OBJECTIVES: To examine the resource utilization and direct costs of care associated with use of biologic agents therapy among prevalent rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients based on retrospective healthcare claims data. The database (EGB) is a 1/97 representative sample of the national claim database covering the whole French population. METHODS: RA patients were identified as adults (age >18) benefiting from full coverage (ALD eligibility criteria) for RA (ICD-10 M05-06) on January 1, 2009 and still alive on December 31st, 2010. Biologics treated patients (BTP) were defined as RA patients with ≥1 claim for biologics in 2010. All health expenses were assessed from the payer’s perspective. A log-linear generalised model was used to adjust the costs in comparing BTP versus patients not treated by biologics (BNP). RESULTS: A total of 1,234 RA patients were identified of whom 199 (16.0%) were treated with biologics (BTP) including TNF inhibitors in 85% of cases. In comparing patients not treated by biologics (BNP) versus BTP, the proportion of male patients (24.1% versus 24.1% p=0.99) nor the time since registration for RA coverage (8.5 versus 9.0 years p=0.33) were significantly different but BTP patients were significantly younger 55.2 years ± 12.9 versus 64.1 years ± 14.5 (p<0.0001). The unadjusted per capita annual expenses of BTP were three times higher than in BNP (15,581 € versus 4,892 € - p<0.0001). Drug costs were respectively 8,477 € (54.4% of total) versus 1,151€ (23.5% of total) (p <0.0001) and in-patient care 4,878 € (31.3% of total) versus 1,696 € (34.7% of total) (p<0.0001). After adjustment for age, the mean annual extra cost of patients on biologics was in the range 11,000 € - 12,000 €.  CONCLUSIONS: When compared to similar data prior to the era of biologics, the structure of medical expenses in RA patients has shifted from in-patient care towards drugs.