Recent News
van der Heijde et al have published the results of the phase 3 POETYK PsA-1 trial demonstrating that deucravacitinib was superior to placebo in clinical responses, patient-reported outcomes, and structural damage inhibition in patients with psoriatic arthritis (PsA).Read Article
EBR Journal Club: Brepocitinib in Dermatomyositis (VALOR)
The EBR Journal Club Companion applies my adapted version of the JAMA approach to critical appraisal. Each review covers four domains: Does this apply to my patients? What is the risk of bias? How great are the benefits and harms? And what didn’t they show me? Feel free to use this in your own journal clubs! This edition: VALOR (brepocitinib in dermatomyositis).
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Exercise Can Improve Pain
This pooled meta-analyses (n=197,392) shows that exercise reduced pain versus control immediately after the intervention (SMD −0.59; 95% CI −0.65 to −0.53; P0.001). The benefit held across musculoskeletal, inflammatory, neurologic and cancer pain, and for every modality tested.
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T-cell engager blinatumomab (CD3xCD19 TCE) was used for Deep B-cell depletion in 15 resistant RA pts (MDR-RA). @wk 12 9/15 CDAI LDA, 3/15 CDAI remission. Synovial B cells were depleted (4 of 5 biopsies) but not in lymph nodes. Later, 14/15 flared. No ICANs, 3/15 w/ CRS (gr 1) https://t.co/ddLb7lIHka
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Metanalysis of IVIG in scleroderma (11 studies, 363 pts) showed IVIG to be safe; signif improvement in skin by mRSS (SMD −0.59; p 0.0019) & GI Dz (SMD −0.73; p 0.0012; I2 = 0%). W/ inflam myopathy signif reduction in CK (SMD −0.53; p<0.001) https://t.co/h53FrACCgA https://t.co/qavoD3Vren
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Biogen announced the 52 week OL results of AMETHYST Phase 2/3 RCT of litifilimab in 93 #CLE pts. Betw wk 24 & 52, pts improved w/ clear skin (27.2%; CLA IGA 0-1) & 29% CLASI-70 (dz activity) https://t.co/61zxVhUwuj https://t.co/9oGXGcom2m
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2 cohorts of GC naive, suspected (n 185) PMR pts studied with MSK ultrasound - 67% Dx w/ PMR clinically. No single MSK US finding was ound pathognomonic for PMR. Best specificity (85-93%) was 1+ inflammatory lesion in both the shoulder & hip girdles https://t.co/XOXGeTBl5m https://t.co/3GADGo73l1
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Using national survey data of adults (62-85 yrs) saw no change in Rx Med (84% vs 85%) or dietary supplement (66% vs 67%) use betw 2015-2016 & 2021-2013. But OTC declined (60% vs 55%; P = .04). Polypharmacy signif incr. Drug-drug interactions declined (26% vs 22%; P .02) w/ https://t.co/16xPyKS2aU
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Triple Hormone Receptor Agonist for Treatment of Obesity and Knee Osteoarthritis
The NEJM reports that retatrutide, an investigational incretin agent, was shown to yield up to 25% weight reduction, with subanalyses also showing reduced pain with knee osteoarthritis, and less apnea–hypopnea events in participants with obstructive sleep apnea.
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Ambient AI in Rheumatology Practice: Less Typing or Less Human?
