RA-DRUM Does individual dosing provide better treatment for more people?
Today, all patients with rheumatoid arthritis (arthritis) receive the same dose of biological drugs. The researchers are now investigating whether an individually adapted dose means that more people will get a better effect from the medicines.
RA-DRUM, EU project at Diakonhjemmet hospital
The hospital, known for its leading research environment in rheumatology, has just started the RA-DRUM research project. It is a study in which several hospitals in Norway and Europe are participating, a so-called multicentre study. It is organized from REMEDY.
The study is part of the SQUEEZE project, which has received over NOK 100 million from Horizon Europe, the EU's research programme.
- We are proud to be part of the SQUEEZE collaboration. It gives us a unique opportunity to further develop the treatment of arthritis and improve the patients' quality of life, says senior doctor Silje Watterdal Syversen at REMEDY and Diakonhjemmet hospital, project manager for the study.
Therapeutic drug monitoring
RA-DRUM is a clinical study of the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis, that is, a study that includes patients. It investigates how therapeutic drug monitoring (TDM) can optimize the effect of biological drugs. TDM involves measuring the drug level in the patient's blood and adjusting the dosage to ensure an optimal serum concentration. This can improve treatment results.
- Today we see great variation in the amount of medicine in the blood of the various patients, which can affect the treatment outcome. By keeping the level of the medicine at the right level, we can prevent the individual patient's immune system from destroying the effect of the medicine, explains Ingrid Jyssum, who coordinates the study nationally and leads the study at Diakonhjemmet hospital.
The first patient has now been included in the study, which marks an important step forward for research into rheumatoid arthritis.
- Getting our first patient is a milestone in this important project. We are completely dependent on the patients wanting to participate so that we can research better treatment for more people, emphasizes Jyssum.
Who can participate?
The study is open to patients over the age of 18 who have been diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis (arthritis) and are being treated with the biological drug adalimumab. A total of 350 participants will be recruited in the study. Although the recruitment of participants has not yet fully started, it will soon be possible to register your interest in participating in this ground-breaking research.
- We want to include a wide range of patients in order to obtain as representative data as possible. This will be crucial to being able to draw good conclusions about the effect of TDM, explains Jyssum.
More information about RA-DRUM and the larger SQUEEZE project can be found by following the links.
The project management
Silje Watterdal Syversen, rheumatologist (PhD) leads the study.
Ingrid Jyssum, doctor in specialization (PhD), coordinates the study nationally and leads the study at Diakonhjemmet hospital.
Camilla Skancke Mørstad is a research coordinator responsible for the coordination of study operations and cooperation with the Norwegian and foreign study centres.
