B Cell Depleters (2.21.2025)
Dr. Jack Cush reviews the news and journal articles from the past week on RheumNow.com.
News
AI-assisted diagnosis for immunological disease
EurekAlert!
A novel machine learning framework – Mal-ID – can decipher an individual’s immune system’s record of past infections and diseases, according to a new study, providing a powerful tool with the potential for diagnosing autoimmune disorders, viral infections, and vaccine responses with precision.
CRP and Hidradenitis Supprativa
A post hoc analysis of 2 phase 3 randomized clinical trials (PIONEER I and II) of adalimumab vs Placebo in patients with active Hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) demonstrated more severe HS that was associated with elevated CRP had a higher BMI.
Deucravacitinib in Psoriasis - 5 Year Outcomes
BMS released new five-year results from the POETYK PSO long-term extension (LTE) trial of deucravacitinib in treating patients with moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis. The data was presented by Dr.
Risk Prediction Modeling in MDA5 Dermatomyositis
Patients with Melanoma differentiation-associated gene 5 (MDA5) positive dermatomyositis (DM) are complicated and prone to interstitial lung disease, poor prognosis, and a high mortality.
Targeting PD-1 in Rheumatoid Arthritis
The results of the large Phase 2b RENOIR trial showed that rosnilimab, a monoclonal antibody targeting PD-1, was effective in moderate-to-severe rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients.
Growing Physician Enthusiasm for AI in Healthcare
The AMA has just published the results of a U.S. Physician survey and shown MD attitudes have positively shifted regarding the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in healthcare.
The Cartel is Coming for Rheumatology
"What Do Blockbuster Drugs & The Black Market All Have in Common?" asked Dr. Madelaine Feldman at RheumNow Live 2025. They thrive, she explained, on market exclusivity "... until they don't." At first glance, the pharmaceutical marketplace may not appear like a crime drug ring, but Dr. Feldman of Tulane University described how sinister forces of market manipulation have negatively impacted patient care for years.
Combination biologics in PsA: are we there yet?
Despite various and efficacious options for management of PsA there is still an unmet need for patients with inadequate responses to current therapies or difficult-to-treat disease. The role of dual biologic therapy targeting different inflammatory pathways has become an area of great interest in the field.
Valentine RNL 2025 Review (2.14.2025)
Dr. Jack Cush reviews highlights from RheumNow Live 2025 held in Dallas, TX on Feb. 8-9, 2025.
EGPA in 2025
Formerly classified as an ANCA-associated vasculitis, EGPA is both most commonly ANCA negative and clinically different to the other two ANCA-associated vasculitis conditions, GPA and MPA. The management of EGPA has frequently fallen into the trap of being copied from its more common and well-known cousins. Now, however, we are seeing a discordance and following GPA/MPA management will potentially lead to both over-treatment and suboptimal treatment for EGPA. In this context, the Sunday morning session at RNL 2025 on “EGPA management in 2025 and beyond” by Dr. Michael Wechsler was both timely and clinically relevant.