you attend the first clinic visit after joining the study. during this visit a doctor records your health information, performs physical examinations, and collects blood samples. questionnaires about pain and daily activities are also completed. this information is used as the starting point for later comparisons.

after the baseline assessments you are randomly assigned to receive either sarilumab or a placebo that looks identical. the assignment is unknown to both you and the study staff (double‑blind).

on the same day you receive the first subcutaneous injection. if you are in the active arm, the injection contains sarilumab 200 mg in a pre‑filled syringe; if you are in the placebo arm, the injection contains an inert solution that matches the appearance of the active drug. the injection is given every two weeks (notation q2w) for the next 52 weeks.

you also begin taking prednisone 15 mg tablets once daily by mouth. prednisone is a corticosteroid that helps control inflammation. the dose will be reduced gradually over a period of 52 weeks (this is called a prednisone taper).

every two weeks you return to the clinic for the next injection. the same schedule is followed for the entire 52‑week period.

at each visit the study staff checks for side effects, measures your blood pressure and temperature, and may draw small blood samples to monitor laboratory values.

every month a more detailed assessment is performed, including the same questionnaires used at baseline to track changes in pain and function.

starting after the first week, the daily prednisone dose is lowered stepwise according to a predefined plan. the reduction is spread over 52 weeks so that by week 52 most participants are off prednisone entirely. the exact amount reduced each week is explained by the study nurse, and you receive a written schedule.

at week 24 you undergo a comprehensive evaluation. the doctor determines whether you have achieved remission, which means no significant symptoms of polymyalgia rheumatica. the result is recorded as part of the study endpoints.

at week 52 you attend the last scheduled visit. the final injection is given, and the prednisone taper is completed. the study team evaluates sustained remission, safety outcomes, and quality‑of‑life questionnaires.

after this visit the study medication is stopped and you are no longer required to attend regular study visits.

a short follow‑up contact may be made several weeks after week 52 to collect any late‑occurring safety information. no further study medication is provided.