Arthritis, RheumatoidPhase 2NCT04991753
A Proof-of-concept Study of the Efficacy and Safety of Nipocalimab in Participants With Active Rheumatoid Arthritis
A Phase 2 study testing Nipocalimab in people with Arthritis, Rheumatoid, run by Janssen Research & Development, LLC at 28 sites in 5 countries.
Trial summary
The purpose of this study is to evaluate the efficacy and safety of nipocalimab versus placebo in participants with moderate to severe active rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 18 to 75 years
- Conditions the study is for
- Arthritis, Rheumatoid
- What is being tested?
- Nipocalimab
- Type of treatment
- Injection or infusion
- Could I receive a placebo?
- Yes, some participants may receive a placebo
- How many people
- 53 participants
- Where
- 28 sitesin 5 countries
- Study dates
- 14 Oct 2021to 10 Aug 2022
- Phase
- Phase 2
- Are there results?
- Yes, posted in the registrySummary in the doctors' view
Key requirements
Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.
- Ages 18 to 75 years
- All sexes
- No healthy volunteers
- Adult, Older adult
Who may be able to join
- Diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and meeting the 2010 American college of rheumatology (ACR)/European League Against Rheumatism (EULAR) criteria for RA for at least 3 months before screening
- Has moderate to severe active RA as defined by persistent disease activity with at least 6 swollen and 6 tender joints out of the 66/68-swollen and tender joint count at the time of screening and at baseline
- Is positive for anti-citrullinated protein antibodies (ACPA) and/or rheumatoid factor (RF) at screening
- Screening C-reactive protein (CRP) greater than or equal to (>=) 0.3 milligram per deciliter (mg/dL) by the central laboratory
- A woman of childbearing potential must have a negative highly sensitive urine pregnancy test (beta-human chorionic gonadotropin [beta-hCG]) at screening and a negative urine (beta-hCG) pregnancy test at Week 0 prior to administration of study intervention
Who cannot join
- Has any confirmed or suspected clinical immunodeficiency syndrome not related to treatment of his/her RA or has a family history of congenital or hereditary immunodeficiency unless confirmed absent in the participant
- Currently has a malignancy or has a history of malignancy within 3 years before screening (with the exception of localized basal cell carcinoma and/or squamous cell carcinoma skin cancer that has been adequately treated with no evidence of recurrence for at least 12 weeks before the first administration of study intervention or cervical carcinoma in situ that has been treated with no evidence of recurrence for at least 3 months before the first administration of study intervention)
- Is (anatomically or functionally) asplenic
- Has experienced myocardial infarction (MI), unstable ischemic heart disease, or stroke within 12 weeks of screening
- Has other known inflammatory diseases that might confound the evaluations of benefit from nipocalimab therapy, including but not limited to ankylosing spondylitis, psoriatic arthritis, systemic lupus erythematosus, Lyme disease
- Is currently taking immunoglobulin (Ig)G fragment crystallizable (Fc)-related protein therapeutics
Trial locations and contacts
28 sites in 5 countries.
28 sites in 5 countries
United States13 sites
DJL Clinical Research, PLLC
Charlotte, North Carolina, 28210
Arizona Arthritis & Rheumatology Associates PC
Glendale, Arizona, 85306
Accurate Clinical Research, Inc.
Houston, Texas, 77089
West Tennessee Research Institute
Jackson, Tennessee, 38305
Arizona Arthritis & Rheumatology Research, PLLC
Mesa, Arizona, 85210
Southwest Rheumatology Research LLC
Mesquite, Texas, 75150
Desert Medical Advances
Palm Desert, California, 92260
Arthritis Care and Research Center Inc.: Smitha Reddy, MD
Poway, California, 92064
TriWest Research Associates, LLC
San Diego, California, 92108
Low Country Rheumatology PA
Summerville, South Carolina, 29486
Arizona Arthritis & Rheumatology Research, PLLC
Tucson, Arizona, 85704
Inland Rheumatology Clinical Trials, Inc.
Upland, California, 91786
STAT Research, Inc.
