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RepurpSS-II: Hydroxychloroquine plus Leflunomide in Sjögren's
A small, pilot, phase 2b trial has shown that the combination of leflunomide and hydroxychloroquine (LEF+HCQ) was effective and safe in treating patients with active Sjögren's disease.
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Trends and Innovations in Lupus Nephritis Clinical Trials
Xu et al. from Shanghai University have written an analysis of global lupus nephritis (LN) clinical trials and call for innovation.
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Quiz Talk (5.22.2026)
Dr. Jack Cush talks of birthdays, Quizzes and journal articles this week on the podcast.
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BE BOLD Week 16 data - Bimekizumab vs. Risankizumab in PsA
UCB has released the Week 16 results from BE BOLD trial that will be presented at EULAR 2026 in London on Saturday, June 6.
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ABA versus HCQ in Palindromic Rheumatism
Palindromic rheumatism may develop rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and could be an at-risk population. A pilot trial compared abatacept (ABA) versus hydroxychloroquine and demonstrated ABA reduces RA development in a 2 year study.
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Infectious Rheumatology (5.15.2026)
Dr. Jack Cush discusses his favorite journal articles from the past week on RheumNow.com.
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Trends and Innovations in Lupus Nephritis Clinical Trials
Xu et al. from Shanghai University have written an analysis of global lupus nephritis (LN) clinical trials and call for innovation.
This systematic review of was informed by 200 interventional pharmacological trials https://t.co/fUTIMhMAis
Dr. John Cush RheumNow ( View Tweet)
RHEUM SURVEY> Per 2024 EULAR Guidelines, an active RA pt on MTX who fails a 1st TNFi, should next change to ?
Dr. John Cush RheumNow ( View Tweet)
BE BOLD Week 16 data - Bimekizumab vs. Risankizumab in PsA
UCB has released the Week 16 results from BE BOLD trial that will be presented at EULAR 2026 in London on Saturday, June 6. This head-to-head trial demonstrates that at week 16, bimekizumab (BKZ) yielded superior ACR50 https://t.co/VVBaNdWIuQ
Dr. John Cush RheumNow ( View Tweet)
Canada’s Drug Agency (CDA-AMC) has recommended Gazyva (obinutuzumab) for public reimbursement. This recommendation is for the treatment of adult patients with active lupus nephritis who are receiving standard therapy https://t.co/TC1MVAShdC https://t.co/flXVmLwGtW
Dr. John Cush RheumNow ( View Tweet)
Let me give you an example of where there is no gov intervention, and the impact on brand drug pricing.
When a brand manufacturer sells a drug to one of the big 3 drug distributors that control more than 90 pct of their market, those multi hundred billion dollar distributors
Mark Cuban mcuban ( View Tweet)
FDA has approved benralizumab (Fasenra) for the treatment of adult and pediatric patients w/ hypereosinophilic syndrome (HES); based on the NATRON Phase III trial https://t.co/7se6qLsQoP https://t.co/64wC94hTTq
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Kissei Pharmaceuticals announced 20 deaths related to receiving avacopan (Tavneos), a vasculitis drug sold by the firm in Japan. Drug was released in June 2022, since its been given to ~8,500 pts. Avacopan safety is being reviewed by FDA with Amgen. https://t.co/ri0nROCL5U https://t.co/jbksrWMFwI
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FDA has approved a dosing update for burosumab-twza (Crysvita, Kyowa Kirin) to allow for increased dose and frequency when needed in adults with X-linked hypophosphatemia (XLH). https://t.co/EPyp6tDsaf https://t.co/1HEaQRk9BR
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Goofy study of the month! (pub in JAMA!) RCT 170 adults w/ chronic LBP + MRI disc herniation found that amoxicillin-clavulanate, 500 mg/125 mg bid x 3 mos did not improve pain at 3 or 12 mos (vs PBO). Whatha... https://t.co/njrw6itAP8 https://t.co/CW2ssNPxf1
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Israel study 264,858 pregnancies- 1st trimester NSAID exposure had no risk of congenital malformations (MCM). 8% exposed vs unexposed: overall MCM 8.2% v 7%; aRR 0.99). MCMs not incr = MSK, CV, CNS, cleft palate, GI, GU, nonsignif MSM aRR from 0.77- 1.05 https://t.co/ytYhBFl44o https://t.co/1fq4D1KykM
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Medical Economics reports only 18% MDs practiced in MD-owned settings, a new low. By Jan '26 hospitals or corporate employment rose to 550,494 & independent MDs fell to 120,900 https://t.co/l0tt3yO9kt https://t.co/pkgmHFPjE1
Dr. John Cush RheumNow ( View Tweet)
FDA has approved benralizumab (Fasenra) for the treatment of adult and pediatric patients w/ hypereosinophilic syndrome (HES); based on the NATRON Phase III trial https://t.co/qqPsjhUClP https://t.co/lCZNoTh9fv
Dr. John Cush RheumNow ( View Tweet)
Branebrutinib (Bruton's tyrosine kinase inhibitor) was studied in phase 2 RCT of 85 RA pts for 12 weeks and was safe but failed to achieve an ACR50 response (19% BTK vs 33% PBO; p=0·16). https://t.co/gTjLJm9iIW https://t.co/GN9p1P8ZNJ
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UCB has aquired Candid Therapeutics for $2 billion; plan to lead in autoimmune dz by acquiring cizutamig - a T cell engager. Its been studied in >100 pts, including early Global Phase 2 RCTs of myasthenia gravis & ILD. https://t.co/xz4uEhvxu6 https://t.co/6FS1riLecW
Dr. John Cush RheumNow ( View Tweet)
