New data have shown that MabThera (rituximab), a B cell-targeted therapy, is able to significantly inhibit structural damage of joints caused by rheumatoid arthritis (RA).

The study was conducted in patients who had an inadequate response to one or more TNF inhibitors and they received either MabThera plus methotrexate (MTX) or MTX alone. X-ray evidence at 56 weeks showed that the progression of bone erosions and progression of narrowing of joint spaces in patients in the MabThera group were reduced by more than 50 percent compared to patients receiving MTX alone.