Vandalia, Ohio, 45377
Spain5 sites
Hosp Univ A Coruna
A Coruña, 15006
Hosp. Univ. de Basurto
Bilbao, 48013
Hosp. Clinico Univ. de Santiago
Santiago de Compostela, 15706
Hosp. Virgen Macarena
Seville, 41009
Hosp. Do Meixoeiro
Vigo, 36214
Poland4 sites
Szpital Uniwersytecki nr 2 im dr Jana Biziela w Bydgoszczy
Bydgoszcz, 85-168
NZOZ Lecznica Mak-Med sc
Nadarzyn, 05-830
Prywatna Praktyka Lekarska Prof Um Dr Hab Med Pawel Hrycaj
Poznan, 61 397
Centrum Medyczne AMED Targowek
Warsaw, 03 291
United Kingdom4 sites
Western General Hospital
Edinburgh, EH4 2XU
Kings College Hospital NHS Trust
London, SE5 9RS
North Tyneside General Hospital
Newcastle, NE29 8NH
Haywood Hospital
Stoke-on-Trent, ST6 7AG
Germany2 sites
Hamburger Rheuma Forschungszentrum II
Hamburg, 20095
Rheumazentrum Ratingen
Ratingen, 40878
About this study
Official title: A Multicenter, Randomized, Double-blind, Parallel-group, Placebo-controlled, Proof-of-concept Study Evaluating the Efficacy and Safety of Nipocalimab Administered Intravenously in Participants With Active Rheumatoid Arthritis Despite Standard Therapy
The purpose of this study is to evaluate the efficacy and safety of nipocalimab versus placebo in participants with moderate to severe active rheumatoid arthritis (RA).
Read the detailed description
RA is a chronic autoimmune inflammatory disorder of unknown etiology that occurs in approximately 1 percent (%) of the population. Nipocalimab (also referred to as JNJ-80202135 and M281) is a fully human aglycosylated immunoglobulin (Ig)G1 monoclonal antibody designed to selectively bind, saturate, and block the IgG binding site on the endogenous neonatal fragment crystallizable (Fc) receptor (FcRn). Nipocalimab has a unique mechanism of action whereby it blocks the IgG binding site on endogenous FcRn and is expected to decrease pathogenic IgG antibody concentrations. A significant involvement of pathogenic IgG antibodies has been demonstrated in autoimmune diseases including RA. The primary hypothesis is that treatment with nipocalimab intravenously (IV) every 2 weeks (q2w) is superior to placebo in participants with moderate to severe active rheumatoid arthritis (RA) as assessed by the mean change from baseline in the disease activity index score 28 using C-reactive Protein (DAS28-CRP) at Week 12. The study consists of a Screening Period (less than or equal to [<=] 6 Weeks), Double-blind Treatment Period (12 Weeks), and a Safety Follow-up Period (6 Weeks). Key safety assessments will include adverse events (AEs), serious adverse events (SAEs), adverse events of special interests (AESIs), clinical laboratory safety tests (hematology, chemistry, and lipid profile), vital signs, and physical examination. The total duration of the study is up to 24 weeks.
- Conditions
- Arthritis, Rheumatoid
- Being tested
- Placebo, Nipocalimab
- Medical subject headings
- Arthritis, Rheumatoid
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
PlaceboOther
Placebo infusion will be administered intravenously.
NipocalimabDrug
Also called JNJ-80202135, M281
Nipocalimab infusions will be administered intravenously.
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| Group 1: Placebo | Placebo comparator | Participants will receive placebo intravenously (IV) every 2 weeks (q2w) through Week 10 along with standard-of-care background therapy. Receives: Other: Placebo |
| Group 2: Nipocalimab | Experimental | Participants will receive nipocalimab IV q2w through Week 10 along with standard-of-care background therapy. Receives: Drug: Nipocalimab |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Change From Baseline in Disease Activity Index Score 28 Using C-reactive Protein (DAS28-CRP) at Week 12
Change from baseline in DAS28-CRP at Week 12 were reported. The DAS28 is a composite index used to assess rheumatoid arthritis disease activity, calculated based on the tender joint count (out of 28 evaluated joints), swollen joint count (out of 28 evaluated joints), Patient's Global Assessment of Disease Activity, and C-reactive protein (CRP; in milligrams per liter [mg/L]). The set of 28 joint count was based on evaluation of the shoulder, elbow, wrist, metacarpophalangeal (MCP) MCP1 to MCP5, proximal interphalangeal (PIP) PIP1 to PIP5 joints of both the upper right extremity and the upper left extremity as well as the knee joints of lower right and lower left extremities. Score on the DAS28 ranged from 0 to 10, where higher scores indicated more disease activity. Negative changes from baseline indicated improvement of arthritis.
