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Baricitinib Derailed by FDA Review
Eli Lilly and Co disclosed today that upon further discussions with the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) there would be a delay in further regulatory decisions regarding baricitinib, a JAK inhibitor, that is being developed for use in rheumatoid arthritis (RA).
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Benlysta FDA Approved for Sub-Q Use in Lupus
The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved a new subcutaneous formulation of Benlysta (belimumab) for use in active, autoantibody‑positive Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE) patients.
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Rheumatologists and Patients Concerns over Biosimilars - RheumNow “Live Vote” Results
The RheumNow “Live Vote” on the use, uptake and safety of biosimilars contrasts rheumatologist and patient views. Despite FDA approval and looming introduction, there is considerable concern, knowledge gaps and hesitancy regarding their uptake in the US. The survey's primary question demonstrates that less than one-third of US rheumatologists are prepared to adopt biosimilars when they are available.
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Inflammatory and Autoimmune Diseases are Not Rare in HIV Patients
HIV infection and AIDs has been associated with numerous complications, presumably resulting from impaired immunity from infection. Sporadic cases and small cohorts of patients with rheumatic and autoimmune syndromes have been described but epidemiology data on the prevalence is scarce.
Read ArticleThe RheumNow Week in Review – 21 July 2017
Dr. Jack Cush reviews the news from the past week on RheumNow.com:
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Adverse Maternal and Fetal Outcomes in Lupus - and Pre-Lupus Too
A population-based claim study from Sweden has shown that lupus and pre-lupus patients are at risk for adverse maternal and fetal outcomes.
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Obesity Impairs TNF Inhibitor Responses in Axial Spondyloarthritis
Investigators with the Swiss Clinical Quality Management (SCQM) program have studied the effects of obesity on patients with axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA) and, specifically, their response to tumor necrosis factor inhibitors (TNFi).
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CDC: Pneumococcal Vaccination in Adults
Streptococcus pneumonia is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality in adults; including patients with autoimmune diseases who are at particular risk.
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Acute Coronary Syndrome Increased in Early Rheumatoid Arthritis
It does not come as a surprise to anyone anymore that Acute Coronary Syndrome (ACS) is one of the major causes of morbidity and preterm mortality in RA. What we don’t know is what measures need to be taken to modify the risk and how effective such measures are.
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Cumulative Genetic Hit Hypothesis for Lupus
A recent report in Nature Communications has studied multiple nationalities has shown a "disentangled complex HLA multigenic effect" underlying the genetic basis of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE).
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Curbside Consults - July 2017
Curbside Consults are cases submitted by our rheumatology colleagues as challenging therapeutic or safety issues. Answers are based on experience, with added evidence from the medical literature and published guidelines. Here are four new cases.
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Long-Term Additive Cardiovascular Benefit of Plaquenil and Aspirin in Lupus
Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD). The cardioprotective benefits of aspirin (ASA) are well known and the ancillary CV and diabetogenic effects of hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) have also been shown.
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FDA Approves Tremfya (guselkumab) for Plaque Psoriasis
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved the IL-23 inhibitor, Tremfya (guselkumab), for patients with moderate to severe plaque psoriasis.
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The RheumNow Week in Review – 14 July 2017
Dr. Jack Cush reviews highlights from the past week on RheumNow.com:
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Statins Improve Survival in Ankylosing Spondylitis
Systemic inflammation (from underling inflammatory polyarthritis) clearly accelerates atherosclerosis with a resultant increase risk of cardiovascular disease.
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Withdrawal of TNF Inibitors Fails in Most RA Patients
The 12 month POET study analyzed 817 rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients who achieved remission or low disease activity (LDAS) for ≥6 months and then randomized 2:1 to stopping or continuing their TNF inhibitor.
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Alveolar Hemorrhage in Lupus Needs Prompt Evaluation
Acute diffuse lung infiltration in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) requires prompt evaluation for diffuse alveolar hemorrhage (DAH) when patients have low levels of hemoglobin and complement compound C4 and symptoms of hypoxia.
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Alendronate Use in Steroid Treated Patients Lowers the Risk of Hip Fracture
Among older patients using medium to high doses of the anti-inflammatory steroid prednisolone, treatment with the osteoporosis drug alendronate was associated with a significantly lower risk of hip fracture, according to a study published by JAMA.
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Managing Secondary Non-Response to Rituximab in Lupus
Rituximab, a chimeric anti-CD20 monoclonal antibody, has been effectively used in the treatment of multiple autoimmune disorders for over two decades. But the response to rituximab has been shown to not be as effective in SLE as it is in RA.
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Pharma Pays $8.2 Billion to Physicians in 2016
Data made public by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services shows that drug and device makers made nearly $8.2 billion in payments to U.S. physicians and teaching hospitals in the last year. Since 2013, CMS has been tracking physician payments as part of the Affordable Care Act.
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