Most patients with early, active axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA) who quickly received a tumor necrosis factor (TNF) inhibitor experienced remission, and it didn't matter whether or not they had intestinal inflammation at baseline, a small single-arm study found.
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Dr. Jack Cush reviews highlights, trends and novel studies from EULAR 2025 in Barcelona from last week.
What would it take for JAKs to ROCK the boat?
JAK inhibitors have taken a beating over the last three years. The excitement and potential has been tempered by mounting cardiovascular safety concerns, but specifically in at-risk patients, compared to TNF inhibitors. https://t.co/tgfsU3uFVo
post hoc MRI study from Osteoarthritis Initiative (OAI) of 210 knee OA pts (mean age 64) Rx w/ either IA corticosteroids or hyaluronate (HA). Bboth reduced pain post-injx (WOMAC -5.2 CS & -2.1 HA), CS had worse progression (cartilage, BM lesions, meniscus) vs controls & HA https://t.co/pbb1ePXob1
Upcoming Lupus Nephritis Pipeline
1. Gazyva (obinutuzumab) – due for FDA/EMA decision
2. Saphnelo IV (anifrolumab) – now in Phase III (new indication for LN
3. Ianalumab SC (Dual-action B-cell inhibitor) – now in Phase III https://t.co/mTInV8JXzq https://t.co/3qg1FWzZRI
Lichenoid rash vs SCLE? JAMA Dermatology case - 60yoM w/ https://t.co/xl11CwB1AJ problems & meds has pink-red papules (central hypopigmentation) on arms, chest, back (no fungus). Bx= lichenoid dermatitis. Rash worsened, red & annular; Dx now SCLE +ANA/Ro/La) from diltiazem. SCLE
Promising role of Fc neonatal receptor blockade in autoimmune rheumatic diseases
During the Late-Breaking Abstract session at EULAR 2024, we learned about a novel mechanism of action therapy, nipocalimab in Sjogren’s disease (SjD).
https://t.co/5bjyaqTqSN https://t.co/i4mGMYfyNK
Survey shows only 1% of men are concerned about bone density; but 2 million men have osteoporosis, and 16 million men have osteopenia. https://t.co/DA4vSmj0vd? https://t.co/V4OChN022V
Increasing costs of biologics. X-sectional study of 76 781 psoriasis pts on biologics (TNFi, IL12/23, IL-17i, IL-23i) saw annual treatment cost increase from $21 236 in 2007 to $47 125 in 2021. AVG cost could have been 44% lower if lowest-cost Rx in same class was used https://t.co/IOaK75zsgg
By March 2025, the FDA has approved 71 biosimilars (15 interchangeable). The US & EU biosimilars markets spent $22.58 billion in 2024 & is projected to increase by 25% to $171.79 billion by 2033 https://t.co/fsqGTzWuhC https://t.co/ZLYSIwRqI4
UK study of 17472 newly Dx #RA pts (10997 MTX, 4,540 csDMARDs; 13680 steroids-CS) w/ 1307 Serious Infx (SI) (3/100PY) & 311 SI deaths. MTX signif decr. SI (adj HR 0.72) & CS no effect HR 0.99. SI assoc w/ age, smoker, comorbidity, seropositive, high DAS28. 1 DAS unit incr SI https://t.co/Zmsuaf7Rw3
What would it take for JAKs to ROCK the boat?
JAK inhibitors have taken a beating over the last three years. The excitement and potential has been tempered by mounting cardiovascular safety concerns, but specifically in at-risk patients, compared to TNF inhibitors. Once the https://t.co/JgmfxGa6TY
EMA has published a concept paper about the need for guidance to inform the development of systemic sclerosis (SSc) treatments. They have identified study designs & endpoints; exploratory and confirmatory trials, and assessments of safety and efficacy. See draft here: https://t.co/WADBrw2uXe
Persistent Burden in Early RA Despite Disease Control: insights from CareRA Trials
Advances in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis (RA), particularly the treat-to-target strategy and the introduction of effective disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs), have improved https://t.co/cMiF6POKGS
Survey of 154 Saudi established #RA pts on MTX >3mos; 64% claiming #MTX intolerance & 36% w/ MTX Intolerance Severity Score (MISS) >6. But MTX intolerance was NOT related to dose or route of administration, meal or time of day. These were not new MTX starters https://t.co/6KWGcZvx4o
FDA has approved a SC autoinjector of Benlysta (BEL) for use in pediatric lupus nephritis & pts > 5rs of age for SLE and active LN. BEL SC dosing for Pediatric SLE: 200 mg qwk (>40 kg) or 200 mg EOW (q2wk) if 15-40 kg. https://t.co/xrMJUgdSWv https://t.co/UJ2LZ3dU5p
Full read overview of MDA-5 Dermatomyositis (DM) - pathogenesis, findings, & Rx. MDA-5 DM is a rare, aggressive amyopathic form with distinctive skin findings & rapidly progressive interstitial lung dz. Rx includes Hi dose steroids, calcineurin inhib & IV CTX (maybe JAKi, MMF)
Add-on certolizumab in pregnant women with APS
Women with antiphospholipid syndrome and lupus anti-coagulant are at high risk of developing adverse pregnancy outcomes (APO). Usual care includes low molecular weight heparin (LMWH) and low dose aspirin (LDA). https://t.co/qnnkFlhtiS
Methotrexate and Leflunomide combination in RA/PsA: Is it safe? Save
I asked the EULAR Twitter community about the combination of Methotrexate (MTX) and Leflunomide (LEF). Opinions are split, with 50% prescribing it often and 50% concerned about side effects. In my practice, https://t.co/SZjLaEH1h2
Psoriatic Arthritis: Hit hard and Early
Two studies found no significant benefit of early biologics over standard methotrexate treatment, but they did not focus on poor prognosis cases. The SPEED trial, funded by the NIHR, aimed to compare disease activity in 192 PsA patients https://t.co/pS9DdOOVCV


