3. BeSt Study: Patient Characteristics
Total Population
Female 67%
Male %
Age (years) 54
Duration of symptoms (weeks) 23
Time diagnosis – inclusion (weeks) 2
DAS
RF-positive 65%
With erosion 72%
Sharp/vdHeijde score
Population was Early RA, and were Sick/ had active disease
Patients had average disease duration of about 6 Months
High DAS (Disease Activity) – 4.4
72% already had Joint Erosion at Baseline
Adapted from Goekoop-Ruiterman et al. Arthritis Rheum 2005;52(11):

4. Remission Rates for Patients on Initial Methotrexate/Infliximab Treatment for Early RA
Adapted from: 1. Allaart et al. Clin Exp Rheumatol 2006;24:S77-S Van der Kooij et al. ACR 2006, abstract Van der Kooij et al. EULAR 2007, abstract THU Klarenbeek et al. EULAR 2008, abstract THU0162.

5. DAS Results for Initial vs
DAS Results for Initial vs. Delayed Treatment with IFX + MTX at 2-year follow-up
100 80
P<0.001 56 60
Initial IFX + MTX (n=120)
P=0.005
Delayed IFX+ MTX (n=86) 40 28 25 18 15 20 5
Conclusion: Initial treatment with IFX + MTX in patients with early onset RA is more effective than reserving IFX + MTX for patients who failed on previous DMARDs, resulting in more reductions in DAS, HAQ, more patients in clinical remission, and more cases of biolgoic free remission in the patients treated with “initial infliximab”.
% failed on IFX + MTX
% stopped IFX and still DAS <2.4
% stopped IFX and still DAS <1.6
Delayed: Early RA patients started combination IFX + MTX therapy after failing DMARDs
IFX = infliximab MTX = methotrexate
Adapted from van der Kooij et al. EULAR 2007, abstract OP0010.

6. Comparative Reduction in CRP Levels
Infliximab 3 mg/kg q 8 +
MTX (N=10) 10 20 30 40 50
0 to 54 weeks CRP AUC (P<0.05)
MTX alone (N=10)
CRP (mg/dL)
Infliximab-free period 2 6 14 22 30 38 46 54 62 78
104
Weeks
= Infliximab/placebo infusions
Adapted from Quinn et al. Arthritis Rheum 2005;52:27-35.

7. BeSt Safety Results Sequential monotherapy Step-up combination Initial
combination with prednisone
Initial combination
with infliximab
1 adverse event (% of pts)
43%
47%
37%
39%
No. of adverse events 54 57 49 50
Gastrointestinal symptoms
16%
15% 8%
11%
Rash/mild dermal or mucosal events
10%
12% 9% 6%
Infections 4% 7%
Cardiovascular events 2%
No. of serious adverse events 8 9 17 6
8 infusiereacties, allen zelfde dag weer naar huis.
Adapted from Goedkoop-Ruiterman et al. Arthritis Rheum 2005;52: