Tsutomu Takeuchi has received research grants and consultancy fees from AbbVie, Asahi Kasei, Astellas, AstraZeneca, AYUMI, Bristol Myers Squibb, Chugai, Daiichi Sankyo, Eisai, Eli Lilly Japan, Janssen, Mitsubishi Tanabe, Nippon Kayaku, Novartis, Pfizer Japan Inc, Taiho, Taisho Toyama, Takeda, and Teijin. Yoshiya Tanaka has received research grants from Chugai, Eisai, Mitsubishi Tanabe, and Taisho, and speaker fees and/or honoraria from AbbVie, AstraZeneca, Boehringer Ingelheim, Bristol Myers Squibb, Chugai, Eisai, Eli Lilly, Gilead, GlaxoSmithKline, Pfizer Inc, Taiho, and Taisho. Hisashi Yamanaka has received speaker or consultancy fees from AbbVie, Chugai, Teijin Pharma, and YLBio. Kunihiro Yamaoka has received speaker and consultancy fees from Actelion, Astellas, Chugai, Eisai, Eli Lilly, GlaxoSmithKline, Janssen, Mitsubishi Tanabe, Nippon Shinyaku, Pfizer Inc, and Takeda. Naonobu Sugiyama was an employee and shareholder of Pfizer Japan Inc at the time of the study/analysis and is a current employee of Bristol Myers Squibb K.K. Noriko Iikuni was an employee of Pfizer Inc at the time of the study/analysis, and is a current employee of Xencor Inc. Shigeyuki Toyoizumi is an employee of Pfizer R&D Japan. Kenneth Kwok is an employee and shareholder of Pfizer Inc. Wen-Chan Tsai has received speaker and consultancy fees from Abbott, AstraZeneca, Bristol Myers Squibb, Chugai, Janssen, Mitsubishi Tanabe, Pfizer Inc, and Roche. Eduardo Mysler has received research grants and consultancy fees from AbbVie, Amgen, AstraZeneca, Bristol Myers Squibb, Eli Lilly, GlaxoSmithKline, Janssen, Pfizer Inc, Roche, and Sanofi. Robert J. Moots has received research grants and speaker and consultancy fees from AbbVie, Bristol Myers Squibb, Chugai, Eli Lilly, Novartis, Pfizer Inc, Roche, Sandoz, and UCB. Josef S. Smolen has received research grants from AbbVie, Eli Lilly, Janssen, MSD, Pfizer Inc, and Roche, and consultancy fees from AbbVie, Amgen, AstraZeneca, Astro, Celgene, Celltrion, Eli Lilly, GlaxoSmithKline, ILTOO, Janssen, Medimmune, MSD, Novartis-Sandoz, Pfizer Inc, Roche, Samsung, Sanofi, and UCB. Roy Fleischmann has received consultancy fees from AbbVie, Almirall, Artiva Biotherapeutics, Atomwise, Biohaven Pharmaceuticals, Bristol Myers Squibb, Cyoxone, Deep Cure, Dren Bio, ECOR, Galvani, Gates Bio, Gilead, GlaxoSmithKline, Halia, Immunovant, ImmuneMed, InventisBio, Istesso, Janssen, Janux, Eli Lilly, Monte Rosa, MSD, Novartis, Overland, Pfizer Inc, Synact, TPG, UCB, VYNE Therapeutics, and Xencor. Roy Fleischmann is the Editor-in-Chief of Rheumatology and Therapy. Roy Fleischmann was not involved in the selection of peer reviewers for the manuscript nor any of the subsequent editorial decisions.

All procedures were conducted in accordance with the Declaration of Helsinki and International Council for Harmonisation Guidelines for Good Clinical Practice, and were approved by the Institutional Review Board/Ethics Committee at each study center. All patients provided written informed consent.