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
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)
NSAIDs in Inflammatory Bowel Disease?
At least some patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) can safely use common drugs for musculoskeletal aches and pains, a large study of insurance claims data suggested, contradicting a widespread concern that these products can https://t.co/JeINgTWTK0
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow ( View Tweet)
ACR Endorses New Training Model for Pediatric Subspecialties
The ACR welcomes the recent announcement from the American Board of Pediatrics (ABP) outlining new training models for pediatric subspecialties. Given the collaborative work ACR has engaged in over the years, this is https://t.co/blNkWXuLkJ
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow ( View Tweet)
TriNetX study of 7,929 RA pts Rx w/ bDMARDs (n 2668) w/in 6 mos of elective hand surgery - perioperative bDMARD continuation (34%) was not associated with significant increases in risks of wound healing failures (1.4% vs 1.4%) or SSI (2% vs 1.5%) https://t.co/NY6l2jRswb https://t.co/IxoYtLNGvf
Links:
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow ( View Tweet)
From the Blog
At first, it seemed similar to many other such sessions – a circle of folding chairs, a group of colleagues whose visages exuded understanding and acceptance – but this was special. I started the meeting…. “Hi, my name is Artie.”
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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.
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Poster Hall
