Reuters today reported that a copy of the blockbuster biotech drug Enbrel (SB4) was recommended for approval in Europe on Friday, making it the second so-called biosimilar antibody medicine to win such a green light from the continent's regulators.

MedPage Today reports that the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has issued a final rule governing payment for hip and knee replacements for Medicare patients this week that includes several concessions to stakeholders, such as delaying implementation from early 2016 to later in the year.

Researchers from Vanderbilt University have studied the issue of opioid use in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and whether this influences infection risk.  Based on animal data, researchers have postulated that opioids may further immunosuppress those treated. (Citation source http://buff.ly/1QSPiGJ)

The number of patients with psoriasis who go on to develop psoriatic arthritis (PsA) is considerably higher than has previously been estimated, a prospective cohort study found.

Patients with psoriatic skin and joint disease are uniquely susceptible to multiple comorbidities, obesity and possibly more cardiovascular risks. In rheumatoid arthritis, the increased CV risk and CV events have been closely aligned with inflammation and disease activity. However, the same may not be said for psoriasis.

The American Medical Association has called for a ban on direct-to-consumer (DTC) advertising for prescription drugs and medical devices, noting these forms of advertising drive up health care costs and often mislead the public.

A biosimilar of etanercept (Enbrel) made by the South Korean company Samsung Bioepis is under consideration by regulators in the European Union. Samsung Bioepis, a joint venture between Samsung Biologics and Biogen, is taking aim with its version of etanercept. Their application for the biosimilar etanercept (known as SB4) is being assessed by the European Medicines Agency (EMA) this week, according to the EMA agenda.

What are your rules on methotrexate and alcohol use? How about casual, social or occasional alcohol use? If one alcoholic beverage is ok, what about 2, 3 or six while taking MTX? Many rheumatologists have crafted alcohol and methotrexate policies to protect patients and reduce the risk associated with coadministration of these potential hepatotoxins.

Giant cell arteritis (GCA) is a medium and large vasculitis, wherein only glucocorticoids (GC) treatment has been the mainstay of therapy. As many will require prolonged treatment, the hazards of GC are well known, lead to substantial toxicity and morbidity.

Here are five things every rheumatologist should know about antimalarial medications for lupus. 

Sepsis is a dangerous and potentially fatal consequence of serious infections (SIE), particularly in susceptible populations such as the elderly and immunosuppressed. Published evidence points toward the potential role of TNF in development of sepsis. Given the broad use of multiple biologic and conventional DMARDs in the treatment of RA, there is a need to understand the impact of our current treatments on SIE outcomes.

While there are currently 9 biologic agents approved and marketed for the treatment of RA, and although each has a valued place in our arsenal, I would propose none has been as influential or dramatic as TNF inhibitors. The “born again” rheumatoid feeling is not well captured by any of the usual metrics or measures. It’s not found in the HAQ, DAS28, SF36 (either mental or physical), fatigue score, or any lab parameter. I believe it’s best

A thoughtful perspective on the purpose, focus and cost of guideline efforts in rheumatology has been published in the journal Rheumatology. In the last 15 years, more than 120 guidelines have been published in the field.  One of the many problems inherent in such efforts is that the time and effort needed to establish a guideline is undermined by their being outdated in 3 years.