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Are Combination Biologics Safe?
Although package inserts commonly warn against combining the use of biologic or targeted therapies, there is growing interest in such combination therapy for patients with problematic immune-mediated inflammatory diseases (IMID).
Hydroxychloro-King (3.7.2025)
Dr. Jack Cush reviews the news, journal reports and regulatory actions from the past week on RheumNow.com
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Normalizing Serologies Enhances Remission in SLE
Analysis of five phase III belimumab (BEL) trials reveals that normalizing serologies affords protection against severe and renal SLE flares, supporting the concept of treat-to-target to minimize risk in SLE.
B Cell Depleters (2.21.2025)
Dr. Jack Cush reviews the news and journal articles from the past week on RheumNow.com.
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Congratulations to Dr. Mehmet Hocaoglu (University of Pittsburgh) on being awarded a 2024 Rheumatoid Arthritis Research Program grant to investigate the unique and shared risk factors between patients with preclinical rheumatoid arthritis and patients with RA.… https://t.co/eF4yb3Hxsj https://t.co/MLNWKFiCiU
Dr. John Cush RheumNow ( View Tweet)
BMS announced new data from Phase 3 POETYK PsA-2 trial - Sotyktu (deucravacitinib)vs apremilast vs PBO in PsA w/ higher ACR20 vs PBO at Week 16 (54% vs 39%). AEs led to discontinuation in 1.3% (PBO), 2.2% (Deuc) and 10.5% (apremilast). https://t.co/NAa2JigkZN https://t.co/mvaQXfjShd
Dr. John Cush RheumNow ( View Tweet)
Bimekizumab efficacy and safety in patients with psoriatic arthritis who had skin and nail psoriasis at baseline: Up to 2-year results from two phase 3 studies
https://t.co/QGdQtp3Mbe
Dr. John Cush RheumNow ( View Tweet)
Available the first time: https://t.co/4UQlqwujiR 2025 On Demand!
On Demand gives you access to all lectures, Q & A panels, and STEP talks, and all speaker slides and handouts — all packed with insights you won’t find anywhere else.
Non-CME, practical, and finally here.… https://t.co/MHFUWb3az1 https://t.co/cqzZG40Xp5
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Genentech announced that FDA has accepted a Supplemental Biologics License Application for obinutuzumab (anti-CD20 mAb; Gazyva) for the Treatment of Lupus Nephritis based on positive results from Phase III REGENCY study. FDA decision by October 2025 https://t.co/Mx3YDUfkMg https://t.co/MTBZo1TCrK
Dr. John Cush RheumNow ( View Tweet)
FDA grants priority reviews to:
- Nicalizumab (J&J; FcRn antibody) for use in Myasthenia gravis.
- Upadacitinib (AbbVie; JAK inhib) for use in GCA
- Namistat (BI: PDE4B inhib) for use in Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis
- Inalizumab (Hansen; anti-CD19) for use in IG4 rel Dz
-… https://t.co/dsg9vZASrk https://t.co/8t2USASmm8
Dr. John Cush RheumNow ( View Tweet)
Bimekizumab efficacy and safety in patients with psoriatic arthritis who had skin and nail psoriasis at baseline: Up to 2-year results from two phase 3 studies
https://t.co/RZSwrj8as8
Dr. John Cush RheumNow ( View Tweet)
Full read review of Hydryoxychloroquine -its pharmacology, MOA (eg, blocking TLR 7 & 9), Dz specific efficacy and adverse effects https://t.co/WVErW1RrCj https://t.co/eQVFIZNSRx
Dr. John Cush RheumNow ( View Tweet)
Selective mutation of Traf1/cIAP2 (V196) interaction attenuates inflammatory responses that may contribute to rheumatoid arthritis activity. THis may lead to a new class of therapies for RA https://t.co/kYqAqGsSEA https://t.co/JWUN6iTvxa
Dr. John Cush RheumNow ( View Tweet)
AbbVie Receives Positive CHMP Opinion for Upadacitinib (RINVOQ®) for the Treatment of Adults with Giant Cell Arteritis https://t.co/WP8JGpHc6p https://t.co/x9m870mCJ4
Dr. John Cush RheumNow ( View Tweet)
The global biosimilars market size is evaluated at USD $40 billion in 2025 and is expected to hit approximately USD 176 billion by 2034 (a 17.78% increase) https://t.co/U4PbinVN4J https://t.co/SLHynlhJrs
Dr. John Cush RheumNow ( View Tweet)
AI-assisted diagnosis for immunological disease
A novel machine learning framework – Mal-ID – can decipher an individual’s immune system’s record of past infections and diseases, according to a new study, providing a powerful tool with the potential for diagnosing autoimmune… https://t.co/gAViSbzreI https://t.co/IFXObUZe2s
Dr. John Cush RheumNow ( View Tweet)
Deucravacitinib in Psoriasis - 5 Year Outcomes
BMS released new five-year results from the POETYK PSO long-term extension (LTE) trial of deucravacitinib in treating patients with moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis. The data was presented by Dr. Marc Lebwohl at the Winter… https://t.co/as7QR8RTyx https://t.co/yNluBPR7fO
Dr. John Cush RheumNow ( View Tweet)
Targeting PD-1 in Rheumatoid Arthritis
The results of the large Phase 2b RENOIR trial showed that rosnilimab, a monoclonal antibody targeting PD-1, was effective in moderate-to-severe rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients.
https://t.co/ZsS3JOqdLh https://t.co/3JByNrLTGR
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Dr. John Cush RheumNow ( View Tweet)
TULIP Extension trial shows #SLE Rx w/ anifrolumab + SOC had less organ damage after 208wks. 354 on ANIF (+SOC) vs 561 on SOC alone = ANIF was 59.9% lower SDI (SLE damage index) (HR 0.40) vs those on SOC alone at wk 208. https://t.co/Ox7efMsAW2 https://t.co/55jZBE2aTW
Dr. John Cush RheumNow ( View Tweet)
Livedoid vasculopathy (LV) is a rare chronic microvascular thrombosis dz w/ hypercoagulability and inflammation. Lit Search found 15 articles, 41 LV pts Rx w/ biologics & JAK inhib. 88% w/ positive responses & pain relief. TNFi were most used, then JAK inhibitors… https://t.co/3ugGdUlYcI https://t.co/0aXRKRi5RA
Dr. John Cush RheumNow ( View Tweet)
