Cimzia Treatment in Rheumatoid Arthritis: Randomizing to Stop Versus Continue Disease-modifying Anti-rheumatic Drug(s)

Patients who had not had an adequate response to a DMARD therapy will have Cimzia added to their existing DMARD therapy at baseline and will be followed.

Inclusion Criteria:

1. Patient must be ≥ 18 years of age.
2. Patient must be able to understand the information provided to them and to give written Informed Consent.
3. Patient must fulfill the old or new criteria for RA (see Appendix 1) or have a clinical diagnosis of RA.
4. Patient must be receiving (for 3 months before baseline) one of the following: methotrexate (≥ 12.5 mg) or another DMARD (leflunomide 10 to 20 mg/day, sulfasalazine >1000 mg/day, IM myochrysine for at least 20 weeks at 25 mg per month or more, azathioprine> 75mg/day), or combination DMARDs such as methotrexate with any other DMARD, or other combinations.
5. If patient is on prednisone they must be on a stable dose (≤ 10 mg/day) for 1 month prior to baseline.
6. Patient with active RA (≥ 3 SJC, on 28 joint count) who needs anti-TNF therapy as determined by the investigator and ability to obtain coverage for anti-TNF (Cimzia).
7. Patient must not have previously been exposed to Cimzia, however, previous anti-TNF exposure is allowed.
8. Patient with past anti-TNF exposure will be included if 1st anti-TNF was stopped due to secondary loss of efficacy, side effect or discontinuation for other reasons.
9. Patient must use Cimzia as per the dosing guidelines in the approved product monograph.

Exclusion Criteria:

1. Female patient who is breast-feeding or pregnant or does plan to become pregnant over the next year
2. Failure to use acceptable form of contraception in a pre-menopausal woman
3. Patient with concurrent serious liver disease
4. Patient with concurrent serious renal disease
5. Patient with significant hematological impairments
6. Patient with a history of cancer within the last 2 years, other than a successfully treated skin basal cell or squamous cell carcinoma and/or localized carcinoma in situ of the cervix
7. Patient with a history of malignant lymphoma of leukemia
8. Patient with a history of neurologic symptoms suggestive of central nervous system (CNS) demyelinating disease (e.g. Multiple Sclerosis)
9. Patient with a history of untreated active tuberculosis
10. Patient with positive PPD (>5 mm) who have not had prophylaxis
11. Patient with a known positive HIV test
12. Patient with a persistent or severe infection(s) requiring hospitalization or treatment with iv antibiotics within 30 days or oral antibiotics within 7 days prior to baseline.
13. Patient with significant congestive heart failure
14. Patient with clinically significant concurrent medical of psychiatric disorders that in the physician's judgment may influence the study outcomes.
15. Patient with any condition that would prevent participation or completion in this study including language limitation or possibility that the patient will not be available for the complete study period
16. Patient with severe noncompliance
17. Patient receiving an experimental product within the last 6 weeks prior to first dose of Cimzia.
18. Other joint disease or joint pain condition where the patient or physician cannot distinguish RA assessments from the other joint disease
19. Concomitant SLE
20. Chest x-ray shows evidence of TB.