Certolizumab pegol, abatacept, tocilizumab or active conventional therapy in early rheumatoid arthritis: 48-week patient-reported outcomes from the NORD-STAR trial
Authors' conclusion
All treatment groups showed substantial improvements in patient-reported outcomes over time. Biological DMARDs produced somewhat greater gains in pain, fatigue, and physical quality of life measures than conventional treatments, though overall differences between groups were small.
Study context
- Population
- Newly diagnosed DMARD-naive patients aged ≥18 years with RA (2010 ACR/EULAR criteria), symptom duration <24 months, 29 centres in Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, Sweden and the Netherlands795 ITT
- Participants
- 812 participants
- Comparison
- Active conventional treatment vs certolizumab pegol, abatacept or tocilizumab (each plus MTX)
- Active conventional treatmentn = 200reference
- Certolizumab pegoln = 203
- Abataceptn = 204
- Tocilizumabn = 188
- Primary endpoint
- Patient-reported outcomes:
- Pain
- PGA
- HAQ-DI
- Fatigue
- SF-36
- Morning stiffness
- Patient's acceptable symptom state
- Follow-up
- 48 weeks
Methodological detailsinvestigator-initiated, open-label, multicentre (29 rheumatology centres), Lived experience involvement in design and implementation
- Investigator-initiated
- Open-label
- Multicentre (29 rheumatology centres)
- Lived experience involvement in design and implementation
Primary result
As reported in the abstract
Pain improvement exceeding minimal clinically important difference (MCID)
Original publication
Certolizumab pegol, abatacept, tocilizumab or active conventional therapy in early rheumatoid arthritis: 48-week patient-reported outcomes from the NORD-STAR trial. Lancet Rheumatol. Published April 2026. doi:10.
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