Comparing the effectiveness of morning and evening dosing of tofacitinib in inflammatory arthritis

ISRCTN ISRCTN68663074
DOI https://doi.org/10.1186/ISRCTN68663074
EudraCT/CTIS number 2021-004131-84
Secondary identifying numbers ChronIA001
Submission date
25/11/2021
Registration date
22/12/2021
Last edited
16/01/2025
Recruitment status
No longer recruiting
Overall study status
Ongoing
Condition category
Musculoskeletal Diseases
Prospectively registered
Protocol
Statistical analysis plan
Results
Individual participant data
Record updated in last year

Plain English summary of protocol

Background and study aims:
Circadian rhythms are physical, mental, and behavioral changes that follow a 24-hour cycle. Disruption of the circadian rhythm may lead to immune system dysregulation. In line with this, various inflammatory arthritis symptoms show a distinctive daily pattern, including pain and joint stiffness. However, in daily practice we often do not take advantage of these circadian rhythms, especially not with regard to treatment. The aim of this study is to compare the effectiveness of tofacitinib morning versus evening dosing in rheumatoid arthritis and psoriatic arthritis patients.

Who can participate?
Patients aged 18 years or older with rheumatoid arthritis or psoriatic arthritis with active disease

What does the study involve?
Patients are randomly allocated to morning or evening dosing of tofacitinib for 3 months, which is followed by switching to the other treatment schedule for the next 3 months. Patients will be assessed at the start of the study and after 1, 3 and 6 months of treatment. At each visit patients will fill out online questionnaires and are seen by the research nurse. Additional blood and faecal samples will be taken at the start of the study and after 1 month (only blood), 3 and 6 months. Finally, patients will wear an actigraph (like a wristwatch) on their wrist two times for 2 weeks at home. The actigraph will be picked up by the patient in the hospital 2 weeks before the visit.

What are the possible benefits and risks of participating?
If successful, this study will show the best dosing time of tofacitinib and could be a step towards the use of this treatment on a regular basis in daily practice. It may also help better address well-known problems such as morning stiffness and fatigue, which often persist after reaching low disease activity.
Tofacitinib is approved and used according to the label so evening dosing of tofacitinib should not lead to any greater risks compared to morning dosing (routine care).

Where is the study run from?
Erasmus Medical Center, Rotterdam (The Netherlands)

When is the study starting and how long is it expected to run for?
January 2021 to October 2026

Who is funding the study?
Pfizer B.V. (USA)

Who is the main contact?
Dr P.H.P. de Jong
p.h.p.dejong@erasmusmc.nl

Contact information

Dr Pascal de Jong
Scientific

Dr. Molewaterplein 40
Rotterdam
3015 GD
Netherlands

Phone +31 (0)10 7038251
Email p.h.p.dejong@erasmusmc.nl
Miss Selinde Snoeck Henkemans
Public

Dr. Molewaterplein 40
Rotterdam
3015 GD
Netherlands

Phone +31 (0)610641598
Email s.snoeckhenkemans@erasmusmc.nl

Study information

Study designOpen-label randomized controlled trial
Primary study designInterventional
Secondary study designRandomised controlled trial
Study setting(s)Hospital
Study typeTreatment
Participant information sheet Not available in web format, please use contact details to request a participant information sheet
Scientific titleChronotherapy in Inflammatory Arthritis: a randomized controlled trial comparing the effectiveness of morning and evening dosing of tofacitinib extended-release
Study acronymChronIA
Study objectivesEvening dosing of tofacitinib XR will lead to a lower (self-reported) disease activity and improve sleep quality, morning stiffness and pain compared to morning dosing, because it is better synced with the circadian rhythm of inflammatory cytokines.
Ethics approval(s)Approved 14/02/2022, Medisch Ethische Toetsings Commissie (METC) Erasmus Medical Center (Postbus 2040, 3000 CA Rotterdam, the Netherlands; +31 107033625; metc@erasmusmc.nl), ref: NL78735.078.21
Health condition(s) or problem(s) studiedInflammatory arthritis (rheumatoid arthritis and psoriatic arthritis)
InterventionPatients will be randomized using minimization randomization stratified for diagnosis and co-medication. Patients are randomized into morning or evening dosing of tofacitinib XR (11 mg q.d.) for 3 months, which is followed by switching to the alternate regimen for the next 3 months.
Intervention typeBiological/Vaccine
Pharmaceutical study type(s)
PhasePhase IV
Drug / device / biological / vaccine name(s)Tofacitinib extended release
Primary outcome measureDisease activity measured with the Routine Assessment of Patient Index Data 3 (RAPID3) at 3 months
Secondary outcome measuresCurrent secondary outcome measures as of 21/11/2023:
1. (Self-reported) disease activity (states) measured using Disease Activity Score (DAS) & Disease activity in PSoriatic Arthritis (DAPSA) at 3 and 6 months
2. Sleep measured using a sleep scale from the medical outcomes study (MOSS-ss) at 3 and 6 months
3. Morning stiffness (severity and duration) measured using a 10-point Likert scale at 3 and 6 months
4. Pain measured using a visual analogue scale (VAS) and the generalized pain questionnaire (GPQ) at 3 and 6 months
5. Fatigue measured using a visual analogue scale (VAS) and the Functional Assessment of Chronic Illness Therapy - Fatigue (FACIT-F) at 3 and 6 months
6. General health measured using a visual analogue scale (VAS) at 3 and 6 months
7. Functional ability measured using the health assessment questionnaire disability index (HAQ-DI) at 3 and 6 months
8. Quality of life measured using EuroQoL (EQ-5D-5L) at 3 and 6 months
9. Worker productivity measured using the Work Productivity and Activity Impairment (WPAI) at 3 and 6 months
10. Treatment satisfaction measured using a visual analogue scale (VAS) at 3 and 6 months
11. Compliance measured using the Medication Adherence Report Scale (MARS-5) at 3 and 6 months

