Effect of certolizumab pegol with methotrexate on home and work place productivity and social activities in patients with active rheumatoid arthritis.
OBJECTIVE
To assess the impact of certolizumab pegol (CZP), a novel PEGylated anti-tumor necrosis factor, in combination with methotrexate (MTX) on productivity outside and within the home, and on participation in family, social, and leisure activities in adult patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA).


METHODS
The efficacy and safety of CZP (200 mg and 400 mg) plus MTX were assessed in 2 phase III, multicenter, double-blind, placebo-controlled trials (Rheumatoid Arthritis Prevention of Structural Damage [RAPID] 1 and RAPID 2). The novel, validated, RA-specific Work Productivity Survey (WPS-RA) was used to assess work place and home productivity. WPS-RA responses were collected at baseline and every 4 weeks until withdrawal/study completion.


RESULTS
At baseline, 41.6% and 39.8% of subjects were employed outside the home in RAPID 1 and RAPID 2, respectively. Compared with placebo plus MTX, CZP plus MTX significantly reduced work absenteeism and presenteeism among patients working outside the home. Significant reductions in number of household days lost, household days with productivity reduced by >/=50%, and days lost due to RA for participation in family, social, and leisure activities were reported by patients in active treatment relative to placebo plus MTX. Improvements in all measures were observed with CZP plus MTX as early as week 4, and maintained until the study end (12 months in RAPID 1, 6 months in RAPID 2). Findings were consistent with clinical improvements with CZP plus MTX in both trials.


CONCLUSIONS
CZP plus MTX improved productivity outside and within the home and resulted in more participation in social activities compared with placebo plus MTX. These observations suggest that considerable indirect cost gains might be achieved with this therapeutic agent in RA.
Kavanaugh
Arthur
A
Center for Innovative Therapy, University of California, San Diego, Division of Rheumatology, Allergy and Immunology, 9500 Gilman Drive, Mail Code 0943, La Jolla, CA 92093-0943, USA. akavanaugh@ucsd.edu
Smolen
Josef S
JS
Emery
Paul
P
Purcaru
Oana
O
Keystone
Edward
E
Richard
Lance
L
Strand
Vibeke
V
van Vollenhoven
Ronald F
RF
D000041:Absenteeism; D000328:Adult; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; D018501:Antirheumatic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D000068582:Certolizumab Pegol; D017281:Cost of Illness; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D004526:Efficiency; D004651:Employment; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007140:Immunoglobulin Fab Fragments / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D007899:Leisure Activities; D008297:Male; D008727:Methotrexate / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D008875:Middle Aged; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D012919:Social Behavior
D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; D018501:Antirheumatic Agents; D007140:Immunoglobulin Fab Fragments; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols; D000068582:Certolizumab Pegol; D008727:Methotrexate