22 December 2011 - Belgian UCB (EBR:UCB) said on Wednesday it had initiated a head-to-head trial to assess the short- and long-term efficacy of Cimzia (certolizumab pegol) plus methotrexate (MTX) compared with that of Humira (adalimumab) plus MTX in the treatment of moderate to severe rheumatoid arthritis (RA).

The primary objectives of the study, dubbed EXXELERATE, are to compare the relative efficacy of the two anti-TNF therapies during short- and long-term treatment (12 and 104 weeks respectively).

While meta-analyses from placebo controlled trials suggest differences in efficacy among anti-TNFs in RA, results from the EXXELERATE study should help to provide additional insights to support the current lack of head-to-head data and to guide treatment decisions, said Dr Roy Fleischmann, Clinical Professor of Medicine, The University of Texas South Western Medical Centre, Dallas, Texas, US.