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An Epidural Letdown (4.4.2025)
Dr. Jack Cush reviews the news and journal reports from this past week on RheumNow.com.
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Vamorolone: a New Steroid on the Horizon?
Vamorolone is a potentially new alternative to traditional glucocorticoids for use in inflammatory diseases.
Steroids, Prophylaxis and Pneumocystis Pneumonia
A case-control study has shown that glucocorticoids and tapering glucocorticoids are risk factors for the development of Pneumocystis jirovecii pneumonia (PJP).
Upadacitinib for Giant-Cell Arteritis - A Phase 3 Trial
The NEJM has published a randomized controlled trial in giant-cell arteritis (GCA) patients, demonstrating significant efficacy and safety of upadacitinib (UPA), given as 15 mg daily, as compared to placebo.
Diagnostic delays and Undertreatment of Psoriatic Arthritis
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EurekAlert!
New research from the University of Bath in the UK reveals delayed diagnosis and undertreatment of psoriatic arthritis often results in irreversible damage to joints.
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📢 Federal funding for lupus research and the Lupus Research Program within the Department of Defense hang in the balance as Congress debates spending priorities.
🔬 Investing in lupus research – and all medical research – is one of the wisest investments we can make. That’s why https://t.co/OgWo5z0fMB
Lupus Research LupusResearch ( View Tweet)
🎉 Today's Annual Scientific Conference kicked off with The CARRA Registry Retreat! The retreat brought together physician-PIs, research coordinators, research managers and patients/caregivers involved with the CARRA Registry. 💙 #CARRA2025 #pedsrheum https://t.co/GYYHAjsIdK
CARRA carrainc ( View Tweet)
Systematic review 21 studies showed potential of RTX with IVIg in autoimmune Dz - 10 studies on pemphigus (85 pts) - all Positive outcomes except 1 paraneoplastic pemphigus. Infections (eg, P. jirovecii pneumonia) seen in 3. 11 studies (24 pts) Rx'd neuropathies, CND lupus& https://t.co/o0RRUBIqmS
Dr. John Cush RheumNow ( View Tweet)
Commemorating the 15th Anniversary of the Biologics Price Competition and Innovation Act (by Dr. Sara Yim, FDA)
- BPCIA enacted March 23, 2010
- created pathway for biosimilar approvals
- Now ~70 FDA approved biosimilars; 18 in 2024
https://t.co/dhST5vAJyT https://t.co/BWefr7k9hh
Dr. John Cush RheumNow ( View Tweet)
South Korean nationwide cohort study of 888,909 newly diagnosed #OA pts compared NSAID safety. Nephrotoxicity varied: lowest w/ meloxicam (aHR=1.22 [0.68–2.19]), higher w/ loxoprofen (aHR=3.9 [1.56–10.00]), celecoxib (aHR=2.4 [1.68–3.53]), naproxen (aHR=4.7 [2.16–10.24]) https://t.co/wfWIdoRQGO
Dr. John Cush RheumNow ( View Tweet)
Congrates to Arthritis Research & Therapy on their 25th anniversay - 25 years of research and therapy in arthritis. Started 25 yrs ago by Drs. Peter Lipsky and Ravinder Maini https://t.co/4GFj9qktzr https://t.co/bUz0Ms0y6M
Dr. John Cush RheumNow ( View Tweet)
An estimated 118,000 people throughout the world have EGPA. Steroids & immunosuppressants have been the mainstay; but for managing EGPA. Mepolizumab (2015) & Benralizumab (2024) are FDA approved for EGPA. The latter (Fasenra) approval based on the MANDARA trial https://t.co/84W4sOig9d
Dr. John Cush RheumNow ( View Tweet)
To promote broader avail. of biosimilars in EU, EMA has proposed a new path for new biosimilars, omitting comparative clinical trial data, as long as biosimilar shows structural & functional comparability, w/ pharmacokinetic & interaction data (relative to reference product) https://t.co/24aTCuDwdO
Dr. John Cush RheumNow ( View Tweet)
Joint Implant Metals May Be Leaking
Patients with metal-containing joint replacements had significantly higher concentrations of cobalt in their cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) relative to patients without arthroplasties, researchers reported.
https://t.co/ubDhWqtTSL https://t.co/GjMnog8mcJ
Dr. John Cush RheumNow ( View Tweet)
1st Line Biologics vs. csDMARDs in Adult Still's Disease
A German multicentre, retrospective study assessed the first-line efficacy of biologics and conventional synthetic DMARD therapy in patients with adult-onset Still's disease (AOSD) and found biologic agents were https://t.co/EeSuBiYx5Q
Dr. John Cush RheumNow ( View Tweet)
Review article shows that in psoriasis pts, adding #MTX to TNFi increases efficacy, but there is limited data on adding MTX to either IL-17 or IL-23. But in Psoriatic Arthritis (PsA), adding MTX provides no added efficacy compared to biologic monotherapy https://t.co/FiSFIjpsXo https://t.co/ComFg253u9
Dr. John Cush RheumNow ( View Tweet)
NIH Complimentary Medicine overview of Music Therapy - preliminary research suggests that music interventions may be helpful for anxiety, depression, pain control, dementia, multiple sclerosis, Parkinson’s disease, etc https://t.co/UGsfT7lITQ https://t.co/DrJm4JdEuY
Dr. John Cush RheumNow ( View Tweet)
EMA approved a record 28 biosimilars in 2024 for cancer, osteoporosis, macular degeneration, and immune-related diseases like plaque psoriasis, ulcerative colitis, and Crohn’s disease https://t.co/NNzKRalLvF https://t.co/nfX082a7ON
Dr. John Cush RheumNow ( View Tweet)
Consensus on Bone Turnover Biomarkers in Osteoporosis
A new consensus paper, published by the European Society for Clinical and Economic Aspects of Osteoporosis, Osteoarthritis and Musculoskeletal Diseases (ESCEO), the International Osteoporosis Foundation (IOF), and the https://t.co/lq1odNBLdZ
Dr. John Cush RheumNow ( View Tweet)
Consensus Against Interventional Injections for Chronic Spinal Pain
BMJ has published a clinical practice guideline resulting from the work of an international, multidisciplinary panel addressing chronic spine pain (≥3 months duration) not associated with cancer or https://t.co/PfXM210PsZ
Dr. John Cush RheumNow ( View Tweet)
