Cheaper drug could rival expensive biologic for rare artery disease
NCT ID NCT03892785
First seen Nov 26, 2025 · Last updated Jun 21, 2026 · Updated 23 times
Summary
This Phase 3 trial tests whether methotrexate, a common and affordable drug, works as well as the more expensive biologic tocilizumab for treating giant cell arteritis, a condition that causes inflamed arteries. About 230 adults will receive either methotrexate or tocilizumab for a year, along with a tapering course of prednisone. The goal is to see which drug better prevents relapses and reduces steroid side effects.
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This is a summary of
the original study
.
Summaries may miss details or leave out important information. Before applying or accepting participation, make sure you have read and understood the full study. Curemydisease.com takes no responsibility whatsoever for anything missed, misunderstood, or acted upon as a result of our summary — we know it does not capture everything.
This is a summary of the original study . Summaries may miss details or leave out important information. Before applying or accepting participation, make sure you have read and understood the full study. Curemydisease.com takes no responsibility whatsoever for anything missed, misunderstood, or acted upon as a result of our summary — we know it does not capture everything.
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Contacts and locations
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Locations
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CHU de Dijon
Dijon, 21079, France
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only — not medical advice or a prediction.
Active substance
Methotrexate and tocilizumab
What this could lead to
If successful, this could show that methotrexate is as effective as the more expensive tocilizumab for controlling giant cell arteritis, offering a cheaper and easier-to-monitor treatment option.
What could go wrong
This is a Phase 3 trial, but results are not yet available. Methotrexate may prove less effective than tocilizumab, and both drugs carry risks like infection and liver problems.
Conditions
The condition(s) this trial relates to.
As listed by the trial registrant
The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.