The between-group difference in restricted mean arthritis-free survival time seen at two years persisted at four years<\/p>\n<\/h3>\n
By Elana Gotkine HealthDay Reporter<\/b>
\n<\/b><\/p>\n
FRIDAY, Jan. 23, 2026 (HealthDay News) — One-year treatment with abatacept delays progression to rheumatoid arthritis for up to four years among at-risk patients, according to a study published online Jan. 20 in The Lancet Rheumatology<\/em>.<\/p>\n Andrew P. Cope, M.D., from King’s College London, and colleagues recruited 213 anticitrullinated protein antibody-positive individuals with arthralgia to a phase 2b randomized controlled trial (the Arthritis Prevention In the Preclinical Phase of Rheumatoid arthritis with Abatacept [APIPPRA]). Participants were randomly assigned to receive 52 weekly subcutaneous injections of 125 mg abatacept or placebo (110 and 103 patients, respectively), with 52 weeks of follow-up. Follow-up was extended to between four and eight years in the APIPPRA Long-Term Outcome (ALTO) study; 143 APIPPRA participants were enrolled in ALTO: 71 and 72 in the abatacept and placebo groups, respectively.<\/p>\n The researchers observed an increase of 54 primary events to 119. The initial between-group difference in restricted mean arthritis-free survival time, which was observed at two years, persisted at four years (4.9 months); over time, the magnitude of the difference diminished. No significant between-group differences were seen in assessments of disease activity and patient-reported outcomes beyond the treatment period. Participants with a broad autoantibody profile at baseline had the highest risk for progressing, but they had better response to abatacept.<\/p>\n “We have shown that this approach is safe and can prevent disease while patients are on treatment as well as substantially relieve symptoms,” Cope said in a statement. “Importantly, it can also delay the onset of RA for several years, even after treatment has stopped.”<\/p>\n Several authors disclosed ties to biopharmaceutical companies, including Bristol Myers Squibb, which manufactures abatacept and funded the study.<\/p>\n Abstract\/Full Text<\/a><\/p>\n Editorial (subscription or payment may be required)<\/a><\/p>\n