The Arthritis Spectrum after Lyme Infection - Something New

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Symptoms attributed to chronic Lyme disease are the bane of a rheumatologist’s existence. We often see patients referred for a variety of nonspecific complaints that do not resolve after antibiotic therapy, including the so-called post-Lyme disease syndrome.

Pharma Points Blame at PBMs

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A Wall Street Journal article claims that U.S. drugmakers are pointing the blame at the middlemen who also influence drug priciing.

Anti-IL-23 Guselkumab Beats Adalimumab in Severe Psoriasis

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Management of moderate to severe plaque psoriasis has advanced significantly with FDA approved therapies capable of targeting TNF alpha, IL-17 and IL-12/23.  

BUILD Study - Baricitinib Shows Rapid Efficacy and X-ray Protection

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Baricitinib is an oral, small molecule, once-daily DMARD, that specifically inhibits Janus kinase 1 and 2 and is being developed for use in rheumatoid arthritis. With much of the developmental clinical trials completed, the drug is slated for review and potential approval near the end of the year.

RheumNow Week in Review – 30 September 2016

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Three new FDA approvals, proteomics, cancer, infectious risk, nonadherence and disappointing clinical trial results covered in this RheumNow Week in Review.

NSAIDs Pose a Dose-Related Risk for Heart Failure Hospitalizations

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BMJ has reported the results of a case-control study that analyzed the risk of hospitalization from heart failure associated with the use of NSAIDs amongst healthcare databases from four European countries (the Netherlands, Italy, Germany, and the United Kingdom).

ICD-10 Grace Period Ends October 1st

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A year ago, physicians panicked with a new and formidable change in practice called ICD-10.  This newer and more complex coding system had the angst of Y2K and nearly as much true trouble - largely because of the "relaxed" stance taken by CMS with its introduction.  

No Difference in Infection Rates Among SLE Drugs

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Rates of serious infection and mortality among patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE)  did not depend on the immunosuppressive drug regimen they were on, investigators reported.

Ilaris Gets FDA Approval for Rare Febrile Disorders

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Ilaris was previously approved for use in systemic JIA and CAPS. The FDA has expanded this to include TRAPS, Hyper-IgD and FMF based on clinical trials.

Anti-Sclerostin Drug Prevents Vertebral Fractures in Post-Menopausal Osteoporosis

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Romosozumab is being developed as a novel therapy for osteoporosis. It is a monoclonal antibody that binds sclerostin, and has been shown to increase bone formation while decreasing bone resorption.

FDA Approves New Amgen Biosimilar for Adalimumab

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2016 has been a big year for biosimilars in rheumatology.

FDA Approves Stelara for Crohn's Colitis

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The anti-IL-12/IL-23 inhibitor, Stelara (ustekinumab) has been FDA approved for the treatment of psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis.  In the last week, the EMA's CHMP has recommended that the drug also be approved for use in Crohn's disease.

RheumNow Week in Review – 23 September 2016

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Dr. Jack Cush reviews highlights, news and articles from the past week at RheumNow.com:

Restricting High Price Drugs - A Dangerous Trend?

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Who makes billions in profits and millions in bonus monies? PBMs and insurers, thats who. This week United Healthcare and Express Scripts announced new plans to restrict patient and prescriber access to popular, expensive, albeit FDA-approved, medications and biologics. Who benefits, who loses?

Recognizing Arboviral Infections in Rheumatic Disease Patients.

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What does sex have to do with it? Although the Zika virus infection is known to be sexually transmitted, the same cannot be claimed for Dengue or Chikungunya.