Measured: Baseline (Week 0), Week 12
Secondary outcomes (11)
Percentage of Participants Who Achieved American College of Rheumatology (ACR) 20 at Week 12
Percentage of participants who achieved ACR20 at Week 12 were reported. ACR20 response is defined as: greater than or equal to (>=)20% improvement from baseline in both swollen joint count (66 joints) and tender joint count (68 joints), and >=20% improvement from baseline in 3 of 5 assessments: patient's assessment of pain using visual analog scale (VAS; 0-100 millimeters [mm], 0=no pain and 100=worst possible pain), patient's global assessment of disease activity (arthritis, VAS; 0-100 mm, 0=excellent and 100= poor), physician's global assessment of disease activity (VAS; 0-100 mm, 0=no arthritis activity and 100=extremely active arthritis), patient's assessment of physical function as measured by Disability Index of Health Assessment Questionnaire (HAQ-DI; 20-question instrument assessing 8 functional areas; range: 0-3, 0= no difficulty, 3= inability to perform task in that area), and CRP.
Measured: Week 12
Percentage of Participants Who Achieved American College of Rheumatology (ACR) 50 at Week 12
Percentage of participants who achieved ACR50 at Week 12 were reported. ACR50 response is defined as: >=50% improvement from baseline in both swollen joint count (66 joints) and tender joint count (68 joints), and >=50% improvement from baseline in 3 of 5 assessments: patient's assessment of pain using visual analog scale (VAS; 0-100 mm, 0=no pain and 100=worst possible pain), patient's global assessment of disease activity (arthritis, VAS; 0-100 mm, 0=excellent and 100= poor), physician's global assessment of disease activity (VAS; 0-100 mm, 0=no arthritis activity and 100=extremely active arthritis), patient's assessment of physical function as measured by Disability Index of Health Assessment Questionnaire (HAQ-DI; 20-question instrument assessing 8 functional areas; range: 0-3, 0= no difficulty, 3= inability to perform task in that area), and CRP.
Measured: Week 12
Percentage of Participants Who Achieved American College of Rheumatology (ACR) 70 at Week 12
Percentage of participants who achieved ACR70 at Week 12 were reported. ACR70 response is defined as: >=70% improvement from baseline in both swollen joint count (66 joints) and tender joint count (68 joints), and >=70% improvement from baseline in 3 of 5 assessments: patient's assessment of pain using visual analog scale (VAS; 0-100 mm, 0=no pain and 100=worst possible pain), patient's global assessment of disease activity (arthritis, VAS; 0-100 mm, 0=excellent and 100= poor), physician's global assessment of disease activity (VAS; 0-100 mm, 0=no arthritis activity and 100=extremely active arthritis), patient's assessment of physical function as measured by Disability Index of Health Assessment Questionnaire (HAQ-DI; 20-question instrument assessing 8 functional areas; range: 0-3, 0= no difficulty, 3= inability to perform task in that area), and CRP.
Measured: Week 12
Percentage of Participants Who Achieved American College of Rheumatology (ACR) 90 at Week 12
Percentage of participants who achieved ACR90 at Week 12 were reported. ACR90 response is defined as: >=90% improvement from baseline in both swollen joint count (66 joints) and tender joint count (68 joints), and >=90% improvement from baseline in 3 of 5 assessments: patient's assessment of pain using visual analog scale (VAS; 0-100 mm, 0=no pain and 100=worst possible pain), patient's global assessment of disease activity (arthritis, VAS; 0-100 mm, 0=excellent and 100= poor), physician's global assessment of disease activity (VAS; 0-100 mm, 0=no arthritis activity and 100=extremely active arthritis), patient's assessment of physical function as measured by Disability Index of Health Assessment Questionnaire (HAQ-DI; 20-question instrument assessing 8 functional areas; range: 0-3, 0= no difficulty, 3= inability to perform task in that area), and CRP.
