Can a new pill tame rheumatoid arthritis when standard drugs fail?
NCT ID NCT07748728
First seen Aug 06, 2026 · Last updated Aug 07, 2026 · Updated 1 time
Summary
This trial is testing an experimental drug called TLL-018 in adults with moderate-to-severe rheumatoid arthritis who haven't responded well to or couldn't tolerate standard treatments. Participants will receive either TLL-018 or a placebo for a period, and the study will measure how many people experience at least a 20% improvement in joint pain, swelling, and other symptoms. The goal is to see if TLL-018 can safely reduce disease activity and offer a new option for people who need better control of their condition.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only, not medical advice or a prediction.
- Active substance
- TLL-018, an experimental drug taken as a pill, compared against a placebo
- What this could lead to
- If successful, TLL-018 could offer a new treatment option for people with rheumatoid arthritis who haven't gotten enough relief from standard medications.
- What could go wrong
- This is an early-phase trial with a small number of participants, so the drug may not prove effective or safe. It's also possible that any benefits seen here won't hold up in larger studies.
This is an AI summary of the original study and may miss details. Read our disclaimer.
Study facts
What this study's own registry entry says, in plain language.
- Phase
-
Phase 2
Tests whether the treatment actually works, and watches for side effects, in a larger group.
- Participants
-
About 90 people
The number the study aims to enrol. It can still change while the study runs.
- Expected to start
-
Aug 2026
An estimate. Start dates often move.
- Expected to finish
-
Dec 2027
An estimate. End dates often move.
- Lead sponsor
-
A company
The lead sponsor is a pharmaceutical, biotech, or medical-device company.
Who can take part
This study's own entry requirements. Only the study team can say for certain whether you qualify.
- Ages
-
18 to 70 years
- Sex
-
Anyone
- Healthy volunteers
-
Not accepted
This study is not open to healthy volunteers. The entry requirements below say who it is open to.
Show the full entry requirements Hide the full entry requirements
Copied word for word from the study's registry entry, so the wording is the study team's rather than ours.
Inclusion Criteria: * 1 Aged 18 to 70 years inclusive, any sex; body mass index \[BMI = weight (kg)/height² (m²)\] ≤ 35 kg/m². 2 "Meets the 2010 American College of Rheumatology/European Alliance of Associations for Rheumatology (ACR/EULAR) classification criteria for active rheumatoid arthritis (RA), with a disease duration of at least 3 months at the screening visit: Has received conventional synthetic disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (csDMARDs) for ≥ 3 months prior to screening, with a stable dose for at least 4 weeks before randomization; Active rheumatoid arthritis meeting all of the following criteria: ≥6 swollen joints (SJC, 66-joint count) and ≥6 tender joints (TJC, 68-joint count) at screening and baseline visits. Joints that have undergone major surgery or received intra-articular injection within 4 weeks before randomization will be excluded from SJC and TJC counts. High-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP) \> upper limit of normal (ULN) or ≥5 mg/L at baseline (CRP testing is acceptable; hsCRP is preferred)." 3 Functional Class I, II, or III according to the 1991 American College of Rheumatology (ACR) rheumatoid arthritis functional classification criteria. 4 "Organ function must satisfy the following laboratory criteria: Bone marrow: hemoglobin ≥90 g/L; platelets ≥100 ×10⁹/L; absolute neutrophil count ≥1.5 ×10⁹/L; lymphocyte count ≥0.8 ×10⁹/L; white blood cell count ≥2.5 ×10⁹/L. Hepatic function: total bilirubin ≤1.5 × ULN; aspartate aminotransferase (AST) OR alanine aminotransferase (ALT) ≤1.5 × ULN. Renal function: serum creatinine \<1.2 × ULN. Urinalysis: urine protein ≤1+. If urine protein \>1+, a 24-hour urine protein collection is required, with total urinary protein ≤1 g." 5 Women of childbearing potential (WOCBP) must not be pregnant or breastfeeding. A pregnancy test (e.g., β-HCG assay) must be performed prior to study entry (last menstrual period will be documented). All participants and their partners must agree to use effective contraception (as judged by the Investigator) from the first dose of investigational product until at least 90 days after the last dose (see Appendix 12). Participants must have no plans to donate sperm or ova from screening through at least 6 months after the last study drug administration. 