibited progression of RA, with a significantly smaller change from baseline in modified Total Sharp Score (TSS) at 24 and 52 weeks of treatment, compared with MTX alone (p<0.001). A significant difference between patients on Cimzia, together with MTX, and placebo was observed as early as 16 weeks in clinical non-responders (p<0.001).

"Cimzia is the first anti-TNF to demonstrate such early results in disease progression. UCB looks forward to bringing these benefits to people who suffer from RA once the regulatory review process is completed," said Iris Loew-Friedrich, chief medical officer, UCB.

RAPID 1 and a simultaneous study, RAPID 2, are the first large, placebo-controlled phase-III trials demonstrating the efficacy and tolerability of Cimzia in the treatment of RA, as part of clinical trials programme involving more than 2,300 patients.

Pooled safety data from both studies showed Cimzia was generally well tolerated with a low incidence of injection site pain (n=<3 new cases /100 years) and discontinuations due to adverse events (AEs). The most commonly occurring AEs were headache, nasopharyngitis, and upper respiratory tract infections. Reported serious adverse reactions were infections (including tuberculosis) and malignancies (including lymphoma), consistent with findings from other trials in the anti-TNF class.

"With more than five million people suffering from RA across the globe, RAPID 1 showed that, upon successful regulatory review, Cimzia can provide a treatment option for patients seeking a rapid and effective therapy to manage this debilitating condition," said principle investigator Professor Bernard Combe, Montpellier University Hospital, France.

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) accepted a Biologics License Application for Cimzia for the treatment of adult patients with active RA in February 2008. UCB submitted a Marketing Authorisation Application to the European Medicines Agency in June 2008 requesting the approval of Cimzia as a subcutaneous treatment for adults with moderate to severe active RA.

Cimzia is the only PEGylated anti-TNF (Tumour Necrosis Factor). Cimzia has a high affinity for human TNF-alpha, selectively neutralizing the pathophysiological effects of TNF-alpha.

UCB is a global leader in the biopharmaceutical industry dedicated to the research, development and commercialization of innovative medicines with focus on the fields of central nervous system and immunology disorders.