A new drug designed to treat patients suffering from rheumatoid arthritis is to undergo phase III trials next year, it has been announced.

Rheumatoid arthritis is a fairly common condition, with the NHS estimating the 350,000 people suffer from it in the UK alone.

It is caused by the immune system attacking the joints, making them painful and inflamed.

Drugmakers Genmab A/S and GlaxoSmithKline said that they plan to conduct two studies of ofatumumab to examine how effectively it reduces the signs and symptoms of the condition.

One of the studies will enrol participants who have not seen a significant response when treated with methotrexate, while the other will include patients for whom TNF-alpha antagonist therapy has been ineffective.

Each patient will be given one course of the drug and then studied for 24 weeks to monitor the effect the drug has on their condition.

The two firms also revealed that they planned to conduct further studies in 2008.

Masters can supply scientists conducting clinical trials with comparator drugs from 200 manufacturers across the world, including controlled medicines.