Measured: Week 12
Percentage of Participants Who Achieved Disease Activity Index Score 28 Using C-reactive Protein (DAS28-CRP) Remission at Week 12
Percentage of participants who achieved DAS28-CRP remission at Week 12 were reported. The DAS28 remission is defined as DAS28 -CRP value of less than (<) 2.6 at Week 12. The DAS28 is a composite index used to assess rheumatoid arthritis disease activity, calculated based on the tender joint count (out of 28 evaluated joints), swollen joint count (out of 28 evaluated joints), Patient's Global Assessment of Disease Activity, and CRP; in mg/L). The set of 28 joint count is based on evaluation of the shoulder, elbow, wrist, MCP1 to MCP5, PIP1 to PIP5 joints of both the upper right extremity and the upper left extremity as well as the knee joints of lower right and lower left extremities. Score on the DAS28 ranged from 0 to 10, where higher scores indicated more disease activity. Negative changes from baseline indicated improvement of arthritis.
Measured: Week 12
Percentage of Participants Who Achieved Disease Activity Index Score 28 Using C-reactive Protein (DAS28-CRP) Low Disease Activity (LDA) European League Against Rheumatism (EULAR) at Week 12
Percentage of participants who achieved DAS28-CRP LDA EULAR at Week 12 were reported. The DAS28 LDA EULAR is defined as DAS28 -CRP value of less than or equal to (<=) 3.2 at Week 12. The DAS28 is a composite index used to assess rheumatoid arthritis disease activity, calculated based on the tender joint count (out of 28 evaluated joints), swollen joint count (out of 28 evaluated joints), Patient's Global Assessment of Disease Activity, and C-reactive protein (CRP; in mg/L). The set of 28 joint count is based on evaluation of the shoulder, elbow, wrist, MCP1 to MCP5, PIP1 to PIP5 joints of both the upper right extremity and the upper left extremity as well as the knee joints of lower right and lower left extremities. Score on the DAS28 ranged from 0 to 10, where higher scores indicated more disease activity. Negative changes from baseline indicated improvement of arthritis.
Measured: Week 12
Change From Baseline in Health Assessment Questionnaire - Disability Index (HAQ-DI) Score at Week 12
Change from baseline in HAQ-DI score at Week 12 were reported. The HAQ-DI is a patient-reported questionnaire that measures the degree of difficulty a person has in accomplishing tasks in 8 functional areas: dressing, arising, eating, walking, hygiene, reaching, gripping, and activities of daily living, over the past week. Responses in each functional area were scored on a scale from 0 (indicating no difficulty) to 3 (inability to perform a task in that area). Overall score was computed as the sum of category scores and divided by the number of categories answered and ranging from 0 to 3, where 0 represents no disability and 3 represents very severe, high-dependency disability.
Measured: Baseline (Week 0), Week 12
Percentage of Participants With Treatment-emergent Adverse Events (TEAEs)
Percentage of participants with TEAEs were reported. An adverse event (AE) was any untoward medical occurrence in a clinical study participant administered a medicinal (investigational or non-investigational) product. An AE does not necessarily have a causal relationship with the intervention. TEAEs were defined as any AE occurring at or after the initial administration of study intervention through the safety follow-up visit (8 weeks after the last administration of study intervention).
Measured: From Week 0 up to 8 weeks post last dose at Week 10 (up to Week 18)
Percentage of Participants With Treatment-emergent Serious Adverse Events (TESAEs)
Percentage of participants with TESAEs were reported. An AE was any untoward medical occurrence in a clinical study participant administered a medicinal (investigational or non-investigational) product. An AE does not necessarily have a causal relationship with the intervention. A SAE was any untoward medical occurrence at any dose that: resulted in death, was life threatening, required inpatient hospitalization or prolongation of existing hospitalization, resulted in persistent or significant disability/ incapacity, or resulted in congenital anomaly/birth defect. TESAEs were defined as any SAE occurring at or after the initial administration of study intervention through the safety follow-up visit (8 weeks after the last administration of study intervention).
