Novel Rx

Rheum Survey: Do You Have to be Overweight for GLP-1s to Work Best?

Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )

Rheum Survey>> Which obesity treatment has the greatest safety concern(s)? Click here to respond>> https://t.co/jDpVe7u9Pu https://t.co/RNftdQlU1N

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Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
Observational study of 63,215 neuropsychiatric (NP) pts showed semaglutide signif lowered NP events over 2yrs (vs metformin, SGLT2 inhibitors, DPP-4 inhib);unrelaed to wt loss. Less substance, mood anxiety, CNS atrophies, neuromuscular, eating/sleep & personality/impulse-control https://t.co/tbuvLRK3QE
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
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Lifestyle and Incretin Therapy Advice for Rheumatologists

Jack Cush, MD

As GLP-1/GIP receptor agonists become standard co-management tools for obese patients with RA, PsA, axSpA, and gout, this JAMA Insights perspective by Kushner, et al. reframes lifestyle counseling as an adjunct to pharmacotherapy - a reversal of the traditional model. This has with direct

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Added IVIG is Effective in Myositis A small randomized controlled trial demonstrates that intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) added to cortocosteroids lead to greater and faster improvements in patients with newly diagnosed IIMs. https://t.co/XLrvLSoOic https://t.co/xhjPBXLxiC

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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

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Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
Join us for Tuesday Nite Rheumatology on September 22 for: Obesity Treatment & Safety Experts will tackle: • GLP-1/GIP therapies • Lifestyle & bariatric interventions • Treatment selection & safety • Cost & compounding concerns • Sarcopenia & bone health • The future of https://t.co/BCSOUot5FL
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
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Early RA Referral Clinics Work (9.18.2026)

Jack Cush, MD

Dr. Jack Cush reviews the news and journal reports from this past week on RheumNow.com

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Review of HLA-B27

Jack Cush, MD

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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Added IVIG is Effective in Myositis

Jack Cush, MD

A small randomized controlled trial demonstrates that intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) added to cortocosteroids lead to greater and faster improvements in patients with newly

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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

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Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
FDA Grants Priority Review to Zasocitinib for Plaque Psoriasis. Regulatory decision expected 1st quarter 2027. Supported by phase 3 RCTs, 3000 pts -- LATITUDE PsO 3001 and 3002 clinical trials. https://t.co/o7oqxSXHSw https://t.co/evzPtaTWI4

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Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
Together PsA 52 wk data (n 271): ACR50 plus >10% wt loss - 39.2% w/ Taltz & Zepbound vs 1.7% w/ Taltz alone. Together PsO trial results (n 274): PASI100 plus >10% wt loss - 30.6% w/ Taltz & Zepbound vs 4.4% w/ Taltz alone. https://t.co/27TBZyL8l1 https://t.co/VdQJALdoJt

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Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
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Bariatric Surgery in the Era of GLP-1RA

Satya Dash, MD

Weight loss with lifestyle changes alone is difficult to sustain for most people. One reason for this is the weight loss associated endocrine milieu, which can decrease energy expenditure and increase the drive to eat. Therefore, we frequently use medications and/or bariatric surgery.

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Sobi Receives US FDA Fast Track Designation for pacritinib in VEXAS Syndrome. Pacritinib (Vonjo) is a kinase inhibitor (JAK2, FLT3) that is approved to treat adults with intermediate or high-risk myelofibrosis https://t.co/V7duJPyJpG https://t.co/Dn5DgeaX7N

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Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
Osteoarthritis, Obesity and GLP-1s https://t.co/SGnWksQBpT https://t.co/ILP3weScxh

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Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
True or False: In a Leeds study of idiopathic inflammatory myopathy patients treated with rituximab, responders had lower memory B cells and plasmablasts at 2 weeks. See if you got it right in this week's RheumIQ quiz at https://t.co/UaXqHKWizt. https://t.co/zRJOMeLn8M

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Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
Dr John Stone grand rounds Kroc lecture #wustlRheum. Pearls: -IgG4RD can manifest as a variable vasculitis -Men have worse disease -Histology will not show necrosis or neutrophils -IgG4 levels will rise as the disease progress (>5X) -Rx with B cell therapy @alhkim @RheumNow https://t.co/GUw348OrrA

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TheDaoIndex @KDAO2011( View Tweet )
FDA Grants Fast Track Designation to treprostinil inhalation powder (Yutrepia - currently FDA approved to tx Pulm HTN) for the Treatment of Raynaud’s Phenomenon assoc w/ Systemic Sclerosis. A Phase 2a RE-WARM dose-finding study will begin October 2026. https://t.co/x4X1Ld1egZ https://t.co/GsZ9LXJjre

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Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
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A Day of Infamy (9.11.2026)

Jack Cush, MD

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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Meta-analysis 24 studies (3015 hidradenitis suppurativa pts) taking IL-17 inhibitor, IBD adverse events were rare, w/ no difference in IBD risk betw IL-17i & PBO (0.23% vs 0 of 2572 vs 1066 pts respectively) thru wk 16. The reported assocn of IL-17 inhibitors w/ IBD risk is https://t.co/kDwR5Fc1zI
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
Treating Obesity is Disease-Modifying (9.4.2026) Dr. Jack Cush reviews the news and journal articles from the past week on RheumNow. New drugs approved, new drugs halted and some drugs out of control. https://t.co/ojBOosSWMX https://t.co/K4DvUK24Pb

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Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
EBR Journal Club: Dapirolizumab Pegol in SLE (PHOENYCS GO) The EBR Journal Club Companion applies my adapted version of the JAMA approach to critical appraisal to an important RCT in rheumatology. Each review covers four domains: Does this apply to my patients? What is the risk https://t.co/1jAvPfRI0m
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
Join us for the first of four webinars this month! This Journal Club will explore the TOGETHER PsA and STEP 9 trials, and what emerging evidence tells us about the complex relationship between obesity, weight loss and rheumatic disease. The authors and leading experts will: • https://t.co/xpnqim1VKH
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
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Osteoarthritis, Obesity and GLP-1s

Tom Appleton, MD, PhD

We all know that osteoarthritis is the most common form of arthritis in the world, and that obesity is its most modifiable risk factor. What I really want to focus on is the role that GLP-! receptor agonists might be playing in our management of osteoarthritis. So why does this matter?

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Therapeutic Updates

Fundamentals of CAR T Cell Therapy and Its Investigational Use in Autoimmune Diseases

Sponsored By Bristol Myers Squibb
BMS RX Update July 2026
Learn more about the fundamentals of CAR T-cell therapy and its investigational use in autoimmune disease
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Recent Blogs

Advanced Practice Rheum

Safety of Biologics and Novel Agents

Jack Cush, MD
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Dr. Jack Cush reviews safety of biologics and novel agents.
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Advanced Practice Rheum

Difficult to Treat Rheumatoid Arthritis

Jack Cush, MD
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Dr. Cush addresses the management of difficult-to-treat rheumatoid arthritis (D2TRA).
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Hydroxychloroquine for Everyone

Jack Cush, MD
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Nearly 25 years ago, while lecturing on best therapies for rheumatoid arthritis (RA), I loudly stated that hydroxychloroquine was “useless” and, deservedly, I was “boo-ed” off stage. My point then was that rheumatologists needed to be aggressive, if not overly aggressive, in treating all RA patients. And my view was that HCQ was representative of under-treatment. I have reconsidered the use of HCQ in RA substantially in the last few years, based on its merit.
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Podcasts

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