ACR 2026 – Big Pharma Brings Its Biggest Readouts to Orlando Save

ACR Convergence 2026 runs November 6–11 in Orlando, and the major companies will be presenting their highlight trials this week. Phase 3 results in Sjögren's and gout headline the late-breaking orals, while plenaries feature a head-to-head PsA trial and lupus nephritis biopsy data. Below are some of the top abstracts, listed by company  and presentation times (ET):

Eli Lilly

• Retatrutide Once Weekly for the Treatment of Knee Osteoarthritis Pain and Obesity: Results From a 68-Week Phase 3 Randomized Clinical Trial – Conaghan P, et al. In TRIUMPH-4 (n=445), WOMAC pain fell 4.4–4.5 points vs 2.4 on placebo (p<0.001). Weight fell 26–29% vs 2.1%. #0871; Sun Nov 8, 11:15 AM (Plenary I). Abstract
• Ixekizumab Plus Tirzepatide Demonstrated Greater Disease Control at 52 Weeks Versus Ixekizumab Alone With Incremental Improvement From Week 36 in Adults With Psoriatic Arthritis and Overweight or Obesity – Merola J, et al. In TOGETHER-PsA (n=271), week-52 ACR50 was 43.7% vs 15.7% with ixekizumab alone (nominal p<0.001). #2942; Wed Nov 11, 9:45 AM (oral). Abstract

Bristol Myers Squibb

• A Phase 2, Multicenter, Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Study to Evaluate the Efficacy and Safety of Afimetoran, an Oral, Once-Daily Equipotent TLR 7/8 Inhibitor, in Participants with Active SLE – Kalunian K, et al. All three doses achieved week-48 SRI-4 in 64–68% vs 34.4% on placebo (p<0.001; n=248). Serious adverse events were 5.9% vs 12.9%. LB23; Wed Nov 11, 9:00 AM (oral). Abstract
• Durable Responses at ≥12 Months With Zola-cel in Severe Refractory SLE: Full Phase 1 Breakfree-1 Cohort – Littlejohn E, et al. In 34 patients, the CD19 CAR-T lowered SLEDAI-2K by a median 10 points at 12 months; 91% were off immunosuppressants. CRS was mostly grade 1. LB04; Tue Nov 10, 10:30 AM (poster). Abstract

Amgen

• Dazodalibep Significantly Reduces Systemic Disease Activity in Patients with Sjögren's Disease and Moderate-to-Severe Disease Activity: Results from the Phase 3 OASIZ-301 Trial – Noaiseh G, et al. In 648 patients, ESSDAI fell 5.6 (Q4W) and 5.2 (Q12W) points at week 48 vs 3.8 on placebo (adjusted p<0.001, p=0.010). Adverse events were similar across arms. LB22; Wed Nov 11, 8:45 AM (oral). Abstract
• Long-Term Efficacy and Safety of Inebilizumab in IgG4-Related Disease: Primary Results from the Year 1 Open-Label Period of a Phase 3 Trial (Encore) – Stone J, et al. This encore reports year-1 open-label results for the CD19-directed antibody in IgG4-RD, following the phase 3 MITIGATE trial. Results support the extended use of INEB as treatment for IgG4-RD. #0177; Sun Nov 8, 10:30 AM (poster). Abstract
• Effectiveness and Safety of Avacopan Added to Standard of Care (SOC) Versus SOC Alone in ANCA-associated Vasculitis – Oh S, et al. This study compares the C5a receptor antagonist plus standard of care with standard of care alone in ANCA-associated vasculitis. Compared to the SOC arm, the avacopan arm had numerically lower risk of relapses and lower GC exposure. #2133; Tue Nov 10, 10:30 AM (poster). Abstract

UCB

• Bimekizumab Efficacy & Safety Versus Risankizumab in Patients with Active Psoriatic Arthritis: 24-Week Results from a Head-To-Head, Multicenter, Randomized, Phase 3b Study – McInnes I, et al. In BE BOLD (n=553), bimekizumab beat risankizumab on week-16 ACR50 (49.1% vs 38.0%; p=0.0058). MDA was not significantly different; Candida was more frequent with bimekizumab. #2804; Tue Nov 10, 10:15 AM (Plenary III). Abstract

Genentech/Roche

• Obinutuzumab Induces Histologic Remission and Deep Kidney Parenchymal B-cell Depletion in Patients With Lupus Nephritis: Exploratory Analyses From a Phase III Trial – Rovin B, et al. Among REGENCY patients without complete renal response, 52.6% on obinutuzumab vs 8.3% on placebo reached NIH activity index 0 at week 76. Kidney B-cell counts fell further (p<0.0001). #1823; Mon Nov 9, 10:45 AM (Plenary II). Abstract

Novartis

• 24-Week Interim Findings from a Randomized Phase 2 Study of Iptacopan (LNP023) Indicate High Remission Rates in Participants with Active ANCA-Associated Vasculitis – Pugnet G, et al. Week-24 remission was 84.6% with iptacopan vs 83.3% placebo (n=84), maintained without month-6 rituximab redosing. Steroid exposure was numerically lower. Iptacopan is an oral Factor B inhibitor, selectively blocks the alternate complement pathway. #LB16; Tue Nov 10, 10:30 AM (poster). Abstract

Sobi

• Treatment with URAT1 Inhibitor Pozdeutinurad (AR882) in a Phase 3, Double-Blind, Randomized Study Lowers Serum Urate Levels in Participants with Gout – Khanna P, et al. In REDUCE-2 (n=811), 69.2% (75 mg) and 56.6% (50 mg) reached urate <6 mg/dL at month 6 vs 8.1% on placebo (p<0.0001). Kidney stones occurred in ≤1.8%. LB20; Wed Nov 11, 8:15 AM (oral). Abstract

AstraZeneca

• Anifrolumab Prevents Long-Term OCS-Related, Ocular, and Musculoskeletal Damage vs Real-World Standard of Care in SLE: LASER Study – Touma Z, et al. Over 4 years, anifrolumab cut the risk of steroid-related (HR 0.128) and ocular damage (HR 0.102) vs matched controls. #2192; Tue Nov 10, 10:30 AM (poster). Abstract

Johnson & Johnson

• Icotrokinra, an IL-23 Receptor Targeted Oral Peptide, in Biologic-Naïve Participants With Active Psoriatic Arthritis: Results Through Week 24 of a Phase 3, Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Study – Kishimoto M, et al. In ICONIC-PsA 1 (n=552), week-16 ACR20 was 58% with 200 mg vs 41% on placebo (p=0.002). The 400 mg dose missed significance (52%, p=0.052). LB12; Tue Nov 10, 10:30 AM (poster). Abstract
• Nipocalimab in SLE: First-in-Class Efficacy and Safety Results Demonstrating Proof of Concept For FcRn Blockade From a Phase 2 Study – Furie R, et al. In JASMINE-SLE (n=228), week-24 SRI-4 was 53.5% with 15 mg/kg vs 46.7% on placebo. The p=0.081 met the trial's prespecified α of 0.1. #0875; Sun Nov 8, 9:15 AM (oral). Abstract