The present large, double-blind, randomized trial with a long-acting IL-1R blocker, AMG 108, is consistent with the experience of other IL-1 blockers, represents a definitive experiment showing that IL-1 inhibition provides only moderate symptomatic amelioration of arthritis activity in the majority of RA patients, and provides an answer to a question that has been discussed for many years in the rheumatologic community - whether use of more continuous blockade of IL-1 could translate into increased efficacy in the treatment of RA. This evidence concerns the gene IL1A and rheumatoid arthritis.