PhRMA estimates that 90% of US healthcare spending is on chronic conditions. Currently there are ~800 drugs in development for chronic Dz - with 70 drugs in Ph1-3 development for arthritis: OA, RA, PsA, Gout (>1/3 in Phase 3) https://t.co/cozMhQI3UH https://t.co/uZe6L2ph87

The University Of Pennsylvania has recv a $50 Million Gift (from Stewart & Judy Colton) to further develop the Autoimmune Disease Research program at Penn’s Colton Center for Autoimmunity. 6.4% of women and 2.7% of men have autoimmune disease https://t.co/gMdoiZFTdB https://t.co/BZHn1mSmHU

A retrospectively cohort study of 147 r-AxSpA patients looked at secukinumab retention, which was 55% at 12 mos. Obesity was assoc w/ a lower rate of SEC D/C (29% v 50%, p = 0.013). Yet multiple TNFi had higher rate of SEC D/C [HR 1.99] https://t.co/OZIZoTROZS https://t.co/M99ANDGzv9

JAMA Oncology reports in 1st 10 mos of pandemic, 16,500 cancer pts died from COVID+complications; w/ signific more COVID-19-related cancer deaths than cancer deaths w/o COVID-19 in blood CA(23% v 10%) & prostate CA (12% v. 5.5%) https://t.co/036VU8H1vx https://t.co/tWh8749pTx

Microbioime analyses of cancer patients suggests over abundance of fungi, expecially transcriptionally active Candida and is associated with gastrointestinal and lung cancers. Candida DNA is also predictive of reduced survival in GI cancers https://t.co/YoMOvvskqz https://t.co/6hC6Y4YAc1

New look at fibrosis in scleroderma finds low levels of the antifibrotic protein, endostatin & Cathespin L. In vitro studies show a deficiency of Cathepsin L that should lead to its activation of antifibrotic endostatin - possibly a new Rx strategy for SSc https://t.co/qaLN0PVnLO https://t.co/TDK4sBZMV0

COVID-19 Arthropathy and Myalgia An online survey of random COVID-19 infected persons shows that arthralgia and myalgia are common consequences to COVID-19 infection. https://t.co/TbJvTRfsvk https://t.co/yuLN5p5ZAn

Dr. Alfonse Masi donates $1.2 Million to establish the Masi endowed chair in Medicine at the University of Illinois College of Medicine, Peoria. Dr. Masi is a giant clinician, researcher, epidemiologist in Rheum w/ > 220 Pubs & Yrs service to the ACR https://t.co/MbCFVZyNs1 https://t.co/LQ9D0ypA53

2022 Lasker Award Winners Widely regarded as America’s top biomedical research prize since its creation more than 75 years ago by Mary and Albert Lasker, the Lasker Awards carry an honorarium of $250,000 for each category. https://t.co/wBIGMR6lH7 https://t.co/t9HUECimys

Opioid Crisis Costs USA $1.5 Trillion Reuters has reported the results of a Congressional report showing the economic toll of the opioid addiction and overdose crisis on the United States reached nearly $1.5 trillion in 2020 alone and is likely to grow. https://t.co/Fwk6jDdtiD https://t.co/91d26iEZts

This week it's the great and not-so-great on gout, chondrocalcinosis, osteoporosis and misdiagnosis. We are good at many of those things - what's not so great? Let's review the news and journal reports from the past week on RheumNow. https://t.co/30Ih3xj22t https://t.co/YznOuGg5B2

2 open-label reports of JAK inhibitors in Systemic sclerosis (SSc) - 59 SSc pts: significant decr in mRSS in 88%. 28/29 w/ ILD had no progression. Overall responses better in treatment naïve SSc patients. 20% had side-effects. More studies needed https://t.co/PPAHocDWBj https://t.co/hZDGOF6r9k