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Repurposing & Pipeline (8.8.2025)

Jack Cush, MD

Dr. Jack Cush reviews the news, reports, pipeline and drug repurposing on this week’s podcast.

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CKD & Osteoporosis Rx Revisited (7.25.2025)

Jack Cush, MD

Dr. Jack Cush reviews the news, journal and FDA updates from this past week on RheumNow.com.

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Clinical Associations with Anti-RNA Polymerase III Antibodies

Jack Cush, MD

A systematic review of anti-RNA polymerase III antibodies (ARA) in systemic sclerosis (SSc) patients finds ARA positivity in only 9% of SSc patients, but come with a higher risk of many potentially worrisome outcomes.

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NHANES, Numbers, & Risk (7.18.2025)

Jack Cush, MD

Dr. Jack Cush reviews the news and journal reports from this past week on RheumNow.com along with interesting case questions from "Ask Cush Anything".

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Hmmm Really? (7.11.2025)

Jack Cush, MD

Dr. Jack Cush reviews the news and journal reports from this past week - some obvious, other new thoughts and some - hmmm, reallly?

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ICYMI: Clinical and Therapeutic Challenges in Connective Tissue Disease and ILD

Mrinalini Dey, MBBChir, MA(Hons) Cantab., MRCP, FHEA

Connective tissue diseases (CTDs) and interstitial lung disease (ILD) represent a challenging intersection of systemic autoimmunity and progressive respiratory impairment. Research presented at EULAR 2025 continues to highlight the importance of CTD-ILD and the evolving landscape of therapeutic options for patients with autoimmune ILDs.

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Promising role of Fc neonatal receptor blockade in autoimmune rheumatic diseases

Md Yuzaiful Md Yusof, MRCP(UK), PhD

During EULAR 2024, we learned about a novel mechanism of action therapy, nipocalimab in Sjogren’s disease (SjD). This is an anti-neonatal Fc receptor (FcRn) mAb that reduces circulating IgG, including autoantibodies, by selectively blocking the interaction of IgG with FcRn. A year on at EULAR 2025, data from Phase 2 RCT of efgartigimod, an FcRn-inhibitor were presented in autoantibodies positive, moderate to severe active SjD. In addition to SjD, data from Phase 2 RCT of efgartigimod in inflammatory myopathies was presented.

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Lung,AI,Pleura

A new mechanism of action in SARD-ILD

Aurelie Najm, MD, PhD

Nerandomilast, an inhibitor of phosphodiesterase 4B, orally administered, is a new mechanism of action to treat lung fibrotic diseases.

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Predictors and Outcomes in Systemic Sclerosis

EurekAlert!

The VEDOSS project has previously shown that 70% of patients with Raynaud’s phenomenon and at least one red flag – systemic sclerosis (SSc)-specific antibodies, puffy fingers, or an SSc pattern on nailfold capillaroscopy –will fulfil the 2013 ACR/EULAR SSc criteria within 5 years.

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Retrospective UK study of CPRD dataset (2012-2023) found 22 829 incident CTD Dx (81% F). Over time incidence SLE & Systemic Sclerosis fell, Sjogrens & MCTD stable, & IIM rose 3.23–4.31/100K. IIM had highest mortality (28/1000 py), followed by SSc, SLE, MCTD; lowest SjD (9.7)

Dr. John Cush RheumNow ( View Tweet)

Pipeline of drugs being developed for Scleroderma by these companies - Bayer, Novartis, GSK, Boehringer Ingelheim, Celgene Corp., Johnson & Johnson, Prometic, Cytori arGentis - either as fusion proteins, peptides, small molecule, mAb, Polymern& Gene therapy https://t.co/dWRcQ1a3GU
Dr. John Cush RheumNow ( View Tweet)
Clinical Associations with Anti-RNA Polymerase III Antibodies A systematic review of anti-RNA polymerase III antibodies (ARA) in systemic sclerosis (SSc) patients finds ARA positivity in only 9% of SSc patients, but come with a higher risk of many potentially worrisome https://t.co/p1KVUFPJvN
Dr. John Cush RheumNow ( View Tweet)
US CDC study of age-standardized mortality rate (ASMR) from 1990-2020, there were 39,496 deaths related to scleroderma (SSc) & and 5,163 from SSc w/ renal failure. Deaths lower in males (22%) than females w/ renal failure (78%). Mortality rate of SSc w? renal failure was https://t.co/OT3BHt3E85
Dr. John Cush RheumNow ( View Tweet)
JAMA Clinical Challenge - 34-yoF with Forearm Pain and Stiffness. 1 yr of progressive skin tightening over forearms, tibia, LOM of fingers & elbows. Denied DM, Raynauds. Worse after tennis, better w/ steroids. Increased ANA, eosinophils, CRP, aldolase - your Dx? https://t.co/5VrE4OpZ4N
Dr. John Cush RheumNow ( View Tweet)
SCLERODERMA Pt education page from JAMA Dermatology https://t.co/hILqCeUnE2 https://t.co/QPKLqTQfPj

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Dr. John Cush RheumNow ( View Tweet)
#CAR-T in active #scleroderma #diffuse open label @sclerodermaUM presented improvement in #nailfold #capillary patterns Suggesting #vascular recovery Hope is for lungs, skin and survival to improve but These are ▶️ Early days ?risk OP0338 #EULAR2025. @RheumNow @eular_org https://t.co/QhmO6gekXk

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Janet Pope Janetbirdope ( View Tweet)
Management and prognosis of RP by @Lupusreference 1. Pts with mild disease respond to GCs 2. NSAIDs/colchicine good alternatives 3. Most common biologics used: TNFi and IL6i 4. Consider CYP in life threatening dz/ICU pts 5. Dynamic CT assess tracheal collapse. 6. PET-CT can ≠ https://t.co/PNUecMZvkT

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Adela Castro AdelaCastro222 ( View Tweet)
Is #PDE5i protective in development of #SSc #ILD? Maybe 444 w ILD of >4000 #EUSTAR Pts over 1 to 2 yrs f/u #immunesuppressive use maybe or not 🤷‍♀️channeling bias Reduction in new #ILD in #scleroderma PDE5i ✅ Immunesuppression ? @RheumNow #EULAR2025 @eular_org #OP0334 https://t.co/6dtLfybkRV

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Janet Pope Janetbirdope ( View Tweet)
Should we screen for #lung #cancer in #SSc high risk Pts? When >10 yrs? Greek cohort of SSc since 1995 Disease duration 12 yrs, smoking lung ca group ⬆️58% vs 29% ⬆️dcSSc ⬆️immunosuppression OR >4X lung ca if dcSSc, IS Less #DU #PO0940 @RheumNow @eular_org #EULAR2025 https://t.co/L2zEkP8pAc

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Janet Pope Janetbirdope ( View Tweet)
#digital #ulcers in #scleroderma🎯 Retrospective #iloprost vs #selexipag 👇 BIG advantage of oral #prostacyclin receptor #agonist vs iloprost healing faster ⬇️ulcers Selexipag used in iloprost failures; ⬇️IV access WOW! RCT needed #OP035 #EULAR2025 @RheumNow @eular_org https://t.co/6y9LwIlQkd

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Janet Pope Janetbirdope ( View Tweet)
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