Ann: Headline Clinical Trial Results , page-20

Methotrexate

I can't understand why the Placebo used was actually the 'first-line therapy for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis'


Here is an extract from Wiki:

'It is used as a treatment for some autoimmune diseases including: rheumatoid arthritis,psoriasis, psoriatic arthritis, and Crohn's disease, to name a few. Although methotrexate was originally designed as a chemotherapy drug (in high doses), in low-doses methotrexate is a safe and well tolerated drug in the treatment of certain autoimmune diseases. Because of its efficacy and safety, low-dose methotrexate is now first-line therapy for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis.[2][3] Indeed, multiple studies and reviews showed that patients receiving methotrexate for up to 1 year had less pain, functioned better, had fewer swollen and tender joints, and had less disease activity overall as reported by themselves and their doctors. X-rays also showed that the progress of the disease slowed or stopped in many patients receiving methotrexate.[4]'