Abstract
Introduction
The Outcome Measures in Rheumatology Clinical Trials (OMERACT) Rheumatology Common Toxicity Criteria (RCTC) version 2.0 was published in 2007 by the OMERACT Drug Safety Working Group, building on limited experience with RCTC version 1.0, to facilitate standardization of assessment (grading) and reporting of adverse events (AEs) commonly seen in rheumatic disease clinical trials (Woodworth et al. in J Rheumatol 34:1401–1414, 2007).
Objectives
The objectives of this study were to (1) report the real-world performance of RCTC 2.0; (2) report immediately correctable errors in RCTC 2.0, and provide a revised RCTC 2.1; and (3) begin to identify the need for a comprehensive revision of RCTC 2.0.
Methods
Safety data outputs for several large rheumatic/autoimmune disease clinical trials in which RCTC 2.0 was used were evaluated for accuracy of reporting and the ability to assess differences among treatments. We examined RCTC 2.0 tables for errors, as well as for omission of terms for AEs that commonly occur in more recent rheumatology clinical trials. We also considered recommendations from recent US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and international initiatives such CDISC (Clinical Data Interchange Standards Consortium) to improve the consistency of safety data collection and interpretability of safety data analyses.
Results
RCTC 2.0 enabled comparisons of safety data across treatment groups, including grading. However, we discovered inaccuracies in laboratory results grading and omission of AE terms now recognized to occur in rheumatic disease clinical trials.
Conclusion
The RCTC 2.0 performed as intended, although some inaccuracies and omissions were found. We provide a corrected version, RCTC 2.1, and also recommend further revision of the RCTC within OMERACT guidances to include AEs that have been reported in rheumatology clinical trials since RCTC 2.0 was published. Ideally, a revised RCTC 3.0 would not only facilitate standardized assessment and reporting of AEs, but would also expand and encourage accurate comparison of the safety profiles of treatments for rheumatic/autoimmune diseases.
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Acknowledgements
We wish to thank Ms. Mischa Mangum and Ms. Claudia Real for their diligent administrative support.
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We received no specific funding for this study.
Conflict of interest
The authors declare the following conflicts of interest: Christian M. Stach, employee and stockholder of UCB; Victor S. Sloan, employee and stockholder of UCB; Thasia G. Woodworth, past chair, OMERACT Drug Safety Working Group; Brian Kilgallen, former employee and stockholder of UCB; Daniel E. Furst, Grant/Research Support: BMS, Pfizer, Roche/Genentech; Consultant: Novartis, Pfizer, Roche/Genentech, Sanofi; Speakers Bureau (CME or non-promotional only): none; no stocks, royalties, direct financial holding, expert testimony, or board of directors.
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Stach, C.M., Sloan, V.S., Woodworth, T.G. et al. Rheumatology Common Toxicity Criteria (RCTC): An Update Reflecting Real-World Use. Drug Saf 42, 1499–1506 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40264-019-00864-9
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s40264-019-00864-9