Measured: From Week 0 up to 8 weeks post last dose at Week 10 (up to Week 18)
Percentage of Participants With AEs Leading to Discontinuation of Study Intervention
Percentage of participants with AEs leading to discontinuation of study intervention were reported. An AE was any untoward medical occurrence in a clinical study participant administered a medicinal (investigational or non-investigational) product. An AE does not necessarily have a causal relationship with the intervention.
Measured: From Week 0 up to Week 10
Percentage of Participants With Treatment-emergent Adverse Events of Special Interest (AESIs)
Percentage of participants with TEAEs of special interest were reported. An AE was any untoward medical occurrence in a clinical study participant administered a medicinal (investigational or non-investigational) product. An AE does not necessarily have a causal relationship with the intervention. TEAEs were defined as any AE occurring at or after the initial administration of study intervention through the safety follow-up visit (8 weeks after the last administration of study intervention). TEAEs associated with the following situations were considered to be AESIs: (a) Infections that were severe or require IV anti-infective or operative/invasive intervention; (b) Hypoalbuminemia with albumin <20 grams per liter (g/L) (<2.0 grams per deciliter [g/dL]).
Measured: From Week 0 up to 8 weeks post last dose at Week 10 (up to Week 18)
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted5 Aug 2021
- Study start14 Oct 2021
- Primary completion10 Aug 2022
- Study completion10 Aug 2022
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Posted resultsParticipant flow, outcome measures and adverse events reported by the sponsor.
- Publications (2)Papers the sponsor has linked to this study.
- Other trials for Arthritis, RheumatoidStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- More trials run by Janssen Research & Development, LLCThe sponsor's other registered studies.
- What the trial phases meanHow a treatment moves from first tests in people to approval.
More details
For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.
Study design
- Study type
- Interventional
- Phase
- Phase 2
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- Double blind
- Who is masked
- Participant, Investigator
- Enrolment
- 53 participants (actual)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- Janssen Research & Development, LLC
- Sponsor type
- Industry (pharma, biotech, devices)
- Responsible party
- Sponsor
- Investigators
- Janssen Research & Development, LLC Clinical Trial, Study director, Janssen Research & Development, LLC
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT04991753
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- CR109058
- Other IDs
- 80202135ARA2001, 2021-000510-42
- Status last verified
- Aug 2025
- First submitted
- 2 Aug 2021
- Last updated
- 22 Aug 2025
- Results posted
- Yes, on ClinicalTrials.gov
- Data monitoring committee
- Yes
- FDA-regulated drug
- Yes
- FDA-regulated device
- No
- Individual data sharing
- Yes: The data sharing policy of the Janssen Pharmaceutical Companies of Johnson \& Johnson is available at www.janssen.com/clinical-trials/transparency. As noted on this site, requests for access to the study data can be submitted through Yale Open Data Access (YODA) Project site at yoda.yale.edu
- Expanded access
- Available
Publications
Yu F, Myshkin E, Nguyen B, Bobadilla Mendez C, Cossu M, Fei K, Wang Q, Hubbard JJ, Campbell K, Ramchandren S, Rojo Cella R, Edwards R, Taylor PC, Gottenberg JE, Noaiseh G, Vu T, Antozzi C, Winthrop KL, Cuff CA, Loza MJ, Dimitrova D, Gao S. Effect of nipocalimab on IgG responses to vaccinations and viral infections in patients with IgG autoantibody-mediated diseases: Post hoc analyses of three randomized, placebo-controlled trials. Hum Vaccin Immunother. 2026 Dec;22(1):2664331. doi: 10.1080/21645515.2026.2664331. Epub 2026 May 5.