Rheumatology has become a sedentary, computer-based job. We sit at our computers to pre-chart, type during patient visits, and bring notes home to finish on laptops while sitting on the couch. Do you spend more https://t.co/zr56f7iCrJ
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Danish national study (2003-2024) of 51,401 #PMR pts (24K PCPs, 27K secondary MDs): PMR incidence = 112/100K. PMR decr 53% in primary care & incr 30% in secondary care (overall 12% decline). Among PMR, GCA rate was 5.4/1,000 PYs, w/ median 68 days from PMR Dx. 28% & 22% were https://t.co/1VlI5r1r0L
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Multicenter retrosp study 2865 #RA pts (dz duration 2 yrs) starting b/tsDMARDs (TNFi, IL-6i, RTX, ABA, JAKi) - 50% were on steroids (GC). At 3 & 6 mos, only 26% & 37% D/C GC. GC D/C more w/ JAKi (24 v 17%). Predictors on NON-D/C: Chronic GC, HTN, TNFi, RTX, ABA (vs JAKi) https://t.co/JSve6M9hwm
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Petri SLE Pearls: An Update
At the CCR West 2026 conference in Huntington Beach, California, Dr. Michelle Petri updated her Petri Pearls. Some are derived from new data, while others are from her extensive experience caring for patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). https://t.co/SftiqcqbLa
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Italian retrospective study of 36 difficult #GCA pts (89% relapsed; 72% prev TCZ) showed Clinical remission 85%, 81%, & 83% at 3, 6, & 12 mos. GC-free remission increased to 15%, 28%, & 40% at 3, 6, & 12 mos. GCs d/c in 43%. Results at odds w/ ph III GCAptAIN RCT where SEC https://t.co/ufCeaJnVXk
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Serum Abs against IL-1 recept antagonist (aIL-1Ra) were studied in 46 adult-onset Still’s Dz (AOSD not on anakinra) pts & found signif. higher in AOSD vs controls (p=0.003); but levels did not differ between active vs inactive AOSD https://t.co/w6KvLyv1j8 https://t.co/IuQ1SHLDF8
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Merck MSD announced positive results w/ tulisokibart (anti-TL1A) in MK-7240-012, Phase 2b DBRPCT in mod-severe hidradenitis suppurativa. Wk 16 HiSCR50 responses were 72% (hi dose), 64% (mid dose), 52% (low dose) vs 35% PBO. https://t.co/cvBH0fvCnI https://t.co/jo7JaXMItZ
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"No person has the right to rain on your dreams."
- Martin Luther King, Jr.
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Upadacitinib is now approved in European Union to treat active polyarticular juvenile idiopathic arthritis (pJIA) ages > 2yrs for those not responding to 1+ DMARDs. In the USA, UPA is approved for pJIA & juvenile PsA https://t.co/Vhx717rw5T https://t.co/hObov1Umgb
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BMJ reports TriNetX EHR study showing GLP-1 RA use in knee OA pts was assoc w/ significantly lower cumulative TKA incidence (p<0.001). 1 year any GLP-1 RA (HR 0.90) or 3 yrs exposure (HR 0.72) signif lowered TKA 8 yrs later https://t.co/RGQJJHgLFv https://t.co/Ko7VI3ZAC0
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow ( View Tweet)
Amgen announced topline results from the Phase 3 OASIZ 301 study showing the efficacy of dazodalibep in Sjögren's dz, w/ signif ESSDAI improvements at wek 48. DAZO is a CD40L antagonist fusion protein https://t.co/5QPBdZivxC https://t.co/tJvYo6TrWO
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Video
From the Blog
The costs of GLP-1 agonists must come down in order to make these treatments available to the people who need them - including many people with rheumatologic diseases.
Podcasts
PsA Beyond the Joints: Rheum, Derm, and Gastro Perspectives
Remission – Believe it or Not (10.2.2026)
The Four Pillars of Weight Loss Part 4
DERM on RheumNow PODCAST (September 2026)
Therapeutic Updates
Clinical dilemmas in axSpA and PsA
Sponsored by UCB
Explore some of the challenges rheumatologists face in clinical practice, including expert perspectives from UCB's Annual International Immunology Summit.
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PsA Beyond the Joints: Rheum, Derm, and Gastro Perspectives
Sponsored by AbbVie Medical Affairs + Health Impact
Dr. Saakshi Khattri hosts dermatologist Dr. Ahmad Amin and gastroenterologist Dr. Joshua Steinberg to discuss multidisciplinary care in PsA and other immune-mediated inflammatory diseases. Learn how signals in the skin and gut may prompt the need for collaboration across specialties to support better patient outcomes that extend beyond the joints.
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Obesity – Inflammation – PsA
Sponsored by Lilly Medical Affairs
Learn about the inflammatory intersection between Psoriatic Arthritis and Obesity, and why adiposity is more than a comorbidity.
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Poster Hall
Sponsored by AbbVie Medical Affairs + Health Impact
