Efficacy of leflunomide combined with ligustrazine in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis: prediction with network pharmacology and validation in a clinical trial

Leflunomide (LEF) is a first-line disease-modifying antirheumatic drug (DMARD) for rheumatoid arthritis (RA). However, there are still a few nonresponders. It is logical to suggest that employing combinations including LEF that produce synergistic effects in terms of pharmacological activity is a promising strategy to improve clinical outcomes. We propose a novel approach for predicting LEF combinations through investigating the potential...