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ACR 2025 – Day 2 Report
Here are 3 abstracts that caught my eye on Day 2 at ACR25. Notably these have takeaway messages that should support your current practices.
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Are we putting the CAR-T before the horse?
CAR T-cells have been a revolutionary development in rheumatology. We have seen a population of patients with severe refractory autoimmune conditions almost overnight presented with the prospect of not just improvement, but of a cure.
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SLGT-2 and GLP-1 in RA: More than Weight Loss https://t.co/SRKMHNlHZo
Future of rheumatology is bright , Shreya Sakthivel discussed her work on TriNetX database , looking specifically for effect of SLGT-2. GLP-1 on RA flare incidence.
@RheumKay
@RheumNow
#acr25
Nouf Al hemmadi NoufAhmedAlham2 ( View Tweet)
New Paradigms in RA Treatment https://t.co/CqpI2znglE
@jeffsparks Highlights new trials in RA
1-Neuro immune modulation ( Vagal nerve stimulation).
2-Targeting pathogenic T cells
3-T reg CAR-T ( Peace maker).
@RheumNow
#ACR25
Nouf Al hemmadi NoufAhmedAlham2 ( View Tweet)
How many patients do you need to treat to prevent one RA conversion in at-risk individuals?
APPIPRA and ALTO Interception studies, long term data
Number Necessary to Treat to prevent 1 RA conversion across time:
1yr = 4
2yrs = 7
3, 4, 5 yrs = 9
6 yrs = 11
#ACR25 #ABSTRACT1678 https://t.co/GBzUJG8jVk
Links:
Aurelie Najm AurelieRheumo ( View Tweet)
So who with inflamm arthralgias might benefit from abatacept, in terms of delaying RA onset?
ALTO study (APIPPRA continuation)
1y abatacept then follow
If autoAb x5 (RF, ACPA IgG, IgA, anti-CarP, AAPA): sustained delay of RA
If not: benefit only on Rx
#ACR25 ABST1678 @RheumNow https://t.co/3Pc5ZLzVf6
Links:
David Liew drdavidliew ( View Tweet)
TNFi induction first year in RA leads to:
- less D2T RA at 5y
- more sustained remission from 10y onward
- less DMARD utilization
- less healthcare utilization
in these real-world matched cohorts
given biosimilar prices, this might be worth considering
#ACR25 ABST1677 @RheumNow https://t.co/uL9nHtLkXZ
Links:
David Liew drdavidliew ( View Tweet)
Early TNFi treatment leads to
-Less D2T at 5 yrs
-More sustained remission at 10yrs
-Less bDMARD escalation at 5yrs
-More DMARD free remission at 5yrs and 10 yrs
-20% reduction annual healths costs
-11 mo delay in ttmt escalation
Safety data were not presented
#ACR25 https://t.co/jPMGUGPtqP
Links:
Aurelie Najm AurelieRheumo ( View Tweet)
SELECT-COMPARE RA UPA vs. ADA
What do we learn from 7 years data? Not much
Patients who did well on the first drug, keep doing well
Patients who required switching for primary failure don't do as well, w/ 26% pts reaching DAS remission in UPA + MTX vs. 16% in ADA + MTX gp
No https://t.co/JLUTRZuZOm
Links:
Aurelie Najm AurelieRheumo ( View Tweet)
In case you missed it in @ACR_Journals: HCQ for 1y does not prevent RA development in people with CCP3 >2x ULN, either:
- during 1y of treatment
- in 2y follow-up
https://t.co/gtzNiSmutb
but StopRA will give us plenty of insights - data is never wasted
#ACR25 ABST1674 @RheumNow https://t.co/DDZib5VGtX
Links:
David Liew drdavidliew ( View Tweet)
SELECT-COMPARE (upadacitinib vs adallimumab in mod-severe RA, no CV enrichment) 7y data:
safety profiles very similar, except for:
- zoster
- CK rise
- lymphopenia
- hepatic disorder
In the general RA population, no new JAKi safety signals
#ACR25 ABST1676 @RheumNow https://t.co/BA2JxONGfa
David Liew drdavidliew ( View Tweet)
Start strong, stay strong.
With early anti-TNF induction (vs csDMARD T2T)
- At 5 yrs: D2T RA in <1% vs 7% (OR 0.11, p=0.03)
Drug-free remission 13% vs 6% (p=0.049)
- At 10 yrs: more sustained remission (62% vs 45%) & fewer multi-MoA failures.
@RheumNow #ACR25 Abstract #1677
Jiha Lee JihaRheum ( View Tweet)
What is the secret of a VNS RCT that works in RA?
=> Implant the device!
RESET-RA RCT Sham controlled 3mo
Then open label in active arm for 66mo
40% pts IR to >=3 bioDMARDs
ACR 20 3 mo 42% vs. 19%
CDAI LDA 27% vs. 11%
82% TNF IR pt had no change in treatment over 12mo
99% https://t.co/lfxa4YXUB4
Links:
Aurelie Najm AurelieRheumo ( View Tweet)
Implantable vagal stimulator led to benefit in TNF-inadequate responder RA in this sham-controlled double-blind RCT (RESET-RA study)
- 82% off b/tsDMARDs at 12mo
- also with benefit to control group after crossover at 3mo to an active device
#ACR25 1675 @RheumNow https://t.co/yYwWCKm6HF
David Liew drdavidliew ( View Tweet)
In the SERENA study (n=292), secukinumab reduced PsA incidence to 0.49/100 PY over 5 years in PsO patients with nail involvement, an ~82% drop vs historic non-biologic rates (2.7/100 PY). 98.3% remained PsA-free; PASI 90 achieved in 63%. Abstract#1463 @RheumNow #ACR25 https://t.co/ySOuFJiwge
Antoni Chan MD (Prof) synovialjoints ( View Tweet)
Beyond biologics: RA meets bioelectric medicine.
In RESET-RA, TNFi inadequate response or intolerant (n=124), vagus nerve stimulation led to significant & durable improvement
🔹 ACR20 3mo: 42% active vs 18% sham (p=0.0057)
🔹 Benefits through 12mo
@RheumNow #ACR25 A#1675
Jiha Lee JihaRheum ( View Tweet)
Short chain fatty acids (SCFA) and the relevant microbiome have been linked to RA development and severity.
Study of monozygotic twins, where only one has RA, two diff cohorts:
lower SCFA
lower SCFA microbiome
Biomarkers, or even therapeutic target?
#ACR25 ABST0442 @RheumNow https://t.co/HW1YfkfOG3
David Liew drdavidliew ( View Tweet)
Screening for ILD in RA patients:
CXR and PFTs by themselves are close to a waste of time.
When it comes to screening (high-risk) RA patients, it’s HRCT (or lung USS) or nothing really.
(in keeping with EULAR, ACR guidelines)
#ACR25 ABST1335 @RheumNow https://t.co/XBDxLwYsAT
David Liew drdavidliew ( View Tweet)
England et al. Predictors of progression RA-ILD - UIP pattern (HR 1.46), current (HR 1.98) and former (HR 1.60) smoking, age (HR 1.03). @RheumNow #ACR25 Abstr#1308 https://t.co/IvQo8Istta
Richard Conway RichardPAConway ( View Tweet)
Mease et al. What agent to use after failure of first TNFi in PsA. Real world study, 320 patients. Switching to upadacitinib led to better joint responses than second TNFi or IL17i @RheumNow #ACR25 Abstr#1453 https://t.co/SQnN0skw7r
Richard Conway RichardPAConway ( View Tweet)
