The research effort was something we could only dream about in the not so distant past. Thank-you @jr46 for being part of a research study.
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@jabrown0407
In principle, you are correct except the current "standard of care" at least initially for GCA and PMR, is still prednisone. I think after relapses happen and patients can't taper off Prednisone in a reasonable amount of time ---the treatment in the USA is starting to go toward starting a biologic. The great thing about this PMR/GCA forum is that so many people are sharing their personal experiences with alternatives to prednisone. I was getting weary of hearing that prednisone was the "only option."

The control group is getting Prednisone and a placebo.

The experimental group is getting prednisone and abatacept.

Both groups are doing a standard Prednisone taper.

The following is an older study and not a current study. Research is always ongoing and this older study was promising. I'm not sure what study @jr46 has been enrolled in.
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC5378642/
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Nobody is being treated with only a placebo but that sometimes confuses people.

There is currently a "tsunami of effort" to get people off Prednisone sooner than the current standard. There is a significant, evidence-based push in modern medicine to reduce, shorten, or eliminate long-term use of prednisone and other corticosteroids due to severe side effects and the risk of adrenal suppression.
https://www.healio.com/news/rheumatology/20250220/tsunami-of-effortbrings-biologics-to-the-forefront-in-giant-cell-arteritis-pmr