Study results, in the February 13, 2012 issue of Archives of Internal Medicine, point out that there are very few head-to-head clinical trials of biologic DMARDs (disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs) for rheumatoid arthritis. A head-to-head trial would compare a new treatment to an existing treatment. Instead of head-to-head trials, study participants serving as the control or comparison group are usually assigned placebo (a sugar pill or fake treatment) or a drug that has proved ineffective for them. In either case, the study participant is deprived of effective treatment for their disease, potentially allowing their condition to worsen.
Researchers analyzed the protocols of all trials of biologic DMARDs listed in ClinicalTrials.gov through October 1, 2009. Of 91 trials found, only 5 were head-to-head. By not using a head-to-head protocol, besides the control group being deprived treatment, the studies are less useful for comparing how well one drug might work compared to another drug.
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