Previous secondary outcome measures:
1. (Self-reported) disease activity (states) measured using Disease Activity Score (DAS) & Disease activity in PSoriatic Arthritis (DAPSA) at 3 and 6 months
2. Sleep measured using a sleep scale from the medical outcomes study (MOSS-ss) at 3 and 6 months
3. Morning stiffness (severity and duration) measured using a 10-point Likert scale at 3 and 6 months
4. Pain measured using a visual analogue scale (VAS) at 3 and 6 months
5. Fatigue measured using a visual analogue scale (VAS) and the Functional Assessment of Chronic Illness Therapy - Fatigue (FACIT-F) at 3 and 6 months
6. General health measured using a visual analogue scale (VAS) at 3 and 6 months
7. Functional ability measured using the health assessment questionnaire disability index (HAQ-DI) at 3 and 6 months
8. Quality of life measured using EuroQoL (EQ-5D-5L) at 3 and 6 months
9. Worker productivity measured using the Work Productivity and Activity Impairment (WPAI) at 3 and 6 months
10. Treatment satisfaction measured using a visual analogue scale (VAS) at 3 and 6 months
11. Compliance measured using the Medication Adherence Report Scale (MARS-5) at 3 and 6 months
Overall study start date01/01/2021
Completion date31/10/2026

Eligibility

Participant type(s)Patient
Age groupAdult
Lower age limit18 Years
SexBoth
Target number of participants84
Key inclusion criteriaCurrent inclusion criteria as of 21/11/2023:
1. Age ≥18 years
2. Diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) or psoriatic arthritis (PsA), according to respectively the American College of Rheumatology (ACR)/European League Against Rheumatism (EULAR) 2010 criteria for RA and ClASsification for Psoriatic ARthritis (CASPAR) criteria
3. Active disease, defined as a Disease Activity Score (DAS) >2.4 or Disease Activity in PSoriatic Arthritis (DAPSA) score >14

Previous inclusion criteria:
1. Age ≥18 years
2. Diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) or psoriatic arthritis (PsA), according to respectively the American College of Rheumatology (ACR)/European League Against Rheumatism (EULAR) 2010 criteria for RA and ClASsification for Psoriatic ARthritis (CASPAR) criteria
3. Active disease, defined as a Disease Activity Score (DAS) >2.4 or Disease Activity in PSoriatic Arthritis (DAPSA) score >14
4. Biological disease-modifying antirheumatic drug (bDMARD) usage <3
Key exclusion criteria1. Current or previous treatment with a targeted synthetic (ts)DMARD
2. Prednisone (or equivalent) at a dose of >7.5 mg
3. (Relative) contraindications for the study medication
4. Work in shifts
5. Not being able to understand, speak and write in Dutch
Date of first enrolment01/03/2022
Date of final enrolment31/12/2024

Locations

Countries of recruitment

  • Netherlands

Study participating centres

Erasmus Medical Center
Doctor Molewaterplein 40
Rotterdam
3015 GD
Netherlands
IJsselland Hospital
Prins Constantijnweg 2
Capelle aan den IJssel
2906 ZC
Netherlands

Sponsor information

Erasmus MC
Hospital/treatment centre

Dr. Molewaterplein 40
Rotterdam
3015 GD
Netherlands

Phone +31 (0)107034694
Email r.dolhain@erasmusmc.nl
Website https://www.erasmusmc.nl/en/research/departments/rheumatology
ROR logo "ROR" https://ror.org/018906e22

Funders

Funder type

Industry

Pfizer
Government organisation / For-profit companies (industry)
Alternative name(s)
Pfizer Inc., Pfizer Consumer Healthcare, Davis, Charles Pfizer & Company, Warner-Lambert, King Pharmaceuticals, Wyeth Pharmaceuticals, Seagen
Location
United States of America

Results and Publications

Intention to publish date31/12/2027
Individual participant data (IPD) Intention to shareNo
IPD sharing plan summaryData sharing statement to be made available at a later date
Publication and dissemination planPlanned publication in a high-impact peer-reviewed journal. Plans for sharing additional documents are currently unknown.
IPD sharing planThe current data-sharing plans for this study are unknown and will be available at a later date.

Editorial Notes

16/01/2025: The following changes were made to the trial record:
1. The overall end date was changed from 01/07/2025 to 31/10/2026.
2. The intention to publish date was changed from 31/12/2025 to 31/12/2027.
3. The plain English summary was updated to reflect these changes.
21/11/2023: The secondary outcome measures and inclusion criteria were updated. IJsselland Hospital was added to the study participating centres.
22/03/2022: The following changes have been made:
1. The recruitment start date has been changed from 01/02/2022 to 01/03/2022.
2. The ethics approval has been updated.
11/01/2022: The recruitment start date was changed from 01/01/2022 to 01/02/2022.
30/11/2021: Trial's existence confirmed by the Central Committee on Research Involving Human Subjects (CCMO).