Inclusion Criteria: - Fulfill the 1987 American Rheumatism Association (ARA) criteria for RA - Active RA at the time of enrollment, receipt of concomitant methotrexate at a dose of up to 25 mg a week is permitted - Screening lab results must demonstrate:

• AST and ALT less than or equal to 2 times the upper limit of normal hemoglobin greater than or equal to 8.5 g/dL;
• Platelet count greater than or equal to 125,000/cm3;
• White blood cell count (WBC) greater than or equal to 3500 cells/cm3;
• Serum creatinine less than or equal to 2 mg/dL - Before any study specific procedure is performed, the subject must provide informed consent for participation in the study Exclusion Criteria: - Previous receipt of etanercept - Receipt of antibody to (tumor necrosis factor) TNF alpha or other TNF inhibitors within 90 days of Day 1 - Currently enrolled in other investigational device or drug trials, or participation in investigational trial within the past 30 days - Receipt of intra-articular corticosteroids within 14 days prior to Day 1 - Receipt of any disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (DMARDs) within 28 days of Day 1 - Receipt of cyclophosphamide within 6 months of Day 1 - Concomitant corticosteroids greater than 10 mg/day of prednisone (or equivalent) during 14 days prior to Day 1 - Dose of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) must be stable for 14 days prior to Day 1 and must not exceed the recommended dose in the product information sheet - Subject is not using adequate contraception - Subject is pregnant or breast-feeding - Subject has significant concurrent medical disease