Yesterday the FDA approved secukinumab (Cosentyx) for the treatment of patients with active non-radiographic axial spondyloarthritis (nr-axSpA). There are now three agents that are FDA approved for nr-axSpA: certolizumab, ixekizumab and now, secukinumab. 

The high potency calcineurin inhibitor voclosporin plus standard of care was superior to standard of care alone in a phase III study of lupus nephritis known as AURORA.

Yesterday, the FDA approved canakinumab (Ilaris) as treatment for adult-onset Still's disease (AOSD), the first ever FDA approved drug for AOSD.

Canakinumab, an interleukin-1 inhibitor, was FDA approved in 2013 for use children (aged 2 years and older) with systemic juvenile idiopathic arthritis and has since been approved for use in other periodic fever disorders (e.g., FMF, CAPS, TRAPS, Hyper IgD syndrome).

Preliminary results released today shows dexamethasone (DEX), given to hospitalized, severly ill, COVID-19 patients, is capable of reducing mortality rates by one-third, with researchers calling this a “major breakthrough” in coronavirus management.

The results stem from a UK trial, called the RECOVERY trial, launched in March 2020, compared outcomes of around 2100 patients who were randomly assigned to DEX treatment compared with 4,300 patients not on DEX. 

The prevalence of atherosclerotic vascular events among patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) today is considerably lower than in the past, analysis of multicenter data found.

Among patients enrolled in an inception cohort from 1999 to 2017, only 3.6% of patients had an atherosclerotic vascular event, at a rate of 4.6 per 1,000 patient-years, according to Murray B. Urowitz, MD, of the University of Toronto in Canada, and colleagues.

For patients with gout exacerbations while on pegloticase (Krystexxa), adding methotrexate may help reduce uric acid levels, researchers suggested at the European League Against Rheumatism (EULAR) virtual meeting.

In a small open-label study of 14 patients experiencing acute gout attacks, use of the pegloticase/methotrexate combination reduced uric acid levels to near undetectable levels in 11 patients, reported John Botson, MD, medical director of Orthopedic Physicians Alaska in Anchorage. He noted that this was far below the 5 mg/dL level recognized as the threshold for development of inflammation that causes gout attacks.

In this week's podcast, Drs. Artie Kavanaugh and Jack Cush present highlights from the virtual EULAR2020 meeting held June 3-6, 2020. Featured reports include the SELECT-CHOICE study, the EXCEED trial, Avacopan in AAV, BeST mortality outcomes, BLISS-LN study, biosimilars and tofa in systemic sclerosis.

These were my top abstracts from Thursday, 4th of June at EULAR 2020:

These were my top abstracts from Thursday, 4th of June at EULAR 2020:

These were my top abstracts from Thursday, 4th of June at EULAR 2020.

This week's Tuesday Nite Rheumatology featured Dr Jonathan Kay (U Mass) who gave an update on Biosimilars and took questions the subject. The program was moderated by Dr. Jack Cush.

Today Eli Lilly announced that Taltz (ixekizumab) has received FDA approval for the treatment of adults with active non-radiographic axial spondyloarthritis (nr-axSpA).

Gianfresco et al have published the first peer-reviewed analysis of COVID-19 infected, rheumatic disease patients entered into the Rheumatology Global Alliance registry; showing that a) rheumatic disease patient can be infected with COVID-19, b) that DMARD and biologic use has no apparent effect on outcomes and c) steroid increase and TNF inhibitor decrease the odds of hospitalization.

Dr. Jack Cush reviews the news and journal articles from the past week on RheumNow.com.

The Wnt pathway modulator lorecivivint failed to meet the primary endpoint in a phase IIa study for knee osteoarthritis (OA), but showed promise in certain patient subgroups, researchers reported.

This week's Tuesday Nite Rheumatology featured Dr Randy Cron from the University of Alabama - Birmingham as he spoke and took questions on the immunology, immunopathogenesis and treatment of Cytokine Storm Syndrome, especially as they relate to COVID-19 and rheumatic disease patients. The program was moderated by Dr. Jack Cush.

Two current reports from Boston and Wuhan describe cohorts of COVID-19 (+) rheumatic disease patients who generally do well but appear to have a higher risk of pulmonary involvement.

Hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) has dominated the news in recent weeks, because of poor outcomes reported when used in COVID patients. Yet, a recent report reaffirms what rheumatologists have known for years - that HCQ use is associated with better outcomes in systemic lupus erythematosus, including survival.  

A current letter in the Annals of Rheumatic Disease details the rheumatic disease patient cohort outcomes from the University of Siena, Italy showing only 2 cases of COVID-19 among 859 patients treated with tsDMARDs and bDMARDs.

Today Lancet reported the results of another retrospective trial showing that hydroxychloroquine or chloroquine, alone or with a macrolide antibioitic, offered no additional benefits to COVID-19 patients, but was associated with higher rates of mortality and arrhythmia.