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Efgartigimod Efficacy in Idiopathic Inflammatory Myopathy

Jack Cush, MD

Today Argenx announced the results of their Phase 3 "ALKIVIA" study; demonstrating efficacy and safety of subcutaneous efgartigimod for Idiopathic Inflammatory Myopathy (IIM, AKA inflammatory myositis).

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Doubting RS3PE (8.14.2026)

Jack Cush, MD

Dr. Jack Cush reviews the news and journal articles this week where RheumNow featured info on cancer, deadly viruses, AI rules, poetry and good moons rising.

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A Case of Sweet Syndrome

Jack Cush, MD

This overview appeared in JAMA Dermatology.

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ZEUS Trial: IL-6 Inhibition Fails to Cut Cardiovascular Events

Jack Cush, MD

The phase 3 ZEUS trial (published in JAMA Dec. 2025)  tested the IL-6 ligand inhibitor ziltivekimab in over 6,000 patients with atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease, chronic kidney disease, and elevated hsCRP—a population enriched for an inflammatory driver of risk.

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2026 BSR Pain Guideline: What Rheumatologists Need to Know

Jack Cush, MD

The British Society for Rheumatology has issued its first guideline dedicated solely to pain in inflammatory arthritis (IA)—covering RA, PsA, axial SpA and JIA.

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Evaluating Inflammatory Joint Pain in Older Adults

Jack Cush, MD

Lee, Levinson, and Makris have published an approach to evaluating inflammatory joint pain in older adults in JAMA Internal Medicine. While intended to be a practical guide for primary care clinicians, the tenets and clues ring true for all.

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Wealth and Where you Live Influences Outcomes

EurekAlert!

Patients from wealthier European countries tend to start treatment with biologics earlier but also stop or switch treatment earlier. They also experience lower disease activity at treatment start than patients in middle- and low-income countries.

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POETYK PsA-1: Deucravacitinib in Biologic-Naïve PsA

Jack Cush, MD

POETYK PsA-1 trial tested the disease modifying efficacy of deucravacitinib, a tyrosine kinase 2 (TYK2) inhibitor, in psoriatic arthritis (PsA) patients and was shown to be superior vs to placebo for clinical responses, patient-reported outcomes, and structural damage inhibition in PsA.

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ZEUS Trial: IL-6 Inhibition Fails to Cut Cardiovascular Events The phase 3 ZEUS trial tested the IL-6 ligand inhibitor ZVK in over 6,000 patients with ASCVD, CKD, and elevated hsCRP. Although ZVK significantly lowered IL-6 and CRP levels, it did not improved outcomes (HR 0.99 https://t.co/jf2gAtvmpZ
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US TriNetX EHR study of of seropositive RA:  31,932 without ILD; 115 RA-ILD on antifibrotic Rx & 1885 RA-ILD not Rx w/ antifibrotics. MTX was used more in RA w/o ILD (52%) vs RA-ILD (12%) on antifibrotics. RA-ILD was assoc w/ heterogeneous antifibrotic use. https://t.co/eBJBXbnQLN
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3 SLE pts w/ Bx class III/IV LN had Lg proteinuria flares (4.6–13.4 g/d) despite MMF plus belimumab & were given voclosporin (+MMF) w/ rapid, sustained proteinuria reduced (≤0.7 g/day w/in 9–12 mos) & stable/improved eGFR, & GC tapering. Creat increases Rx w/ dose adjustments https://t.co/38lcD8DPgn
Dr. John Cush RheumNow ( View Tweet)
POETYK PsA-1: Deucravacitinib in Biologic-Naïve PsA POETYK PsA-1 trial tested the disease modifying efficacy of deucravacitinib, a tyrosine kinase 2 (TYK2) inhibitor, in PsA patients and was shown to be superior vs to placebo for clinical responses, patient-reported outcomes, https://t.co/6ptGmzCoQ9
Dr. John Cush RheumNow ( View Tweet)
Substudy of 131 Still’s dz pts from the Autoinflammatory Dz (AIDA) registry. 38% underdosed w/ canakinumab (CAN) vs 62% appropriately dosed (300 mg q4wks or 4 mg/kg). Underdosed CAN had lower odds of long-term remission & D/C CAN (3.9% vs 19%) https://t.co/l94zB9NkKv https://t.co/FQTrCWZLQI

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Dr. John Cush RheumNow ( View Tweet)
Evaluating Inflammatory Joint Pain in Older Adults Lee, Levinson, and Makris have published an approach to evaluating inflammatory joint pain in older adults in JAMA Internal Medicine. While intended to be a practical guide for Primary Care Clinicians (PCCs), the tenets and https://t.co/TPKEOjkcKl
Dr. John Cush RheumNow ( View Tweet)
POETYK PsA-1: Deucravacitinib in Biologic-Naïve PsA POETYK PsA-1 trial tested the disease modifying efficacy of deucravacitinib, a tyrosine kinase 2 (TYK2) inhibitor, in PsA patients and was shown to be superior vs to placebo for clinical responses, patient-reported outcomes, https://t.co/VjwpCVKPz0
Dr. John Cush RheumNow ( View Tweet)
Study of 364 Japanese myositis (IIM) pts - 42 (11.4%) had cancer-assoc myositis (CAM); 30/42 Dx w/in ±1 yr of IIM. CA risk incr ±3 yrs of IIM (SIR 2.54), highest 1st yr (SIR 8.66). 5 factors predicted CAM: TIF1γ +, ^CRP, dermatomyositis, older age, +FHx CA (AUC 0.86; sensitivity https://t.co/9ojTWTK5kO
Dr. John Cush RheumNow ( View Tweet)
Substudy of 131 Still’s dz pts from the Autoinflammatory Dz (AIDA) registry. 38% underdosed w/ canakinumab (CAN) vs 62% appropriately dosed (300 mg q4wks or 4 mg/kg). Underdosed CAN had lower odds of long-term remission & D/C CAN (3.9% vs 19%) https://t.co/l94zB9NkKv https://t.co/D8FNUXS0nv

Links:

Dr. John Cush RheumNow ( View Tweet)
Multimodal & multidisciplinary Tx (MMT) are underutilized in adults w/ chronic pain. Study of 347 Chr pain pts - 60% used non-opioid meds; 29% used opioids & only 11% MMT. Older age & high intensity pain assoc w/ Opioids. MMT had more complex pain w/ greater pain interference, https://t.co/iF0UQeut9b
Dr. John Cush RheumNow ( View Tweet)
UK Clinical Practice Research Database study RA pts 3134 on glucocorticoids (vs not 4142 matched controls). were identified. GC use assoc w/ signif risk of SSRI initiation risk - recent GC (adj OR 1.53) & past GC (aOR 1.40). GC effect or confounding dz activity? Think depression! https://t.co/WZLkQWlURC
Dr. John Cush RheumNow ( View Tweet)
NSAIDs reduces age-related macular degeneration. TriNetX study (2015-2024) looked at non-AMD pts & showed NSAID use (n 634794) had signif less AMD at 6 mos (HR 0.31), 1 yr (0.36), 3 yrs (0.42) & 5 yrs (0.48); w/ signif protective effect (HR 0.58), Same for ASA (0.72) & https://t.co/Cgxrz92Omt
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