Rheumatoid Arthritis

CAR-T therapy in autoimmune disease is moving fast - but is it ready to move beyond specialized referral centers? This EULAR 2026 recap covers the mechanistic data, relapse biology, and access innovations shaping that answer.

People with rheumatoid arthritis are at risk of developing interstitial lung disease (RA-ILD), which is associated with high mortality. ANCHOR-RA is a large, international cross-sectional prospective study that will enable the development of a multivariable model to help detect RA-ILD.5 Investigators enrolled 1,169 participants with rheumatoid arthritis and at least two ILD risk factors, but without known ILD.

At EULAR 2026, McCormick and Curtis et al presented data from the American College of Rheumatology’s (ACR) Rheumatology Informatics System for Effectiveness (RISE) registry on the use of GLP-1 agents in rheumatic diseases (RMD). 

Systemic autoimmune diseases are associated with increased cardiovascular morbidity and mortality – possibly through autonomic imbalance, myocardial inflammation, or fibrotic infiltration of the conduction system. A team in Colombia have been looking into the risk of cardiac arrhythmias and conduction disorders in adults with systemic autoimmune diseases compared with the general population – with the aim of 

Real-world or observational data from registries, claims datasets, or electronic health records can enable us to perform large-scale analyses.

Dr. Jack Cush reviews the news, journal reports and best ways to review EULAR 2026.

In an oral abstract presentation on Wednesday 3rd June, Fredrik Albach presented results for mivocabtagene autoleucel – an autologous, fully human CD19-directed CAR-T cell therapy – from Phase 1 of the prospective, open-label COMPARE trial in six patients with anti-citrullinated protein antibody (ACPA)-positive, treatment-refractory active rheumatoid arthritis.

New EULAR 2026 data show continued treat-to-target ULT beats a discontinuation strategy for maintaining gout remission (79.2% vs. 62.9% flare-free), though many who stopped still stayed flare-free. A companion study links gout and rheumatoid arthritis to distinct, adverse body fat patterns tied to higher diabetes and cardiovascular risk.

This update includes new pandemic era evidence, recombinant zoster vaccine data, and new perspectives on vaccination in patients taking novel immunosuppressants. Five overarching principles and 10 vaccine recommendations follow.