All News
New JAK inhibitors in the axSpA treatment landscape
At EULAR 2026, two large phase 3 studies highlight that the JAK story in axSpA is still evolving rapidly, with different selectivity profiles and expanding global development programs continuing to push the field forward.
Read Article
This study describes the SIJ differences in axSpA vs. non-axSpA pts with CBP
axSpA: BME w/ widespread distribution & inflamm⬇️ over time
non-axSpA: BME rare or limited only to ventral & middle superior sacrum
Findings may improve MRI ID of axSpa
AbsPOS0193 @RheumNow #EULAR2026 https://t.co/7eiHQOOIWs
sheila RHEUMarampa ( View Tweet)
Gecacitinib 100mg BiD vs PBO in active r-axSpA:
Met primary endpt ASAS40 at wk 16 showing efficacy of gecacitinib vs. PBO (51.9%vs12.9%,p<0.0001)
Gecacitinib showed ⬆️ improvements in ASDAS-CRP, physical fnxn, spinal mobility & QOL
Promising tx.
AbsOP0240 @RheumNow #EULAR2026 https://t.co/FytoRgxvnG
Links:
sheila RHEUMarampa ( View Tweet)
One of the main changes in the 2025 update on the EULAR guidelines for imaging in SpA is that of MRI replacing CR as the initial imaging modality while CR & low dose CT of SIJs became alternative modalities in the absence of or if with CIs to MRI
AbsPOS0682 @RheumNow #EULAR2026 https://t.co/bj2NWKnIGf
sheila RHEUMarampa ( View Tweet)
Treat-to-target in inflammatory arthritis recommended by every guideline. Followed in only 40% of SpA visits.
The main reason was activity simply wasn’t documented using a validated index.
You can’t target what you don’t measure.
Abstr 0351 @ RheumNow #EULAR2026
#axSpA #PsA https://t.co/VAcoZfCXsR
Antoni Chan MD (Prof) synovialjoints ( View Tweet)
💉Do GLP-1 agonists improve DMARD persistence in PsA/axSpA?
TriNetX real-world study (n=3,068): YES!
Better b/tsDMARD persistence and lower stroke & mortality risk
#POS0194 #EULAR2026 @rheumnow
Nelly ZIADE 🍀 Nellziade ( View Tweet)
⏰ The question rheumatologists keep asking: Does early axSpA diagnosis reduce long-term spinal damage?
Answer from the SCQM registry (n=376): Early diagnosis linked to 3.85 fewer mSASSS points long-term, esp. in HLA-B27+ males
#POS0191 #EULAR2026 @RheumNow https://t.co/HM5kvqXMEh
Nelly ZIADE 🍀 Nellziade ( View Tweet)
📋 Do 2025 ASAS-SPARTAN criteria classify fewer real-world axSpA patients?
Data from the RABBIT-SpA registry (n=2,236) confirms:
67% vs 73% with 2009 criteria
Clinical arm rarely fulfilled
#POS0190 #EULAR2026 @RheumNow https://t.co/HYie4w8c6r
Nelly ZIADE 🍀 Nellziade ( View Tweet)
🔍 Do posterior element lesions progress over 10 years in axSpA?
Data from the DESIR inception cohort (n=320) says RARELY!
But baseline PE inflammation raises facet ankylosis risk ~70-fold
#POS0189 #EULAR2026 @RheumNow https://t.co/PdwlPGjKqK
Nelly ZIADE 🍀 Nellziade ( View Tweet)
CyTOF reveals significant sexual dimorphism in monocyte populations in active #axSpA
Women show reduced classical and non-classical monocytes vs healthy controls. Men do not show the same pattern.
Sex is not just a demographic variable in AxSpA it is also an immunological one.
Antoni Chan MD (Prof) synovialjoints ( View Tweet)
Ivarmacitinib (selective JAK1 inhibitor) significantly improved ASAS40 vs placebo in nr-#axSpA(39.7% vs 24.8%; p=0.006) at 12 weeks, sustained to 24 weeks. Another oral option for non-radiographic disease. Abstr OP0237 @RheumNow #EULAR2026
Antoni Chan MD (Prof) synovialjoints ( View Tweet)
🧬 Does spine vs knee enthesis differ immunologically?
Translational scRNAseq study: YES!
Spine produces more IL-23 but shows attenuated IL-17 response vs knee
#POS0084 #EULAR2026 @RheumNow https://t.co/itFrLEXSzZ
Nelly ZIADE 🍀 Nellziade ( View Tweet)
🔍 Are 2025 ASAS-SPARTAN criteria valid in early axSpA?
SPACE cohort (n=669):
HIGH specificity (97.5%) but LOWER sensitivity (60%) vs 2009 criteria (83%)
#OP0239 #EULAR2026 @RheumNow https://t.co/9wNbtcbP0l
Nelly ZIADE 🍀 Nellziade ( View Tweet)
🎗️ Do targeted therapies raise cancer risk in SpA?
French nationwide cohort (n=56,591): NO
In fact, prolonged exposure REDUCES risk (wHR 0.86), especially haematological.
#OP0238 #EULAR2026 @RheumNow https://t.co/dDveAmWpdX
Nelly ZIADE 🍀 Nellziade ( View Tweet)
💉 Does ivarmacitinib (selective #JAK1i work in nr-axSpA?
Phase 3 RCT (n=304):
ASAS40 39.7% vs 24.8% placebo at week 12
with sustained benefit at week 24
#OP0237 #EULAR2026 @RheumNow https://t.co/kofXnPp6qQ
Nelly ZIADE 🍀 Nellziade ( View Tweet)
💊 After TNFi failure in axSpA, switch to IL-17Ai or cycle TNFi?
ROC-SpA (Phase 4 RCT, n=300):
NO difference: ASAS40 15.2% vs 14.5% at week 24
#OP0235 #EULAR2026 @RheumNow https://t.co/45gisWiuoM
Nelly ZIADE 🍀 Nellziade ( View Tweet)
🔬 Can filgotinib improve axSpA?
OLINGUITO (Phase 3 RCT, n=495):
YES! ASAS40 39.5% vs 21% (r-axSpA) at week 16
#OP0234 #EULAR2026 @RheumNow https://t.co/0vj2KqSS1b
Nelly ZIADE 🍀 Nellziade ( View Tweet)
DESIR Cohort 10-year data (OP0102): SIJ structural lesions in #axSpA progress slowly, but prior MRI bone marrow oedema predicts later structural damage. bDMARD exposure was associated with less erosion progression supporting early biologic treatment Abstr OP0102 @RheumNow
Antoni Chan MD (Prof) synovialjoints ( View Tweet)
Male sex independently associated with greater mSASSS increase (β 0.29), higher odds of ≥2-unit mSASSS progression (OR 2.08), and new syndesmophyte formation (OR 1.90) in #axSpA despite lower disease activity scores. Treat symptoms and progression Abstr OP0101 @RheumNow
Antoni Chan MD (Prof) synovialjoints ( View Tweet)
RD in #IBD: 18.6% of 650 IBD pts affected, most commonly peripheral arthritis and AxSpa. Key finding: 14% of rheumatic manifestations preceded IBD diagnosis. Rheumatologists may see these pts first. GI-rheum collaboration is essential. @RheumNow #EULAR2026 POS0807 https://t.co/028yzOxJ2R
Jiha Lee JihaRheum ( View Tweet)