6 The participant understands the informed consent form, voluntarily agrees to participate in the study, and provides written informed consent. Informed consent must be obtained prior to performance of any study-related procedures. Exclusion Criteria: * 1 Evidence or diagnosis of other rheumatic diseases prior to screening (secondary Sjögren's syndrome excluded), including systemic lupus erythematosus, psoriatic arthritis, mixed connective tissue disease, primary Sjögren's syndrome, dermatomyositis, polymyositis, systemic sclerosis, and ankylosing spondylitis. 2 Presence of active fibromyalgia that, in the Investigator's judgment, may interfere with the evaluation of rheumatoid arthritis disease activity. 3 Prior diagnosis of other systemic inflammatory diseases, including but not limited to juvenile chronic arthritis, inflammatory bowel disease, active vasculitis (excluding venous rheumatoid nodules), spondyloarthropathy, and psoriatic arthritis. 4 Diagnosis of Felty's syndrome (rheumatoid arthritis with splenomegaly). 5 Presence of severe, progressive, or uncontrolled renal, hepatic, hematological, gastrointestinal, endocrine, pulmonary, cardiovascular, neurological, psychiatric, or cerebral diseases that, in the Investigator's opinion, would place the participant at unacceptable risk. 6 A history of lymphoproliferative disorders (including but not limited to EBV-associated lymphoproliferative diseases, lymphoma, and leukemia), or presence of any current signs or symptoms suggestive of active lymphoproliferative disease. 7 A previous history of severe hematological diseases such as aplastic anemia and myelodysplastic syndrome, or any disease condition that may cause hemolysis or erythrocyte instability, including malaria and hemolytic anemia. 8 Current or previous history of thrombocytopenia, coagulation disorders, or platelet function disorders. 9 History of cardiovascular or cerebrovascular events or surgeries within 12 months prior to screening, including but not limited to myocardial infarction, unstable angina, acute coronary syndrome, cerebral hemorrhage, cerebral infarction, coronary stent implantation, percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty, and coronary artery bypass grafting. 10 History of thromboembolic events within 12 months prior to screening (e.g., pulmonary thromboembolism, deep vein thrombosis, mesenteric arterial embolism), or presence of current high thromboembolic risk factors, such as immobilization within 12 weeks before screening, congenital or hereditary thrombophilia, or antiphospholipid antibody syndrome. 11 History of gastrointestinal perforation prior to screening (perforation caused by appendicitis or trauma is excluded).
Get updates
Get notified about this study
Sign up to get updates when this study changes or when new studies for Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) are added.
Genom att skicka in godkänner du våra Användarvillkor
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.
How to take part
Only the study team decides who joins. These are the ways to reach them.
-
The places running it
1 site. The list below names each one and where it is.
-
The official record
ClinicalTrials.gov lists the study team's own contact details, including names and phone numbers. We don't republish those.
-
A doctor treating you
A doctor who knows your case can contact a study site on your behalf, and can tell you whether this study is worth pursuing at all.
Contacts and locations
Locations
-
Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences
Beijing, Beijing Municipality, China
More trials for these conditions
Other studies related to the condition(s) this trial covers.
- Gut bacteria may hold clues to dozens of diseases
- Smartphone app aims to catch rheumatoid arthritis before it takes hold
- A patient questionnaire may rival lab tests for spotting rheumatoid arthritis flares
- Could fewer pills mean same relief for rheumatoid arthritis?
- Can a single cell therapy calm multiple autoimmune diseases?
- Heart risk in rheumatoid arthritis: could a blood vessel drug help?