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Treating Obesity is Disease-Modifying (9.4.2026)

Jack Cush, MD

Dr. Jack Cush reviews the news and journal articles from the past week on RheumNow.com.  New drugs approved, new drugs halted and some drugs out of control. Ready to test your knowlege? Take this week's quiz!

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BMI Affects JAK Inhibitor Responses in Rheumatoid Arthritis

Jack Cush, MD

A meta-analysis of Janus kinase (JAKi) inhibitors clinical trials in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) has shown higher BMI was associated with poorer responses and a reduced treatment benefit with JAK inhibitors in RA patients.

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EBR Journal Club: Dapirolizumab Pegol in SLE (PHOENYCS GO)

Michael Putman, MD, MSCI

The EBR Journal Club Companion applies my adapted version of the JAMA approach to critical appraisal to an important RCT in rheumatology. Each review covers four domains: Does this apply to my patients? What is the risk of bias? How great are the benefits and harms? And what didn’t they show me? This edition: PHOENYCS GO (dapirolizumab pegol in SLE).

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Novartis & BMS CAR-T Cell Trials on Hold

Jack Cush, MD

Reuters and the Wall Street Journal report that both Novartis and Bristol Myers Squibb (BMS) have paused their autoimmune disease CAR-T ce

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FDA Approves Brepocitinib to Treat Dermatomyositis

Jack Cush, MD

The FDA and Priovant recently annouced approval of brepocitinib (Lisraya), a JAK1/TYK2 inhibitor, for the indication of adults with dermatomyositis (DM). This is the first oral (once daily) agent approved for DM.

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NME: New Molecular Entities (8.28.2026)

Jack Cush, MD

Dr. Jack Cush reviews the news and journal articles from this past week on RheumNow.com. Take this week's RheumIQ and test your knowledge!

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Secukinumab in Polymyalgia Rheumatica

Jack Cush, MD

Polymyalgia rheumatica (PMR) is a common disorder of the elderly that responds well to glucocorticoids (GC), but is plagued by an inability to wean off of GCs.

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Insights into Sjögren’s Disease - A Rheum Survey

Jack Cush, MD

RheumNow recentlty surveyed rheumatologists about Sjogren’s disease (SjD) - how they approach diagnosis, treatment, and unique challenges; all important as new advances in SjD evolves.

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Guidelines for Adult-Onset IgA Vasculitis

Jack Cush, MD

A EUVAS-sponsored expert panel of 37 specialists across rheumatology, nephrology, dermatology and pathology has published evidence-based guidelines for adult-onset IgA vasculitis (IgAV), which behaves very differently in adults compared to usually self-limited childhood form.

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Registry Data Shows Liver Risk With Avacopan

MedPage Today

A new study may add fuel to the fire already burning around avacopan (Tavneos), approved in 2021 to treat anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic autoantibody (ANCA)-associated vasculitis (AAV), which the FDA wants drugmaker Amgen to pull from the U.S. market.

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Glucocorticoids: Use vs.Toxicity

Jack Cush, MD

This review article addresses the recognition, prevention and management of glucocorticoid toxicity in rheumatic patients.

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12 mos Danish study of 157 822 first-time semaglutide for obesity management (SOM) intiators. 77 483 discontinued treatment w/in 12 mos. (13% at 3 mo, 27% 6 mos, 39% @ 9 mos. D/C more likely in younger, men, low-income, on GI or psych meds, & pts with comorbididities. Few https://t.co/oJLnrxXFz0
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True or False: In a Korean National Health Insurance study, gout patients on allopurinol had a significantly higher risk of fractures, with the highest risk seen in those with low adherence. Did you get it right? Take this week's RheumIQ and see: https://t.co/UaXqHKWizt. https://t.co/7nILMVUeGw

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Novartis & BMS CAR-T Cell Trials on Hold Reuters and the Wall Street Journal report that both Novartis and Bristol Myers Squibb (BMS) have paused their autoimmune disease CAR-T cell trials due to safety concerns, including deaths. https://t.co/ffcAHhtdBh https://t.co/zKlFcBdEod

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Dr. John Cush RheumNow ( View Tweet)
Novartis & BMS CAR-T Cell Trials in autoimmune diseases are put on hold with concerns about safety and 3 deaths. https://t.co/ffcAHhtdBh https://t.co/aBCcaKGlF4

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Rheums! Do you have a Rheumatology question or case for Dr. Cush? Record it here, and we may feature it on an upcoming podcast. Tell us your name and where you practice rheumatology. https://t.co/LZ59KW8HdA https://t.co/DwHdvpTYax

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CAR-T Reality Check! The hype is outrunning the evidence, which now lives in a handy dashboard created and presented by Dr. Mike Putman @EBRheum. There are almost as many studies as there are CAR-T treated patients. Few numbers, limited F/U - Yet everyone is gaga about CAR-T. https://t.co/6tLLJDVI8x
Dr. John Cush RheumNow ( View Tweet)
Registry Data Shows Liver Risk With Avacopan A new study may add fuel to the fire already burning around avacopan (Tavneos), approved in 2021 to treat anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic autoantibody (ANCA)-associated vasculitis (AAV), which the FDA wants drugmaker Amgen to pull from https://t.co/nHF6RVpq2Z
Dr. John Cush RheumNow ( View Tweet)
Glucocorticoids: Use vs.Toxicity This review article addresses the recognition, prevention and management of GC toxicity in rheumatic patients. Despite guidelines and recommendations that GC be tapered, lowered or discontinued, they continue to be widely used with serious https://t.co/rmjoYJzCLD
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e-cigarette use assoc w/ a 1.5-fold incr risk of RA & SLE. All of Us Research prg matched 15,909 e-cig users vs nonusers. 66 new RA or SLE among current e-cig (IR 1.43/1,000PYs) vs nonusers (0.93/1,000PYs; IRR 1.54); applies to past or current smokers https://t.co/xYRezwQFYC https://t.co/pnNANfui4Y

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