you attend the first study visit after joining the trial. during this visit a health professional records your medical history, performs a physical exam, and measures the activity of your rheumatoid arthritis using a score called das28‑crp.

blood samples are taken to check your overall health, to measure the number of b cells, and to establish baseline levels of immunoglobulins, which are proteins that help the immune system.

on the same day or shortly after the baseline visit you receive the study drug bms‑986528 as a subcutaneous injection (a shot under the skin). the exact dose and how often it will be given are set by the study protocol.

if you are already receiving tocilizumab as part of your usual care, the intravenous infusion of that medication continues according to its normal schedule.

you return to the study site at the intervals defined by the protocol (for example weekly or every few weeks). each visit includes a brief physical check, a review of any side effects, and additional blood draws.

the blood samples are used to measure how much bms‑986528 is in your bloodstream, to track how quickly your body clears the drug, and to observe changes in b‑cell numbers, immunoglobulin levels, and the presence of any antibodies that your body might make against the study drug.

approximately three months after the first injection, a detailed assessment of your rheumatoid arthritis symptoms is performed using the das28‑crp score. this helps determine whether bms‑986528 is having a beneficial effect on pain, swelling, and inflammation.

you continue to receive bms‑986528 injections and any ongoing tocilizumab infusions for the remainder of the study period as defined by the protocol.

at the end of the trial a final visit is scheduled. during this visit safety is reviewed one last time, blood samples are collected for the same laboratory measurements, and the overall effect of the treatment on your rheumatoid arthritis is summarized.