Recent News
Read ArticleDr. Jack Cush reviews the news, journal articles and regulatory news from this past week on RheumNow.com
Always on exams, but I've never seen a case! JAMA Dermatology reviews Multicentric Reticulohistiocytosis - pt w/ multiple nodules on hands & pain in shoulders, elbows, MCPs, IPs. Erythema over face, chest, & back & bead like Perionychial papules. Rx w/ MTX + Pred https://t.co/QgS5VBOB51
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow ( View Tweet)
ALTO: Long-Term Abatacept Outcomes in At-Risk RA
Lancet Rheumatology has published the ALTO results - long term outcomes of the APIPPRA trial, demonstrating that treatment with abatacept (ABA) in at risk patients can delay progression to rheumatoid arthritis (RA) for up to 4 https://t.co/Lb8md9cYbG
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow ( View Tweet)
Giant Cell Arteritis Outcomes in Canada
A retrospective cohort study of patients with giant cell arteritis (GCA) demonstrates relapses are common and seen in nearly half of patients, were common after treatment is stopped and is not effectively averted by methotrexate (MTX). https://t.co/7hIpn6CJXg
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FDA vs. Amgen: At Odds Over Avacopan
MedPage Today
The FDA has requested that Amgen voluntarily withdraw avacopan (Tavneos), a treatment for anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic autoantibody (ANCA)-associated vasculitis, but the company said it has no plans to pull the drug from the market.
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ACR Applauds Recent Government Funding
ACR
The American College of Rheumatology (ACR) today applauded the recent passage of the Congressional CY 26 funding package that includes several important provisions, including extending Medicare telehealth payment flexibilities, improving transparency in pharmacy benefit management (PBM) practices, and advancing arthritis research.
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NEW FROM ACR: See data for patients with RA who achieved remission at 6 months with a JAKi and maintained response at 2 years in a real-world study. Click to learn more about long-term outcomes.
Sponsored by AbbVie Medical Affairs + Health Impact.
https://t.co/GVfoF2LJez https://t.co/segRc0jrof
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow ( View Tweet)
FDA sent a complete response letter to AstraZeneca on their application (BLA) for anifrolumabs (Saphnelo) subcutaneous use in SLE. Despite a positive TULIP-SC trial & EU approval of SC-anifrolumab, FDA & sponsor still have to work things out. CRL reasons are unknown https://t.co/3dNwEyolrj
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Congratulations to Anca Dinu Askanase, MD, MPH, who has been appointed Chair of the Department of Medicine and Chief of the Division of Rheumatology at Hospital for Special Surgery https://t.co/L5mbFloLpK https://t.co/gsZm9Is159
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Hiring, Onboarding and Training APPs
Tuesday Night Rheumatology: Hiring, Onboarding and Training APPs. Visit our Mission APP: Partners in Care site for more APP-focused articles and videos.
https://t.co/CGrXSCrp9n https://t.co/wYkb6C1IEW
Links:
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Which Fibromyalgia Drugs are Cost-Effective?
A cost-effectiveness analysis compared FDA approved fibromyalgia (FM) drugs (pregabalin, duloxetine, milnacipran) with amitriptyline and found duloxetine was the preferred strategy across perspectives.
https://t.co/5NZeYquGxs https://t.co/rhcwH2yLEm
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow ( View Tweet)
SGLT2 Inhibitors in Gout - Better Outcomes, Fewer Meds
Natalie McCormick, PhD (RACER Center, Mass General Brigham), led a new Diabetes Care study on gout-related medication use after starting SGLT2 inhibitors in patients with gout and type 2 diabetes.
https://t.co/P3zoTbPvoO https://t.co/SZxI9sX4av
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow ( View Tweet)
Take home points from his presentation. Dr. David Karp lecturing at UTSW @drdavidkarp @utswrheum https://t.co/kDFrGi7iXt
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow ( View Tweet)
NEXT STEPS: Karp and investigators are engaged in the MONA LISA study - Using smile Data and biospeciments – they intend to look for biomarkers that may better predict the future development of SLE Dr. David Karp lecturing at UTSW @drdavidkarp @utswrheum https://t.co/acZD1kmNhq
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow ( View Tweet)
The challenge may be that lupus has multiple endotypes with variable rates of progression/trajectories. Can you Prevent SLE? Dr. David Karp lecturing at UTSW @drdavidkarp @utswrheum https://t.co/BA4KRKebIv
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow ( View Tweet)
SMILE enrollment hampered by COVID - yet failed to show a protective effect for HCQ in preventing SLE. Can you Prevent SLE? Dr. David Karp lecturing at UTSW @drdavidkarp @utswrheum https://t.co/GImHpycbgO
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow ( View Tweet)
REcently published SMILE study looked at the potential of HCQ (vs PBO) to prevent SLE in at risk people. Had to be ANA+ and 1-2 SLICC criteria at entry. Can you Prevent SLE? Dr. David Karp lecturing at UTSW @drdavidkarp @utswrheum https://t.co/4FY0kOLdRT
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow ( View Tweet)
Factors that may augment future development of SLE - includes Vitamin D levels, poor sleep, EBV reactivation & social determinants of health. Can you Prevent SLE? Dr. David Karp lecturing at UTSW @drdavidkarp @utswrheum https://t.co/e3TKATcxXB
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow ( View Tweet)
Only a subset of incomplete lupus (ILE) will progress to SLE - betw 1 in 10 and 1 in 5. Can you Prevent SLE? Dr. David Karp lecturing at UTSW @drdavidkarp @utswrheum https://t.co/oo40Dumk4I
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow ( View Tweet)
Can you Prevent SLE? Dr. David Karp lecturing at UTSW Showing that autoantibodies exist long before the onset of SLE @drdavidkarp @utswrheum https://t.co/zPAYbSlIBS
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow ( View Tweet)
From the Blog
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ANA Pollution (2.06.2026)
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Therapeutic Updates
The Impact of Obesity on Psoriatic Arthritis
Sponsored by Lilly Medical Affairs
Obesity is common in PsA and may worsen disease activity and reduce treatment effectiveness through shared inflammatory pathways. Weight intervention may improve outcomes and support achievement of targets of disease control.
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Poster Hall
Sponsored by AbbVie Medical Affairs + Health Impact
