Recent News
After the first tumour necrosis factor inhibitor (TNFi) failure, patients with active rheumatoid arthritis (RA) responded by switching to upadacitinib, compared to cycling to a second TNFi, adalimumab.Read Article
PsA GRAPPA Domains: Outcomes With a JAKi Listen as Dr. Schwartzman and Dr. Ruderman explore the role of a JAKi in managing PsA disease activity across GRAPPA domains. Sponsored by AbbVie Medical Affairs + Health Impact. https://t.co/SNFoejGl7g https://t.co/MMC5GsMpiS
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow ( View Tweet)
Danish registry study of truncal (2,260) vs superselective (3,810) vagotomy (1977-95) vs general popul. (10:1). Truncal incr. RA risk (aHR 2.62), but selective did not (aHR 1.05. Neither had effect on OA risk https://t.co/dqejtN9TwY https://t.co/R0OJZTxd5T
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow ( View Tweet)
Anifrolumab (Saphnelo) approved in the US for subcutaneous self-administration as a new autoinjector for the treatment of systemic lupus erythematosus based on SC-TULIP study. Presumeably, all prior CRL issues resolved to FDA satisfaction... https://t.co/ZtZmJLcGYa https://t.co/HnEzSgItXa
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow ( View Tweet)
Neoplasia and Autoimmune Disease
Malignancy rivals cardiovascular disease as a leading cause of death in patients with systemic autoimmune diseases. Chronic inflammation and immune dysregulation can drive oncogenesis, while antitumor immune responses can trigger autoimmune phenomena (paraneoplastic syndromes, checkpoint inhibitor-induced rheumatic disease).
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Sun Pharma buys out Organon w/ $11.75 billion buyout. Both generated $6.2 billion in 2025 sales. Organon spun off from Merck in 2021, specializes in women’s health and is top 7 in biosimilars. Sun is into dermatology, ophthalmology and oncology-dermatology. https://t.co/zb4hucTqCJ
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow ( View Tweet)
Presented at AACE Annual Meeting, FREEDOM Real-World Study looked atypical femoral Fxs & found a low AFF risk - 24 AFFs w/ denosumab (0.89/1KPY) vs 397 AFFs w/ bisphosphonates (0.82/1KPY) but no active comparators & excluded pts w/ comorbidities. https://t.co/vRwkfHSXxh https://t.co/xzgC0D5ZTu
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow ( View Tweet)
Smoking is most established environmental risk factor for RA- Dz risk, severity, & RA-ILD. Role of other airborne pollutants is mixed: particulate matter & nitrogen dioxide show inconsistent associations w/ RA https://t.co/Fkemc5hAUB
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow ( View Tweet)
TRACE study of 90 axSpA pts Rx w/ either TNFi or secukinumab (150 or 300 mg)- at wk 56, 59% achieved clinical-remission & 43% achieved w56-MRI-remission (SPARCC) w/ benefits by wk 4. Predictors of clinical remission: ASDAS & BMI (@wk16); none @wk56 https://t.co/CEsAeRMvUE https://t.co/SfSAm3u4IM
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow ( View Tweet)
Twofold Mortality in SLE
Despite declining incidence of lupus, mortality for SLE was twice that of controls in this large incident cohort study.
https://t.co/Sv7XMnLT3J https://t.co/CURPZ5cYgt
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow ( View Tweet)
Obesity is more than comorbidity—it’s a driver of inflammation.
At #RheumNowLive 2026, Dr. Uzma Haque breaks down weight management strategies that actually move the needle in rheumatology care.
🎧 Listen here: https://t.co/A6fbPvV2tD
#Rheumatology #Inflammation #Obesity https://t.co/RLxV44SrUB
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow ( View Tweet)
Arthralgia w/ HIGH ACPA level >3x ULN) has a 30–50% probability of being diagnosed with RA within 3–5 years https://t.co/iJTyMQM480
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow ( View Tweet)
FDA has accepted Genetech application for obinutuzumab (Gazyva) to treat SLE (currently only approved for lupus nephritis) - based on Phase III ALLEGORY study w/ Gazyva showing signif reduced dz activity https://t.co/louTYyN6bN https://t.co/Hy1gGliamn
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow ( View Tweet)
“Success is not final, failure is not fatal: it is the courage to continue that counts.”
– Winston Churchill
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow ( View Tweet)
https://t.co/4UQlqwujiR 2026 brought together leading rheumatology experts for two days of practical, clinically focused education.
Now you can watch the full program On Demand.
Highlights include:
• RA mortality trends and the mucosal hypothesis
• IL-23 vs IL-17 inhibitor https://t.co/YMfxa7PDXF
Links:
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow ( View Tweet)
Comorbidity burden, uveitis, & psoriasis independently assoc w/ greater spinal radiographic progression in AS. Study3,441 pts (75% male; 84% B27+). Progression greater w/ 2+ comorbidities & uveitis, & PSO https://t.co/7Zh5SlMKc0 https://t.co/lmonP5YrcV
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow ( View Tweet)
Rheumatology Salaries 2025
Medscape has published its annual Physician Compensation report with physican salaries up roughly 3% and eight specialties earning more than $500,000 per annum.
https://t.co/DNe42EsxRW https://t.co/aegcNm8Pla
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow ( View Tweet)
Severe thrombocytopenia (TP) assoc w/ severe APS & increased mortality. Retro study of 432 #APS pts - 142 w/ TP (33%): 13% severe TP (<50L G/L). Severe TP assoc w/ ITP & CAP -had higher mortality https://t.co/7f8VpIcEJy
Links:
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow ( View Tweet)
Weight-loss drugs may affect joints directly
A new study from Aarhus University shows that the hormone GLP-1, which is mimicked in medication for diabetes and weight loss, is present in joint fluid. In the long term, this may open up new treatments for arthritis. https://t.co/HkcPUQp05H
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow ( View Tweet)
Does monotherapy work? network meta-analysis of 31 RCTs, 13 csDMARDs, Leflunomide, SSZ & gold were better than placebo & equal to MTX regarding annual xray progression scores. Evidence in favor BUT failed to study monoRx vs Combo Rx https://t.co/cMSZ4QHi5G https://t.co/o9ikhJu3UM
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow ( View Tweet)
From the Blog
Podcasts
Follow the Money (4.23.2026)-
Prescribing Lessons (4.17.2026)
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Top Four and More (4.10.2026)
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Whats New PsA? (4.3.2026)
Therapeutic Updates
PsA GRAPPA domains: Outcomes With a JAKi
Sponsored by AbbVie Medical Affairs + Health Impact
Dr. Schwartzman and Dr. Ruderman discuss how PsA disease activity across GRAPPA domains may guide treatment decisions, sharing both the evidence for and their experience with a JAKi across domains.
Read Post
Poster Hall
