Aug 28 (Reuters) - Johnson & Johnson ( JNJ ) said on

Thursday it has decided not to proceed with the development of

its combination drug in patients with a type of arthritis, after

results from a mid-stage trial did not show sufficient benefit.

The company was studying the combination of its drug

nipocalimab with an anti-tumor necrosis factor alpha (anti-TNFα)

therapy, which helps to stop inflammation.

In the mid-stage trial, the combination therapy failed to

show a significant added benefit over anti-TNFα therapy alone in

difficult-to-treat patients with rheumatoid arthritis.

Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disease that causes

pain, swelling and stiffness in the lining of the joints.