PubMed 42084498Taylor PC, Schett G, Huizinga TW, Wang Q, Ibrahim F, Zhou B, Liva SG, Shaik JSB, Xiong Y, Leu JH, Panchakshari RA, Loza MJ, Ma K, Dhatt H, Rojo Cella R, Karyekar CS, Cuff CA, Gao S, Fei K. Nipocalimab, an anti-FcRn monoclonal antibody, in participants with moderate to severe active rheumatoid arthritis and inadequate response or intolerance to anti-TNF therapy: results from the phase 2a IRIS-RA study. RMD Open. 2024 Jun 28;10(2):e004278. doi: 10.1136/rmdopen-2024-004278.
PubMed 38942592
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 22 Aug 2025. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- A Multicenter, Randomized, Double-blind, Parallel-group, Placebo-controlled, Proof-of-concept Study Evaluating the Efficacy and Safety of Nipocalimab Administered Intravenously in Participants With Active Rheumatoid Arthritis Despite Standard Therapy
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT04991753
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- CR109058
- Conditions
- Arthritis, Rheumatoid
- Phase
- Phase 2
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Completed
- Enrolment
- 53 participants (actual)
- Lead sponsor
- Janssen Research & Development, LLCIndustry (pharma, biotech, devices)
- Study start
- 14 Oct 2021 (actual)
- Primary completion
- 10 Aug 2022 (actual)
- Study completion
- 10 Aug 2022 (actual)
- First posted
- 5 Aug 2021 (actual)
- Results
- Posted 22 Aug 2025
Clinical summary
The research question as the sponsor registered it. This describes what the study plans to test, not what it found.
The purpose of this study is to evaluate the efficacy and safety of nipocalimab versus placebo in participants with moderate to severe active rheumatoid arthritis (RA).
Detailed description
RA is a chronic autoimmune inflammatory disorder of unknown etiology that occurs in approximately 1 percent (%) of the population. Nipocalimab (also referred to as JNJ-80202135 and M281) is a fully human aglycosylated immunoglobulin (Ig)G1 monoclonal antibody designed to selectively bind, saturate, and block the IgG binding site on the endogenous neonatal fragment crystallizable (Fc) receptor (FcRn). Nipocalimab has a unique mechanism of action whereby it blocks the IgG binding site on endogenous FcRn and is expected to decrease pathogenic IgG antibody concentrations. A significant involvement of pathogenic IgG antibodies has been demonstrated in autoimmune diseases including RA. The primary hypothesis is that treatment with nipocalimab intravenously (IV) every 2 weeks (q2w) is superior to placebo in participants with moderate to severe active rheumatoid arthritis (RA) as assessed by the mean change from baseline in the disease activity index score 28 using C-reactive Protein (DAS28-CRP) at Week 12. The study consists of a Screening Period (less than or equal to [<=] 6 Weeks), Double-blind Treatment Period (12 Weeks), and a Safety Follow-up Period (6 Weeks). Key safety assessments will include adverse events (AEs), serious adverse events (SAEs), adverse events of special interests (AESIs), clinical laboratory safety tests (hematology, chemistry, and lipid profile), vital signs, and physical examination. The total duration of the study is up to 24 weeks.
