Rheumatology Pay Up (9.25.2026)
Dr. Jack Cush reviews the news and journal reports from this past week on RheumNow.com.
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J&J announced topline results of Phase 4 STAR study where guselkumab (Tremfya) improved in axial Sxs & MRI outcomes in 411 biologic-naïve axial PsA pts, STAR is a 24 wk DBPCT of GUS (IL-23 inhib) in DMARD unresponsive pts. Endpoint was BASDAI @ wk24. https://t.co/LkqwV0zRmn https://t.co/2Tdg96rWFX
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
The Friday RheumNow podcast has dropped! In this week's episode, "Rheumatology Pay Up," Dr. Jack Cush covers:
• Rheumatology physician pay rose 10.4% year-over-year
• New data on colchicine and tofacitinib in knee OA
• What a new study tells us about earlier axSpA diagnosis https://t.co/oXsNruWnc2
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
Earlier Dx of axSpA is assoc w/ lower long-term spinal structural damage. Swiss study compared xray outcomes betw 138 early (<2yrs) & 238 established axSpA pts w/ 11.5 yrs F/U. Differences became evident 10-15 yrs after Dx. https://t.co/E9oR37CEiD https://t.co/7FiaqJIRRC
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
It’s almost time. 🔥
Registration for RheumNow Live 2027 opens OCTOBER 1.
Two days of practical, engaging rheumatology education designed to challenge how you think and influence how you practice.
📅 Jan 30–31, 2027
📍 Dallas + Online https://t.co/Ju0zzYX8Tl
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
Discussing Weight Loss: 3 Minute Script
Dr. Jack Cush's 3 Minute Script as discussed in his Introducing Weight Loss video.
https://t.co/JRWAPc5if5 https://t.co/jI65VzTIfs
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
Chinese 52 wk study of XKH004, a novel, SC, humanized anti-17A/F in 323 active AS pts Rx q4 wks vs PBO. @ Wk 16, XKH004 was superior for ASAS40 (45.4% vs 19.4%; P<0.001), improved to 66% by wk 52. https://t.co/f7w41m4QZy https://t.co/LELo52zUb7
Links:
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
Obesity and Rheumatic Disease
Presented as part of RheumNow's "The Obesity Imperative" campaign.
https://t.co/d2fl4EJX8Q https://t.co/AZGfKRvZrx
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
Review of HLA-B27
What’s New? HLA-B27 remains the dominant genetic link to spondyloarthritis (SpA) across the age spectrum, but B27 related clinical expression diverges between children and adults. New mechanistic data on autoreactive T cells, HLA-B27 misfolding, and gut-joint https://t.co/13hbXlAvCr
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
Early RA Referral Clinics Work (9.18.2026)
Dr. Jack Cush reviews the news and journal reports from this past week on RheumNow.com
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Review of HLA-B27
HLA-B27 remains the dominant genetic link to spondyloarthritis (SpA) across the age spectrum, but B27 related clinical expression diverges between children and adults. New mechanistic data on autoreactive T cells, HLA-B27 misfolding, and gut-joint trafficking point to new plausible, targetable
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Chinese 52 wk study of XKH004, a novel, SC, humanized anti-17A/F in 323 active AS pts Rx q4 wks vs PBO. @ Wk 16, XKH004 was superior for ASAS40 (45.4% vs 19.4%; P<0.001), improved to 66% by wk 52. https://t.co/f7w41m4QZy https://t.co/5MPm388kau
Links:
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
Obesity in Axial Spondyloarthritis: what are we missing beyond the scale?
Obesity in axSpA is not a minor comorbidity.
While obesity is more often discussed in psoriatic arthritis (PsA) due to the psoriasis-adipose tissue link which is mechanistically better studied and https://t.co/bFkoPmc0pC
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
RheumIQ: In axial spondyloarthritis, obesity reduces TNF inhibitor responses by how much?
Test your knowledge at https://t.co/UaXqHKWizt.
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
A Day of Infamy (9.11.2026)
Dr. Jack Cush reviews the news and journal reports from this past week on Rheumnow.com - including obesity, disappointing durability with GLP-1 drugs, AI diagnoses and worries about CV risk in ANCA-associated vasculitis. And take this week's RheumIQ quiz
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Obesity in Axial Spondyloarthritis: what are we missing beyond the scale?
Obesity in axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA) is not a minor comorbidity. Beyond the scale, there are several factors that need to be considered with obesity in axSpA.
