Dr. Jack Cush reviews the FDA approvals and news reports from this past week on RheumNow.com. This week we discuss playing the numbers in rheumatology, playing the long game with stem cell transplants, and a=the Positive spin on seronegative RA.
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Sun Pharmaceuticals announced Friday that the FDA has approved its IL-23 inhibitor, tildrakizumab (Ilumya) for use in patients with active psoriatic arthritis.
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Dr. Cush reviews the news and journal reports from this past week on RheumNow. This week on the podcast: hopeful guidelines for PMR; certainty about good & bad beverages in gout; mixed results in Sjogren's; non-lupus drugs saves lupus lives; and big hips sink ships in psoriatic arthritis.
¡Notición de acceso! La FDA tiene genéricos de tofacitinib (IR 5/10 mg, XR 11/22 mg y solución 1 mg/mL). Tras el vencimiento de patente (jun 2026) hay ola comercial en EE. UU.
@RheumNow: el 5 mg ~US$25/mes en Mark Cuban Cost Plus Drugs (frasco 60). Verificar precio al ordenar. https://t.co/pVfGsJyIfN
David Liew
Tweet
Mass adalimumab biosimilar switch at the VA
only 1.3% switched back
$132m saved
those debates we used to have about biosimilar switching seem like a different era
ABST1418 #ACR26 @RheumNow https://t.co/ayrmtr4H5A
Adela Castro
Tweet
CAR-T in SLE 2026
-Autologous CART: likely to achieve target faster (shorter time for SLEDAI/DORIS)
-CD19-vs dual target (BCMA): no significant difference on SLEDAI
-Pt w/ LN at baseline had steeper decline on SLEDAI
-SAFETY: 64% of pts had CRS manageable (low grade) 95% of https://t.co/XyMOeoSpPL
Richard Conway
Tweet
Hellmich et al. Avacopan real world safety. Relatively reassuring, higher rate abnormal liver tests, one serious. Only 254 patients, and European study, so may miss the rare serious liver events mainly reported from Asia. @RheumNow #ACR26 Abstr#0931 https://t.co/KLyborCIWF
More TNFi biosims..why not??
Golimumab SubQ and IV biosimilars with interchangeable status coming soon!
#ACR26 @RheumNow https://t.co/fwJ21VI9CO
Five FDA approved biosimilars in 2026 #ACR27 @FDA https://t.co/lIrtbtz7ts
Eric Dein
Tweet
Yr in Rvw #ACR26
Retraction of Avacopan ADVOCATE trial due to post hoc re-adjudication endpoints after database lock/unblinding
FDA investigation
@RheumNow https://t.co/XvoInbGXs9
Eric Dein
Tweet
Yr in Rvw #ACR26
Telitacicept - BLyS and APRIL
P3DBRCT in China for active SLE
SRI-4 response 67 vs 33 in PBO, GC sparing
But P3 program outside of China terminated
@RheumNow https://t.co/8B42jbz9Yl
Eric Dein
Tweet
Yr in Rvw #ACR26
Sotatercept in PAH, activin-signaling inhib. Decr excess prolif PA smooth musc cells NEJM 2025
Stopped early 2/2 equipoise
77% less risk of clinical wors, +40 wk event-fr surv, 70% more likely to impr WHO fxnal class
Watch: polycythemia, pericardial eff
@RheumNow https://t.co/prV8L5QnWQ
Eric Dein
Tweet
Yr In Review #ACR26
Obexelimab Della-Torre NEJM
CD19 and FcyRIIb, Non-B cell depleting (unlike inebilizumab)
P3DBRCT, 52 wks 250 mg v PBO
28% flare diff vs PBO (compare to 50% in INE)
Less serious ifn than PBO
@RheumNow https://t.co/wEcO1Io03b
Janet Pope
Tweet
#CHAI has #AI that is the largest not for profit organization in #healthcare
#keynote @ACRheum #ACR26
Example of #artificial #intelligence involves targets for #CAR-T
#CD19, #CD20, #CD22 and #BCMA
@RheumNow https://t.co/ZCENzmnNTN
Medscape overview of Fibromyalgia Therapies. Only four FDA approved FM drugs in the USA - pregabalin (2007), duloxetine (2008), milnacipran (2009) & sublingual cyclobenzaprine (2025) but none approved by the EMA in Europe. https://t.co/QHFSmcozT0 https://t.co/oiVjf4GZGX
2024 web survey of German rheumatologists on CAR-T & T-cell redirecting therapies. 95% willing to refer pts to specialized centers; but 5% (most severe) are suitable for TCRT. Barriers cited: high costs (82%), limited experience (65%) & limited # appropriate Pts (35%). 4.86/10 https://t.co/o62uRVsIC7