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- Double blind (participant, investigator)
- Number of arms
- 2
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| Group 1: Placebo | Placebo comparator | Other: PlaceboParticipants will receive placebo intravenously (IV) every 2 weeks (q2w) through Week 10 along with standard-of-care background therapy. |
| Group 2: Nipocalimab | Experimental | Drug: NipocalimabParticipants will receive nipocalimab IV q2w through Week 10 along with standard-of-care background therapy. |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 18 to 75 years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Not accepted
- Age groups
- Adult, Older adult
Key inclusion criteria (5 listed)
- Diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and meeting the 2010 American college of rheumatology (ACR)/European League Against Rheumatism (EULAR) criteria for RA for at least 3 months before screening
- Has moderate to severe active RA as defined by persistent disease activity with at least 6 swollen and 6 tender joints out of the 66/68-swollen and tender joint count at the time of screening and at baseline
- Is positive for anti-citrullinated protein antibodies (ACPA) and/or rheumatoid factor (RF) at screening
- Screening C-reactive protein (CRP) greater than or equal to (>=) 0.3 milligram per deciliter (mg/dL) by the central laboratory
- A woman of childbearing potential must have a negative highly sensitive urine pregnancy test (beta-human chorionic gonadotropin [beta-hCG]) at screening and a negative urine (beta-hCG) pregnancy test at Week 0 prior to administration of study intervention
Key exclusion criteria (6 listed)
- Has any confirmed or suspected clinical immunodeficiency syndrome not related to treatment of his/her RA or has a family history of congenital or hereditary immunodeficiency unless confirmed absent in the participant
- Currently has a malignancy or has a history of malignancy within 3 years before screening (with the exception of localized basal cell carcinoma and/or squamous cell carcinoma skin cancer that has been adequately treated with no evidence of recurrence for at least 12 weeks before the first administration of study intervention or cervical carcinoma in situ that has been treated with no evidence of recurrence for at least 3 months before the first administration of study intervention)
- Is (anatomically or functionally) asplenic
- Has experienced myocardial infarction (MI), unstable ischemic heart disease, or stroke within 12 weeks of screening
- Has other known inflammatory diseases that might confound the evaluations of benefit from nipocalimab therapy, including but not limited to ankylosing spondylitis, psoriatic arthritis, systemic lupus erythematosus, Lyme disease
Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening; this overview does not establish that a patient qualifies. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Interventions
| Intervention | Type | Arms |
|---|---|---|
| PlaceboPlacebo infusion will be administered intravenously. | Other | Group 1: Placebo |
| NipocalimabAlso: JNJ-80202135, M281Nipocalimab infusions will be administered intravenously. | Drug | Group 2: Nipocalimab |
Primary outcome
Change From Baseline in Disease Activity Index Score 28 Using C-reactive Protein (DAS28-CRP) at Week 12
Time frame: Baseline (Week 0), Week 12
Change from baseline in DAS28-CRP at Week 12 were reported. The DAS28 is a composite index used to assess rheumatoid arthritis disease activity, calculated based on the tender joint count (out of 28 evaluated joints), swollen joint count (out of 28 evaluated joints), Patient's Global Assessment of Disease Activity, and C-reactive protein (CRP; in milligrams per liter [mg/L]). The set of 28 joint count was based on evaluation of the shoulder, elbow, wrist, metacarpophalangeal (MCP) MCP1 to MCP5, proximal interphalangeal (PIP) PIP1 to PIP5 joints of both the upper right extremity and the upper left extremity as well as the knee joints of lower right and lower left extremities. Score on the DAS28 ranged from 0 to 10, where higher scores indicated more disease activity. Negative changes from baseline indicated improvement of arthritis.
11 secondary outcomes
Percentage of Participants Who Achieved American College of Rheumatology (ACR) 20 at Week 12
Time frame: Week 12
Percentage of Participants Who Achieved American College of Rheumatology (ACR) 50 at Week 12
Time frame: Week 12
Percentage of Participants Who Achieved American College of Rheumatology (ACR) 70 at Week 12
Time frame: Week 12
Percentage of Participants Who Achieved American College of Rheumatology (ACR) 90 at Week 12
Time frame: Week 12
Percentage of Participants Who Achieved Disease Activity Index Score 28 Using C-reactive Protein (DAS28-CRP) Remission at Week 12
Time frame: Week 12
Percentage of Participants Who Achieved Disease Activity Index Score 28 Using C-reactive Protein (DAS28-CRP) Low Disease Activity (LDA) European League Against Rheumatism (EULAR) at Week 12
Time frame: Week 12
Change From Baseline in Health Assessment Questionnaire - Disability Index (HAQ-DI) Score at Week 12
Time frame: Baseline (Week 0), Week 12
Percentage of Participants With Treatment-emergent Adverse Events (TEAEs)
Time frame: From Week 0 up to 8 weeks post last dose at Week 10 (up to Week 18)
Percentage of Participants With Treatment-emergent Serious Adverse Events (TESAEs)
Time frame: From Week 0 up to 8 weeks post last dose at Week 10 (up to Week 18)
Percentage of Participants With AEs Leading to Discontinuation of Study Intervention
Time frame: From Week 0 up to Week 10
Percentage of Participants With Treatment-emergent Adverse Events of Special Interest (AESIs)
Time frame: From Week 0 up to 8 weeks post last dose at Week 10 (up to Week 18)
Results and safety
Loading the posted results from ClinicalTrials.gov…
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 22 Aug 2025.
