Inclusion Criteria:

- Male or non-pregnant, non-lactating female patients

- Presence of RA classified by ACR 2010 revised criteria for at least 3 months before
screening

- At Baseline: Disease activity criteria defined by >= 6 tender joints out of 68 and >=
6 swollen joints out of 66

WITH at least 1 of the following at screening:

- Anti-Cyclic Citrullinated Peptide (Anti-CCP) antibodies positive OR

- Rheumatoid Factor positive

AND WITH at least 1 of the following at screening:

- High sensitivity C-Reactive Protein (hsCRP) >= 10 mg/L OR

- Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate (ESR) >= 28 millimeter (mm)/1st hour

- Patients must have been taking at least one anti-TNF-α agent given at an approved
dose for at least 3 months before randomization and have experienced an inadequate
response to treatment or have been intolerant to at least one administration of an
anti-TNF-α agent

- Patients must be taking MTX or any other DMARD (but not more than 1 DMARD) for at
least 3 months before randomization and have to be on a stable dose at least 4 weeks
before randomization (7.5 to 25 mg/week for MTX or other DMARD at maximum tolerated
dose)

Exclusion Criteria:

- Chest x-ray with evidence of ongoing infectious or malignant process, obtained within
3 months prior to screening and evaluated by a qualified physician

- RA patients functional status class IV according to the ACR 1991 revised criteria

- Patients who have ever received biologic immunomodulating agents except for those
targeting TNFα

- Previous treatment with any cell-depleting therapies

Other protocol-defined inclusion/exclusion criteria may apply.