Shorter prednisone course with tocilizumab for giant cell arteritis
Compares 8 weeks with 26 weeks of prednisone alongside tocilizumab in giant cell arteritis.
Key facts
- Who runs it
- Insel Gruppe AG, University Hospital Bern
- Where
- Switzerland1 site in 1 countryChoose a country to see its sites
- Trial code
- Registry title
- Treatment for Giant Cell Arteritis With Tocilizumab and 8 as Compared to 26 Weeks of Prednisone
- Status
- Not yet recruiting
- Phase
- Phase 3
- People taking part
- 178 people, planned
- Started
- Jul 2026
- Expected to end
- Aug 2032
- Type of study
- Interventional, 2 groupsOne group gets an existing treatment, for comparison.
- Treatments tested
- Prednisone
- Record updated
- 1 May 2026
Who can take part
AI summary
From the trial's eligibility criteria. Machine-read from the registry text on this page, so it can be wrong. The registry text below and the trial team decide who can take part.
The trial is looking for people with giant cell arteritis who are starting tocilizumab. It compares 8 weeks with 26 weeks of prednisone.
- Age
- 50 Years and older
- Sex
- All sexes can join
- Disease stage
- Diagnosed with giant cell arteritis
- Earlier treatment
- Must be starting tocilizumab at the start of the trial as part of routine care. Must be taking ≥ 20 mg/day prednisone (or equivalent) at the start.
Main reasons for not taking part
- Treated with any investigational drug, chemical or biologic, within a minimum of 30 days or 5 half-lives (whichever is longer) before the first dose of tocilizumab
The registry criteria, word for word
Show all 5 criteriaShow less
Who can take part
- Patients diagnosed with giant cell arteritis
- Start of tocilizumab treatment at baseline as part of routine clinical practice
- Receive ≥ 20 mg/day prednisone (or equivalent) at baseline
- Written informed consent
Who cannot take part
- Treated with any investigational drug of chemical or biologic nature within a minimum of 30 days or 5 half-lives (whichever is longer) prior to the first dose of tocilizumab
This trial has no sites in United States.
It has sites in one country. Choose a country to see its sites.
About the trial
What the trial wants to find out
The GISCO study plans to determine whether 8-week therapy is just as effective as 26-week cortisone therapy for treating giant cell arteritis
Read full original descriptionShow less
* with tocilizumab, * while using less cortisone.
The 2 groups in the trial
- 26 weeks glucocorticoidExisting treatment, for comparison
26 weeks glucocorticoid taper
Treatment: Prednisone
- 8 weeks glucocorticoidTreatment being tested
8 weeks glucocorticoid taper
Treatment: Prednisone
Questions to ask the study team
- How often do I need to come in, and for how long each time?
- Are travel costs paid?
- Can I keep my own doctor?
- What happens if I want to stop?
Contact the study team: see the registry record → Contacts and Locations
Print a page for my doctorData and sources
- Registry record
- Listed on ClinicalTrials.gov.
- Official title
- Treatment for Giant Cell Arteritis With Tocilizumab and 8 as Compared to 26 Weeks of Prednisone: a Randomized, Multicenter, Adaptive, Blinded, Phase III Study
- Plain-language title
- Shorter prednisone course with tocilizumab for giant cell arteritisGenerated from the registry record. The registry title is the official one.
- AI summary
- From the trial's eligibility criteria. Read by machine on 15 November 2026.
- Record updated
- 1 May 2026