Change-up for BATTER-UP

A year after starting a biomarker study in rheumatoid arthritis, a broad-based consortium has been forced to retool its recruitment strategy. The Biomarkers of Anti-TNF Treatment Efficacy in Rheumatoid Arthritis -Unresponsive Populations Consortium had hoped to start getting data early next year that could help determine who will benefit from TNF therapy. It now hopes to report results in 2013.

The BATTER-UP Consortium had to go back to the drawing board this summer because, despite participation from large companies with extensive experience running RA trials, the group hadn't anticipated how difficult it would be for a consortium-led study to enroll patients at small community practices using payer prescription records...