- Posted resultsParticipant flow, baseline, all outcome measures and adverse events.
- Derived from this study: PubMed 42084498Yu F, Myshkin E, Nguyen B, Bobadilla Mendez C, Cossu M, Fei K, Wang Q, Hubbard JJ, Campbell K, Ramchandren S, Rojo Cella R, Edwards R, Taylor PC, Gottenberg JE, Noaiseh G, Vu T, Antozzi C, Winthrop KL, Cuff CA, Loza MJ, Dimitrova D, Gao S. Effect of nipocalimab on IgG responses to vaccinations and viral infections in patients with IgG autoantibody-mediated diseases: Post hoc analyses of three randomized, placebo-controlled trials. Hum Vaccin Immunother. 2026 Dec;22(1):2664331. doi: 10.1080/21645515.2026.2664331. Epub 2026 May 5.
- Derived from this study: PubMed 38942592Taylor PC, Schett G, Huizinga TW, Wang Q, Ibrahim F, Zhou B, Liva SG, Shaik JSB, Xiong Y, Leu JH, Panchakshari RA, Loza MJ, Ma K, Dhatt H, Rojo Cella R, Karyekar CS, Cuff CA, Gao S, Fei K. Nipocalimab, an anti-FcRn monoclonal antibody, in participants with moderate to severe active rheumatoid arthritis and inadequate response or intolerance to anti-TNF therapy: results from the phase 2a IRIS-RA study. RMD Open. 2024 Jun 28;10(2):e004278. doi: 10.1136/rmdopen-2024-004278.
- Individual participant dataSharing planned: Yes. The data sharing policy of the Janssen Pharmaceutical Companies of Johnson \& Johnson is available at www.janssen.com/clinical-trials/transparency. As noted on this site, requests for access to the study data can be submitted through Yale Open Data Access (YODA) Project site at yoda.yale.edu
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Rheumatoid Arthritis
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Rheumatoid Arthritis and Systemic Lupus Erythematosus
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R-2487 in Patients With Sjogren's Syndrome (SjD)
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A Trial in Healthy Adult Participants and Adults With Autoimmune Diseases to Test How HBM7020 is Tolerated and How it Behaves in the Body
Rheumatoid Arthritis, Systemic Lupus Erythematosus
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Pulmonary Fibrosis, Progressive Pulmonary Fibrosis
Referral and contact
AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals. Contact the study team or a site listed below; they decide who can take part. This study is not recruiting at the moment.
Janssen Research & Development, LLC Clinical Trial study director
Janssen Research & Development, LLC
28 sites in 5 countries: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A Phase 2 study testing Nipocalimab in people with Arthritis, Rheumatoid, run by Janssen Research & Development, LLC at 28 sites in 5 countries.
The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.
Who may be eligible to take part?
The sponsor lists 5 inclusion and 6 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.
Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?
The record says: finished, as of the sponsor's last update on 22 Aug 2025. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.
Where is the study taking place?
The record lists 28 sites in United States, Spain, Poland, United Kingdom, Germany. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.
What are the possible benefits and risks?
They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. Some participants in this study may receive a placebo. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.
What does this phase mean?
Phase 2 studies give the treatment to a larger group to see whether it has the intended effect and to keep checking safety.
Not every study follows the same path, and some studies (observational studies, device studies) have no phase.
Are results available for this study?
Yes. Results are posted in the registry (first posted 22 Aug 2025). A summary is in the For doctors view, and the full results are on ClinicalTrials.gov.
How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?
The record lists no contact. The official record names the sponsor, who can be asked directly. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
Change From Baseline in Disease Activity Index Score 28 Using C-reactive Protein (DAS28-CRP) at Week 12 (time frame: Baseline (Week 0), Week 12). It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.
Where can I read the original study information?
On the ClinicalTrials.gov record for NCT04991753, which also lists 2 linked publications.
Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?
No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.
How often is this information updated?
AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 22 Aug 2025.