In the tREACH trial, 281 patients with newly diagnosed rheumatoid arthritis were randomly assigned to three different induction DMARD strategies: combination therapy (methotrexate, sulfasalazine and hydroxychloroquine), with either oral or intramuscular glucocorticoids, or methotrexate with oral glucocorticoids. At 3-month follow-up, patients who received the combination therapy had a lower disease activity score (0.39, 95% CI 0.67–0.11) than those who received methotrexate monotherapy. Intramuscular and oral glucocorticoids were equally effective bridging therapies.