Recent News
This update includes new pandemic era evidence, recombinant zoster vaccine data, and new perspectives on vaccination in patients taking novel immunosuppressants. Five overarching principles and 10 vaccine recommendations follow.Read Article
A Disease Seeking Its Identity: Peripheral SpA, PsA, and the SPARTACUS Evidence
For years, peripheral spondyloarthritis has been managed with a cautious, stepwise approach: start with NSAIDs, escalate to conventional synthetic DMARDs, and only reach for biologics when everything else fails. The SPARTACUS trial, presented at EULAR 2026 in London, challenges that paradigm head-on. The results make a compelling case for rethinking when, not just whether, to deploy TNF inhibitors.
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Increased VTE Risk with Baricitinib
The RA-BRIDGE and RA-BRANCH studies were presented as a late-breaking abstract at EULAR 2026 (LB0009). This was the pooled results from two large FDA post-marketing commitment safety trials — RA-BRIDGE (global) and RA-BRANCH (US-only) — https://t.co/5cQ829x77u
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow ( View Tweet)
The congress may be over, but the learning continues.
RheumNow's EULAR 2026 coverage hub brings together expert reporting, clinical commentary, daily recaps, podcasts, and key takeaways from the meeting's most important presentations.
Catch up on:
✔️ Rheumatoid Arthritis
✔️ https://t.co/TU6zIOvIy3
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow ( View Tweet)
Induction of Cure in Early Arthritis treated early DMARD-naïve Undiff. Arthritis (≥2 joints) w/ NSAIDs (29), MTX 15-25/wk (28), or baricitinib 4 mg/d (28) x 3 mos. Entry DAS ~ 2.4 w/ 2-3 SJC, <17%CCP+. @3 mos Bari > NSAID (DAS−0.52;p=0.01) = MTX (−0.39, p=0.09).@1yr MTX DAS https://t.co/1kKjginhKM
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow ( View Tweet)
Late-Breaking Studies at EULAR 2026
MedPage Today
Late-breaking abstracts presented at the European Alliance of Associations for Rheumatology's (EULAR) annual meeting, held here last week, addressed a wide range of clinical concerns and suggested that patients and clinicians have much to look forward to in coming months and years.
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EULAR 2026 Recommendations on PMR, GCA, and Takayasu Arteritis
On the final day of EULAR 2026, Mukhtyar et al (on behalf of a large international task force) presented the updated EULAR recommendations for management of polymyalgia rheumatica (PMR), giant cell arteritis (GCA), and Takayasu arteritis (TAK). There were 5 overarching principles and 12 recommendations.
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An IL-23i through ~5 years: How did clinical manifestations of PsA and radiographic progression change during long-term treatment?
🔥View the latest long-term data from ACR to find out more. Sponsored by AbbVie Medical Affairs + Health Impact.
https://t.co/JvH74D2ocI https://t.co/4N1kW214Ak
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow ( View Tweet)
HPV Vaccination in Rheumatic Diseases
Dr. Bella Mehta reports on abstract OP0225 presented at the 2026 EULAR Congress meeting in London.
https://t.co/PMJ7U9kASW https://t.co/aqoNl3B4Vc
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow ( View Tweet)
20% sample of elder RA Medicare pts (2009-2022) on TNFi who either stopped or tapered TNFi found 38% sustained de-escalation, while 62% re-escalated within a medianof 164. Re-escalation was more likely in Blacks, Hispanic/other, with a lower comorbidity burden. https://t.co/rEB3VdOii2
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow ( View Tweet)
Imaging in SpA: are we seeing a clearer picture?
The diagnosis of SpA is highly dependent on imaging particularly in a young patient with chronic, inflammatory back pain. It is timely enough since there have been rapid developments in imaging techniques like MRI, Ultrasound and https://t.co/mCPwzGAEVv
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow ( View Tweet)
US telehealth utilization rose 10.1% in 1st quarter of 2026 (5% to 5.51% medical claims). Most use in mental health conditions (52%) w/ joint/soft tissue dz at 3% overall, higher in west & NE states. 57% for outpt visits, only 7.7% for new visits. 35% for psychotherapy services. https://t.co/L8c7p3iQPL
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow ( View Tweet)
From BiTE to TriTE: Progress of T-cell Engagers in RMDs
At EULAR 2026 in London, T-cell engagers drew attention as a strategy to achieve deep B-cell depletion and drug-free remission in refractory RMDs. BiTEs offer off-the-shelf availability, reversible toxicity from short https://t.co/o8Tn77aYRg
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow ( View Tweet)
Nature has published that Hyperglycosylation is a metabolic driver of Alzheimer’s Dz (AD) & Glucosamine (GS; taken by ~7% over 70yrs) & GS may increase hyperglycosylation. A retrosp EHR study of AD pts shows glucosamine use assoc w/ accelerated AD progression & worse survival https://t.co/bv6H9h6gAv
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow ( View Tweet)
Long-term Cancer Risk with Targeted Therapy in SpA
Dr. Antoni Chan reports on abstract OP0238 presented at EULAR 2026 in London
https://t.co/f67SvKI6Vk https://t.co/fPp2H0aMoK
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow ( View Tweet)
From Cytokine Endotypes to Clinical Reality in Still’s Disease
Recent EULAR 2026 data highlight a paradigm shift in Still’s disease from syndromic management to biologically informed precision therapy.
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In the psoriasis-to-PsA transition study at EULAR 2026, which ultrasound finding best distinguished progressing from stable subclinical PsA? Test your knowledge in this week's RheumIQ quiz at https://t.co/Fnzn4UPu0n https://t.co/kV0zA7qyg7
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow ( View Tweet)
Kyoto U. cohort study of 55 relapsing polychondritis pts (503 Pt-yrs) Rx w/ TNFi, IL-6i or none -- Crude relapse rates were 46.9/100PYs NoBio, 22.4 TNFi, & 12.5 IL-6Ri. Adjusted relapses signif lower w/ TNFi (IRR 0.4) & IL-6Ri (IRR 0.2) vs no biologic. Estimates for hospitalised https://t.co/h6IcVWjqfp
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow ( View Tweet)
A provacative OPINION piece in The Hill asks, is "China is quietly taking control of US medicine..." Should the US & FDA facilitating, ignorning or opposing Chinas influence? Issues of transparency, manufacturing, global supply chain, outsourcing early phase RCTs, etc. https://t.co/4vveTR8UK8
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow ( View Tweet)
Danish hospital 574 newly diagnosed RA pt, 75% recv glucocorticoids (GC) in 1st yr (55% 1st visit) -- mean dose was 9.3 mg/day, with 46% recv oral tablets & 47% IA steriods injections. 20% had an infection in 1st Yr (RR 1.13; 0.77 to 1.67). Doses declined after 1st visit, but not https://t.co/JcerD61m0t
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow ( View Tweet)
Video
From the Blog
Podcasts
RheumNow EULAR 2026 Rheumatology Round Up
EULAR 2026 RA Topic Panel
CAR-T Topic Panel EULAR 2026
EULAR 2026 PsA Update What's Changing in P
Therapeutic Updates
Psoriatic arthritis and overweight or obesity
Sponsored by Lilly Medical Affairs
Dr. Merola presenting the results from TOGETHER‑PsA, a phase 3b trial evaluating the concomitant use of an IL‑17A antagonist and an incretin receptor agonist in adults with psoriatic arthritis and overweight or obesity.
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Poster Hall
Sponsored by AbbVie Medical Affairs + Health Impact
