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Most Psoriatics Go on Biologics
A cohort study of 97 patients with psoriatic arthritis (PsA) examined the prescribing practices in PsA, and found biologics are commonly initiated as the primary mode of therapy in outpatients with PsA. However, treatment modifications can be made regarding patients who are managed with apremilast alone.
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New EMA Warnings for Tofacitinib in Patients at Risk for Clots
The European Medicines Agency safety committee (PRAC) has concluded that Xeljanz (tofacitinib - TOFA) could increase the risk of blood clots in the lungs and in deep veins in patients who are already at high risk for venous thromboembolic events. The PRAC is recommending that TOFA should be used with caution in patients at high risk of blood clots (VTE), regardless of dose used.
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RheumNow Podcast – Ghastly, Ghoulish News (10.31.19)
Dr. Jack Cush reviews recent journal articles and info bits from the past week on RheumNow.com.
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Outcomes in Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis
Arthritis Research & Therapy reports on a prospective cohort of children with juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) shows that the incidence has held steady at 12.8/100,000 children, but that the frequency uveitis and the need for orthopedic surgery has decreased in the last 20 years.
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FDA Approves Ustekinumab for Ulcerative Colitis
Ustekinumab (Stelara) is now FDA-approved to treat moderately to severely active ulcerative colitis, said drugmaker Janssen on Monday, in addition to its indications for psoriasis, psoriatic arthritis, and Crohn's disease.
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Adalimumab and Pregnancy Outcomes
A prospective study of birth outcomes to mothers exposed to adalimumab (ADA) between 2004 and 2016 was conducted by Organization of Teratology Information Specialists (OTIS) Research Center at the University of California San Diego, and showed that ADA exposure was not associated with an increase
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Interleukin Targeted Biologics Increase Risks of Infection
A systematic review of the literature shows that, compared to placebo, the use of non-TNF, interleukin inhibitor biologics may be associated with significantly higher rates of serious infections, opportunistic infections, and cancer.
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RheumNow Podcast – Fight or Switching (DMARDs) (10.18.19)
Dr. Jack Cush reviews the news and journal articles from the past week on RheumNow.com.
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ACR 2018 - Day 1 Report
Highlights from Tuesday and Wednesday (days 3 and 4) from the ACR annual meeting include: the important and impactful abstracts covered by the Rheumatology Roundup session; upadacitinib clinical trials; and the baricitinib CV and VTE safety analysis.
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ACR 2018 - Day 1 Report
Highlights from Tuesday and Wednesday (days 3 and 4) from the ACR annual meeting include: the important and impactful abstracts covered by the Rheumatology Roundup session; upadacitinib clinical trials; and the baricitinib CV and VTE safety analysis.
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RheumNow Podcast – When You’re Hot You’re Hot (10.11.19)
Dr. Jack Cush delivers select commentary on select news and journal articles from the past week on RheumNow.com.
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RheumNow Podcast is up! When youre hot youre hot! Watch it on youtube>> https://t.co/GlqMzjUnhE or listen to the podcast in your car on iTues, Apple podcast or on Stitcher or SoundCloud>> https://t.co/a1zE7VXtog
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RheumNow Podcast is up! When youre hot youre hot! Watch it on youtube>> https://t.co/GlqMzjUnhE or listen to the podcast in your car on iTues, Apple podcast or on Stitcher or SoundCloud>> https://t.co/a1zE7VXtog
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Long Delays for Inflammatory Arthritis Patients
The National Rheumatoid Arthritis Society's (NRAS) annual audit has identified significant treatment delays for patients with suspected early inflammatory arthritis could result in unnecessary harm.
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Biologics Lead the Way in Drug Price Increases
Reuters has reported the results of a recent Institute for Clinical and Economic Review (ICER) analysis showing that biologics, especially Humira and Rituxan, are leading the way in the cost of drugs in the USA.
All told, Humira and Rituxan topped a list of seven treatments whose combined 2017 and 2018 price hikes accounted for a $5.1 billion increase in U.S. drug spending. ICER said their analysis points to price hikes that were more than twice the rate of medical inflation and were not warranted by any new clinical evidence.
FUTURE 5 - Secukinumab and Less Radiographic Progression in Psoriatic Arthritis
The FUTURE 5 trial studied the effect of secukinumab (SEC) on radiographic progression through 52 weeks in patients with active psoriatic arthritis (PsA) and found that SEC was clinically and radiographically superior to placebo (PBO).
Patients received s.c. secukinumab 300 mg load (300 mg), 150 mg load (150 mg), 150 mg no load regimens or placebo at baseline, at weeks 1, 2 and 3 and every 4 weeks starting at week 4. The majority (87%) of patients enrolled at baseline remained in the study for 52 weeks.
RheumNow Podcast – Women Take Over Rheumatology (10.4.19)
Dr. Jack Cush reviews the News and Journal Reports from this week on RheumNow.com.
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Ixekizumab vs. Adalimumab in Psoriatic Arthritis
The Annals of Rheumatic Disease reports a psoriatic arthritis study where in ixekizumab was non-inferior to adalimumab for achievement of ACR50 responses but was superior to adalimumab for achievement of PASI100 by week 24.
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Ustekinumab Efficacy in Ulcerative Colitis
The NEJM reports the results of a one year trial wherein ustekinumab (UST) was shown to be effective at inducing and maintaining remission in patients with moderate-to-severe ulcerative colitis. Ustekinumab, currently approved for use in psoriasis, psoriatic arthritis and Crohn's disease, is a monoclonal antibody against the p40 subunit of interleukin-12 and interleukin-23.
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FDA Approves Rituximab for Children with GPA
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved Rituxan (rituximab) for the treatment of granulomatosis with polyangiitis (GPA) and microscopic polyangiitis (MPA) in children 2 years of age and older in combination with glucocorticoids.
This is the first approved treatment for children with vasculitis.