JHL Biotech, Inc. announced that the first patient has been dosed in the company's Phase I clinical trial of JHL1101 (a proposed rituximab biosimilar) in rheumatoid arthritis patients. The randomised, double-blind, parallel group, multicentre study will compare the pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, immunogenicity, safety, and efficacy of JHL1101 versus EU sourced MabThera® in anti-tumor necrosis factor (TNF) inadequate responder patients with moderate to severe rheumatoid arthritis. The study is designed to enroll 150 patients from the European Union, Russia, Taiwan, and Ukraine.