2017 ACR Guideline on Glucocorticoid-Induced Osteoporosis

Save

The American College of Rheumatology has updated its 2010 guideline for the prevention and treatment of glucocorticoid-induced osteoporosis. The guideline provides recommendations on assessing fracture risk and treatment for adults and special patient populations, including women of childbearing potential, adults treated with very high-dose glucocorticoids, adults with organ transplants, and children ages 4-17.

Upadacitinib Effective in Rheumatoid Arthritis

Save

AbbVie released the preliminary results of a rheumatoid arthritis trial wherein its Jak inhibitor, upadacitinib, was tested against placebo, and shown to be superior in established RA patients who have failed prior DMARD therapy.

Biosimilar Reports – May 2017

Save

Biosimilars continue to command a great deal of research, development and attention given the promise of significant cost savings and potentially wider use for those in need. Biosimilar Reports is an ongoing series dedicated to advances, discussions and developments in biosimilar agents intended for use by rheumatologists. 

20% Price Hike Among Pfizer Drugs

Save

The increasing cost of drug has been the subject of concern and review - by legislators, reporters and patients.

The Financial Times has reviewed the annual price increases for the 91 drugs in Pfizers portfolio, showing an average price increase by 20 percent in the past year.

Chondroitin Effective in Knee OA. Or is it?

Save

Reginster and colleagues have reported on the results of the CONCEPT trial showing that osteoarthritis (OA) patients treated 800 mg/day of  pharmaceutical-grade chondroitin sulfate (CS) have less VAS pain scores and improved function over 6 months therapy. These results were superior to placebo and equivalent to celecoxib in reducing in symptomatic OA knee pain.

Ohio Sues Five Pharma Companies Over Opioid Epidemic

Save

Ohio is suing five major drug manufacturers, accusing them of misrepresenting the risks of prescription opioid painkillers that has resulted in the current opioid epidemic.

New BSR 2017 Gout Guidelines

Save

The British Society for Rheumatology/British Health Professionals in Rheumatology first published a guideline for the management of gout in 2007. They have just updated and published their new guideline, largely because of new therapies, an increasing incidence of gout, low penetrance of urate lowering therapies, and the inability to achieve a target serum uric acid level.

Golimumab Fails in Polyarticular Juvenile Arthritis

Save

Treatment options for children with active polyarticular juvenile idiopathic arthritis (polyJIA) have lagged behind that seen with adult rheumatoid arthritis.

Biologics Before Triple DMARD is Not Cost Effective in Rheumatoid Arthritis

Save

Stepping up to biologic therapy when methotrexate (MTX) monotherapy fails was not shown to be cost effective, compared to first trying triple therapy, in a rheumatoid arthritis (RA) study published in Annals of Internal Medicine.

Ixekizumab Effective in TNF Failure Psoriatic Arthritis - SPIRIT-P2 Trial

Save

Ixekizumab (Taltz) is currently approved for use in plaque psoriasis and is being developed for use in psoriatic arthritis (PsA). New results show IXE to be highly effective at skin and joint outcomes in PsA patients who have failed a TNF inhibitor (TNFi).

Anti-IL-5 Success in Eosinophilic Granulomatosis with Polyangiitis

Save

The NEJM reports success when using mepolizumab (anti-IL-5 monoclonal antibody) in a 52 week study of patients with eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis (EGPA).

Actemra - First FDA Approved Drug for Giant Cell Arteritis

Save

The FDA has approved subcutaneous tocilizumab for use in Giant Cell Arteritis based on the phase III GiACTA study that demonstrated that TCZ with steroids was superior to steroid therapy alone.

IL-6 Inhibitor Kevzara Granted FDA Approval for Rheumatoid Arthritis

Save

The FDA has approved sarilumab (Kevzara), a new IL-6 inhibitor co-developed by Regeneron and Sanofi's, for use in adults with moderate to severe rheumatoid arthritis (RA).

Inflammatory Arthritis Stable after Switch to Biosimilar Infliximab

Save

The DANBIO registrys has demonstrated that switching from infliximab (Remicade) to biosimilar CT-P13 (Inflectra in the U.S., Remsima in Europe) does not appear to have any negative effect on inflammatory arthritis disease activity, Danish researchers reported.

The RheumNow Week in Review – 12 May 2017

Save

Dr. Jack Cush highlights the big stories, news and articles from this week at RheumNow.com.

Adalimumab Effective in Pediatric Plaque Psoriasis

Save

Adalimumab is currently FDA approved for use in adult psoriasis, pediatric Crohn's disease and polyarticular juvenile idiopathic arthritis.  The current Lancet trial assesses the efficacy and safety of adalimumab in children and adolescents with severe plaque psoriasis.

NSAIDs Increase Risk of Acute Myocardial Infarction

Save

Using data from Canadian and European healthcare databases, the BMJ has reported that all NSAIDs, including celecoxib and naproxen, increase the risk of acute myocardial infarction.

One-Third of FDA Approvals Need Post-Marketing Safety Changes

Save

One-third of newly approved drugs in the next decade will require new safety warnings based on pharmacovigilance, according to a new study in JAMA. (Citation Source: http://buff.ly/2r3dYUs)

ACP Guideline Recommends Generic Bisphosphonates But Limits DEXA Use

Save

The American College of Physicians (ACP) has updated its 2008 clincial practice guideline on the treatment of low bone density and osteoporosis to prevent fractures in men and women.  The new guideline is in favor of generic bisphosphonate use and recommends against using menopausal estrogen therapy and against DEXA monitoring during the first 5 years.

CDC Shows a 40% Lifetime Risk of Symptomatic Hand Osteoarthritis

Save

Qin and colleagues have published in Arthritis & Rheumatology that 40% of people will be affected by symptomatic osteoarthritis in at least one hand.  (Citation source: http://buff.ly/2qTUscZ)