Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an agonizing autoimmune disorder of uncertain origin leading to chronic inflammation at the joints. RA develops in three stages. Nearly 46 million Americans or more than 21 percent of the adult population are affected by this disorder. The origin of RA is unknown but the disease can be controlled by way of new drugs exercise joint protection skills and self-management techniques. In a Phase III clinical study known as IMAGE the drug Rituxan (rituximab) showed promising results in patients with early rheumatoid arthritis (RA) who have not earlier been treated with methotrexate (MTX). The treatment was able to slow down joint destruction in patients with early rheumatoid arthritis (RA) when collectively given with methotrexate. Roche the Pharmaceutical Company which provides more than 35 medications in the United States in major therapeutic area said that the drug with a brand name MabThera was able to show further improvements in the patient’s condition with each subsequent treatment course. MabThera is marketed in the US by Genentech and Biogen Idec under the brand name Rituxan. During the course of Phase III trial the researchers considered 755 patients with active RA from 168 study sites across 27 countries were randomized to receive either Rituxan (500 mg or 1000 mg) or placebo by intravenous combination on days 1 and 15 in addition to therapy with MTX. During the week 52 only patients in the 1000 mg treatment group met the primary endpoint and showed significantly less progression of joint damage compared to patients who received placebo in combination with MTX. Those patients who did not show reduction during week 24 were given a second course of rituximab at the same dose level as the first round. In both Rituxan treatment groups the results showed that there was a significant reduction in joint damage in patients treated with the rituximab and methotraxate combination compared to those taking methotrexate alone. Further investigation of the data is going on and will be proposed for presentation at an upcoming medical meeting. William Burns chief executive of the Pharmaceuticals Division of Roche said MabThera has the prospective to alter the course of rheumatoid arthritis by inhibiting the early damage to joints which eventually causes deformity and disability. These essential findings sustain early use of MabThera in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis to allow patients to maintain a normal life. A spokeswoman for the Arthritis Research Campaign was of the view that it was vital to find out which subset of patients with early RA will be most benefited from rituximab. We should target those patients as it will not suit all the patients.