Objective: The relative efficacy and tolerability of tocilizumab, sarilumab, and sirukumab as monotherapy were assessed and compared with those of adalimumab in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) who were intolerant to or responded inadequately to methotrexate (MTX).
Materials and methods: We performed a Bayesian network meta-analysis to combine direct and indirect evidence from randomized controlled trials (RCTs) to examine the efficacy and safety of tocilizumab, sarilumab, and sirukumab, and adalimumab in RA patients who are intolerant to or show an inadequate response to MTX.
Results: Three RCTs comprising 1,066 patients met the inclusion criteria. Tocilizumab 8 mg monotherapy was associated with the most favorable surface under the cumulative ranking curve (SUCRA) for the ACR20 response rate. Compared with adalimumab, tocilizumab, and sarilumab as monotherapy showed significantly higher ACR20 response rates. Ranking probability based on SUCRA indicated that tocilizumab 8 mg had the highest probability of being the best choice for achieving ACR20 response rate, followed by sarilumab 200 mg, adalimumab 40 mg, and sirukumab 50 mg. Moreover, the ACR50 response rate showed a similar distribution pattern to that of ACR20. Regarding adverse events, the ranking probability based on SUCRA indicated that sarilumab 200 mg was possibly the safest, followed by adalimumab 40 mg, tocilizumab 8 mg, and sirukumab 50 mg. However, the number of patients who experienced serious adverse events did not differ significantly between these biologics.
Conclusion: Based on ACR20 and ACR50 response rates, monotherapy with tocilizumab 8 mg, followed by sarilumab and sirukumab monotherapy, was optimal for patients with RA responding inadequately to MTX or showing intolerance.