['rheumatoid arthritis']
['placebo', 'methotrexate']

        Inclusion Criteria:

        Written informed consent. Age from 18 to 80 years. Rheumatoid arthritis diagnosed at least
        6 months before informed consent signing Presence of more than 8 swollen and more than 8
        painful joints at screening. C-reactive protein 7 mg/l or more AND/OR erythrocyte
        sedimentation rate 28 mm/hour or more.

        Antibodies to citrullinated cyclic peptide 20 U/ml or more AND/OR rheumatoid factor-IgM
        higher than upper normal limit.

        Documented regular methotrexate intake for 12 weeks, stable dose from 10 to 25 mg/week
        during last 4 weeks before signing informed consent.

        Exclusion Criteria:

        Methotrexate intolerance. Felty's syndrome. Patient functional status - IV class according
        to ACR. Previous use of biologic drugs to treat rheumatoid arthritis, biologic drugs that
        deplete CD20-lymphocytes, azathioprine use in the last 28 days prior to informed consent
        signing, leflunomide use in the last 8 weeks prior to informed consent signing,
        sulphasalazine/hydroxyquinoline use in the last 28 days prior to informed consent signing,
        intraarticular use of corticosteroids in the last 4 weeks prior to informed consent
        signing, patient requires prednisolone (or analogues) in a dose more than 10 mg/day or dose
        is unstable during 4 weeks prior to informed consent signing, requirement in non-steroid
        antiinflammatory drugs if their dose was not stable during last 8 weeks prior to informed
        consent signing.

        Patient has inflammatory joint disease otherwise than rheumatoid arthritis or systemic
        autoimmune diseases.

        Full list of inclusion and exclusion criteria can be found in Study Protocol.
      