An Integrated Analysis of Tofacitinib Safety

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Since its US approval in 2012, tofacitinib has become a widely used treatment for rheumatoid arthritis (RA).

Whether you're impressed with its efficacy, or distressed with its side effects, its track record is voluminous and has been recently reviewed.

Limited Efficacy of NSAIDs in Spondyloarthritis

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Prior to the biologic era, nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) were the mainstay of drug therapy in thos with spondyloarthritis (SpA) and ankylosing spondylitis (AS).  Their role in the modern era has changed and the claims for efficacy have varied. 

FDA Issues Draft Guidance on Biosimilar Interchangeability

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Interchangeability, or the substitution of a biosimilar for its innovator biologic, is on the horizon. Will the prescriber chose the biosimilar in place of the originator? Or will this allow pharmacists or healthcare plans to substitute a biosimilar, without intervention from a healthcare provider?

Dietary Intake Triggers Inflammation

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IL-1β, along with pancreatic insulin, helps regulate blood sugar levels, as well as chronic inflammation.

PPI Safety Issues

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There are more than 11 million proton pump inhibitor (PPI) prescriptions written each year in the United States. While these agents have dramatically changed the management and outcome of upper gastrointestinal (GI) erosive and inflammatory disorders, their use has not been without safety concerns.

Cautious Optimism for Biosimilars in Rheumatology

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A Low Risk of Inflammatory Bowel Disease with IL-17 Inhibition

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Colitis onset or worsening inflammatory bowel disease has been reported with either of the new IL-17 inhibitors, ixekizumab (IXE) and secukinumab (SEC). Large database studies show these to be rare.

A Link Between Periodontal Disease and Rheumatoid Arthritis

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Research from Johns Hopkins reports that rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients with periodontitis exhibited patterns of autoantigen hypercitrullination similar to that seen in RA. Results published in Science Translational Medicine showed that Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans can produce hypercitrullination of patient neutrophils, indicating its possible role in triggering RA. (Citation source: http://buff.ly/2hZTBG8)

Risk of GI Perforations on Biologics

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Gastrointestinal perforation is a rare but serious complication that RA patients may be at particular risk for.

RheumNow Week in Review – 16 December 2016

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Dr. Jack Cush reviews highlights from this week on RheumNow.com

Ustekinumab Effective and Safe in Crohn's Colitis

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The New England Journal of Medicine has reported the results of a large clinical trial demonstrating the efficacy of ustekinumab (Stelara) in treating patients with active Crohn's disease (CD). (Citation source http://buff.ly/2gsSNcs)

Maintenance of Remission in ANCA-vasculitis: MAINRITSAN study.

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It is well known that ANCA-associated vasculitides can be hard to control and relapses are common. The choice of maintenance therapy is rather limited and therapies are not always effective.

RheumNow (ACR16) Week in Review – 18 November 2016

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Celecoxib Shines and Naproxen Tanks in the PRECISION Study

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The PRECISION trial was published this week in the NEJM, presented at the Cardiology meetings in New Orleans, and presented today by Dr. Daniel Solomon at the 2016 ACR annual meeting in Washington, D.C. (citation source http://buff.ly/2fUmoqO)

Maintenance of Remission in ANCA-vasculitis: MAINRITSAN study.

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It is well known that ANCA-associated vasculitides can be hard to control and relapses are common. The choice of maintenance therapy is rather limited and therapies are not always effective.

RheumNow Week in Review – 4 November 2016

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Dr. Jack Cush reviews highlights and reports from this week on RheumNow.com, including drug-induced cutaneous lupus, pediatric lupus being worse, new gout drug SEL-12, Gut microbiome and IgA plasmablasts, and the weakly-received new ACP guidelines on gout.

IgA ACPA and Plasmablasts Point to Microbiome in Pre-Clinical Rheumatoid

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Serum antibodies precede the development of clinical rheumatoid arthritis (RAby) by many years, and yet we still have much to learn about this preclinical phase.

Prevalence of Inflammatory Bowel Disease Increases

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The MMWR has reported that Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis, collectively known as inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), previously (1999) had an estimated 1.8 million (0.9%) prevalence. But as of 2015, an estimated 3.1 million (1.3%) of U.S.

Nor-Switch Study Shows it's Safe to Switch to a Biosimilar

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The results of the Nor-Switch study were presented at the United European Gastroenterology annual congress this week demonstrating no significant difference in effect, adverse effects or antibody formation in patients switched from Remicade to the biosimilar infliximab (CT-P13, Remsima).

FDA Approves Stelara for Crohn's Colitis

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The anti-IL-12/IL-23 inhibitor, Stelara (ustekinumab) has been FDA approved for the treatment of psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis.  In the last week, the EMA's CHMP has recommended that the drug also be approved for use in Crohn's disease.