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QD Clinic: The Weight Behind Delay in Diagnosis
Dr. Antoni Chan, London, discusses a case of a patient with ankylosing spondylitis whose weight delayed the diagnosis and treatment of AS. This QD Clinic is presented as part of RheumNow's "The Obesity Imperative" campaign, https://t.co/fDozAaX64j
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
Sleep and Obesity: A Bidirectional Relationship
In July 2026, JAMA concisely reviewed the bidirectional relationship between sleep health and obesity. Obesity affects roughly 40% of US adults and sleep problems affect nearly one-third. This review outlines the biological mechanisms and clinical interventions relevant to weight management.
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Rheums! Do you have a Rheumatology question or case for Dr. Cush? Record it here, and we may feature it on an upcoming podcast. Tell us your name and where you practice rheumatology.
https://t.co/LZ59KW8HdA https://t.co/DwHdvpTYax
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
Aortic inflammation (Aortopathies) occurs in autoimmune rheumatic diseases (ARD) including Takayasus, #GCA, SLE, RA, AS, SSc, relapsing polychondritis, Cogan’s syndr, Behçet’s, & IgG4-related disease). Dx imaging options: CTA, MRI, & PET/CT. Underlying path may be granulomatous, https://t.co/paUlV4kdwJ
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
NME: New Molecular Entities (8.28.2026)
Dr. Jack Cush reviews the news and journal articles from this past week on RheumNow.com. Take this week's RheumIQ and test your knowledge!
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Aortic inflammation (Aortopathies) occurs in autoimmune rheumatic diseases (ARD) including Takayasus, #GCA, SLE, RA, AS, SSc, relapsing polychondritis, Cogan’s syndr, Behçet’s, & IgG4-related disease). Dx imaging options: CTA, MRI, & PET/CT. Underlying path may be granulomatous, https://t.co/lKBhEnTcKB
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
Ivarmacitinib (AKA SHR-0302) is a JAK1 inhib approved in China. Phase II/III RCT (NCT04481139) in active #AS Rx w/ ivarmacitinib 4 mg (n 187) or placebo (n 186) showing IVRMA @wk 12 IVRMA had signif better ASAS20 response(49% vs 29%) & ASAS40 (32% vs 18%). Also superior: total https://t.co/ilVtrQgHxR
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
Joint Pain Prevalence is not Declining
A current report from the national NHIS survey shows that over half of US adults diagnosed with arthritis reported moderate to severe joint pain.
https://t.co/zq7pGaZO72 https://t.co/kvco72v5IZ
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
Prolonged exposure to targeted Rx in #SpA not assoc w/ increased cancer risk. French claims study 56,591 SpA pts- 1,224 CA (1,029 solid, 116 Heme). TNFi, IL17i, IL12/23i, IL23i, JAKi Exposure >6 vs ≤6 mos assoc w/ lower CA (HR 0.86; 0.75-0.99); signif for Heme (HR 0.65), not https://t.co/rHAa0CkAjT
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
Therapeutic Updates
5-Year Results of an IL-23 Inhibitor in Patients With PsA
Sponsored by AbbVie Medical Affairs + Health Impact
Dr. Alvin Wells and Dr. Shikha Singla share their clinical perspectives on using an IL–23 inhibitor to manage patients with PsA throughout their treatment journey in the context of 5-year data from the KEEPsAKE trial program.
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The Impact of Obesity on Psoriatic Arthritis
Sponsored by Lilly Medical Affairs
Image alt text: A person indoors raises one arm in a flexed pose while holding the elbow with the opposite hand.
Is obesity common in your patients with PsA? Learn more about the intersection of disease pathogenesis between PsA and obesity and how weight intervention can affect PsA outcomes.
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Recent Blogs
A few years ago, when I would see a patient with rheumatic disease and increased BMI, I would often document it as obesity as a comorbidity, recommend weight loss and exercise, and then move on. My approach has changed.
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Dr. Cush provides a systematic approach to evaluating musculoskeletal and rheumatic complaints in clinical practice.
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Imagine that 100 years from now, your great granddaughter, an eminent rheumatologist, reviews the history of rheumatoid arthritis mimics.
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Podcasts
EULAR 2026 Daily Podcast Day 4a
Day 4 Recap EULAR 2026-
EULAR 2026 Daily Podcast Day 3a
