diagnosis of adult onset ra disease according to revised 1987 american rheumatism association (ara) criteria who are currently or have a documented history of positive for rheumatoid factor (rf) and/or anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide antibody (anti-ccp ab) and who have moderately to severely active ra despite ongoing methotrexate (mtx) therapy

have active ra defined as the presence of at least 8/68 tender and at least 8/66 swollen joints, as determined by the tender joint count and swollen joint count assessment forms

have a screening c-reactive protein (crp) measurement greater than 1.2 times upper limit of normal or erythrocyte sedimentation rate (esr) greater than 28 mm/hr

have a clinically inflamed joint suitable for synovial biopsy procedure

have used an unstable dose of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (nsaids) within 6 weeks prior to baseline

have used oral corticosteroids at average daily doses of >10 mg/day of prednisone or its equivalent within 6 weeks prior to baseline

have received any parenteral corticosteroid injection within 6 weeks of baseline

have used other disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (dmards) other than mtx, hydroxychloroquine and/or sulfasalazine in the 8 weeks prior to baseline