If you’ve experienced rheumatoid arthritis (RA), you already know just how painful and frustrating it can be. From joint pain that makes it hard to get out of bed in the morning, to weakness and stiffness whenever you try to bend over or open a jar, RA can have a severe impact on your quality of life. Unfortunately, there’s still no cure for RA. While several treatments have been approved by the FDA in recent years, scientists are still searching for new drugs and therapies that can help to improve the quality of life of RA patients. 

The exciting news is that you may have an opportunity to participate in a clinical trial for a promising new drug that could revolutionize the lives of patients living with RA. Here, you can learn all about the SynAct trial, including how to find out whether or not you are eligible to participate. 

What is the SynAct trial for rheumatoid arthritis?

SynAct Pharma is a clinical-stage biotechnology company that develops various drugs and treatments, mostly with a focus on treating inflammation. One of their drugs has shown great promise as a first-in-class treatment for RA but has so far only been tested in a limited number of patients. 

SynAct is now running an expanded clinical trial to further evaluate their drug in RA patients. This is a phase 2b clinical trial, which means it’s designed to test how effective a drug can be. SynAct’s drug is a non-steroidal oral medication, taken daily. 

Who is eligible for the SynAct trial?

There are a number of different eligibility criteria for the SynAct trial. To participate, individuals must: 

• Be between 18 and 85 years of age 
• Have an RA diagnosis from a rheumatologist 
• Have active RA, with six or more tender or swollen joints 
• Be currently taking Methotrexate and have taken it for a minimum of 12 weeks
• Not be taking any additional biologic or non-biologic DMARD RA medications
• Be able to visit our facility in Woodlands, TX, for five separate visits

If you meet these initial criteria, there’s a good chance you are eligible for the trial! Learn more about how you can enroll below. 

Is this drug actually going to work for RA patients? Is it safe?

SynAct’s drug has already gone through a phase 1 clinical trial, where it was thoroughly tested in over 100 patients to make sure it was completely safe. The drug performed extremely well, with a very safe, minimal side effect profile. The main side effects that participants reported were nausea, constipation, and headaches. No serious adverse effects from the drug were reported.

While the effectiveness of SynAct’s drug needs to be further investigated, data from the safety trials showed very promising trends. Positive results were reported as early as seven days after taking the oral medication. This is significantly faster than most of the RA medications currently available, which typically take 2-4 months for patients to see any results. 

How do I enroll in the SynAct clinical trial for RA?

If you fulfill the criteria above and can make the time commitment, please contact us at Advanced Rheumatology of Houston or call our office at (281) 766-7886. The next step will be a more detailed screening to see if you will be eligible to participate in the study. There are four different study groups, and there is a 75% chance that you will be given active medication instead of a placebo.

Once you enroll in any clinical trial, it puts you in the pipeline to participate in future studies and you are first to be contacted with other study opportunities. It’s also worth mentioning that all costs are covered and there is compensation provided at each visit for participating in the trial.

Act fast! This opportunity is only open until the desired number of participants have been enrolled in the trial. 

Don’t miss your chance to participate in this important and promising research study. Contact us at (281) 766-7886  to discuss your eligibility to join this exciting clinical trial.