Do You Zoster Vaccinate? (6.19.2026)
Dr. Jack Cush reviews the news, journal reports and best ways to review EULAR 2026.
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Increased VTE Risk with Baricitinib
The RA-BRIDGE and RA-BRANCH studies were presented as a late-breaking abstract at EULAR 2026 (LB0009). This was the pooled results from two large FDA post-marketing commitment safety trials — RA-BRIDGE (global) and RA-BRANCH (US-only) — https://t.co/5cQ829x77u
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
Late-Breaking Studies at EULAR 2026
MedPage Today
Late-breaking abstracts presented at the European Alliance of Associations for Rheumatology's (EULAR) annual meeting, held here last week, addressed a wide range of clinical
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Increased VTE Risk with Baricitinib
The RA-BRIDGE and RA-BRANCH studies were presented as a late-breaking abstract at EULAR 2026. This was the pooled results from two large FDA post-marketing commitment safety trials — RA-BRIDGE (global) and RA-BRANCH (US-only) — comparing baricitinib at 2 mg and 4 mg daily against TNF
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Single center study of 102 pts starting JAK inhibitor (72% >50yrs; 77% RA) shows only 27.5% received at least one RZV vaccination dose (Shingrix) & only 3 recv RZV within 30 daysof a JAK inhibitor. ????? (I vaccinate everyone going on a JAKi w/ Shingrix - don't you?) https://t.co/j2jrBIiuOo
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
EULAR 2026 Rheumatology RoundUp
It’s time for Rheumatology RoundUp from EULAR 2026 from London, UK. Drs. Artie Kavanaugh and Jack Cush review their choice presentations from the meeting, offering their perspectives on impact and applicability.
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New Oral Option for axSpA: Filgotinib for Radiographic and Non-Radiographic Disease
The Janus kinase inhibitor (JAKi) class has been increasingly used in the management of axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA) over the past five years, offering effective oral alternatives to injectable biologics. But are all JAK inhibitors the same?
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#TYK2i #deucravacitinib
#RCT in #SLE
LTE of #PAISLEY #RCT PERSISTENT #LLDAS &#DORIS #remission over 3 more yrs post 1 yr RCT BUT ++dropouts
#POS0695 #EULAR2026 @RheumNow https://t.co/vtrMYrFmJ9
Janet Pope @Janetbirdope( View Tweet )
Who does better in active #RA
b/tsDMARD naive?
Pt choice TNFi or JAKi
OR
Pt randomized to
TNFI or JAKi?
Strangely or not
PT choice did better
✅with satisfaction ~maybe expected
✅better retention on chosen #Rx
🤔unexpected
another arm in #RCTS?”
#EULAR2026 @RheumNow
OP0204 https://t.co/7qx5Rqq6a7
Links:
Janet Pope @Janetbirdope( View Tweet )
Updated SLR on D2T #RA (131 studies): JAKi maintain ACR20 even after 2-3 prior bDMARDs, with UPA outperforming ABA in head-to-head. But evidence on non-pharmacologic strategies in D2T RA remains nearly absent. Clear gap for future trials. @RheumNow #EULAR2026 POS1246
Jiha Lee @JihaRheum( View Tweet )
SELECT-Axis 2 trial and Withdrawal of Upadacitinib - Of 734 pts, 194 were in remission at wk104--> UPA w/d & 22% maintained drug-free remission for >48wks. Rest flared, median time to flare: 3.1 mos (89% regained LDA by wk24 w/ restart) #EULAR2026 #axSpA POS1350 https://t.co/7A7CAHxLxX
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
Risk of Parkinsons? RA patients have 28% lower Parkinson's risk vs general population (HR 0.72); axSpA had HIGHER risk (HR 1.29). Non-TNF biologics in RA reduced PD risk further (HR 0.74). No effect seen in PsA/axSpA. #EULAR2026 Abstr #POS1116 https://t.co/1vZoZGEu5Z
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
What happens after withdrawal of upadacitinib in patients with axSpA who achieved remission?
Data from 194 patients from the SELECT-AXIS2 RCT:
▶️ Remission maintained in 1/4 at48 weeks
POS1350 #EULAR2026 @RheumNow https://t.co/Z7nDwMuQux
Nelly ZIADE 🍀 @Nellziade( View Tweet )
#EULAR2026 LB0009 It’s like opening Pandora’s box! 2 Open Label RCTs Baricitinib vs TNF-i in RA & =>1 VTE risk:
-VTE:Non-inferiority of BARI wasn’t met (in line with JAK profile)
-No increase in MACE/Cancer (opposed to Oral-Surveillance: TOFA & =>1 MACE risk) @RheumNow #EULARBest https://t.co/nNwtJ3LbkD
Links:
Md Yuzaiful Md Yusof @Yuz6Yusof( View Tweet )
https://t.co/LEnQbCB2Ff https://t.co/CtuFVbde6t
Links:
- https://x.com/Janetbirdope/status/2063179861397536847/photo/1
- https://x.com/Janetbirdope/status/2063179861397536847/photo/1
- https://x.com/Janetbirdope/status/2063179861397536847/photo/1
- https://x.com/Janetbirdope/status/2063179861397536847/photo/1
- https://twitter.com/eular_ard/status/2062509665024344391
Janet Pope @Janetbirdope( View Tweet )
#SLE Rx options
Determining #MOA
#TYK2 #sig w #deucravacitinib
#IFN sig in active #SLE
⬇️ in
#anifrolumab
#upa
#deucra
#repeat renal #bx in #obinutuzimab ➡️
Clears B cells
#Dapriluzimab & other MOAs
⬇️AntiDNA
⬆️complements
#EULARbest @RheumNow #EULAR2026 #POS1364, OP0160,336
Janet Pope @Janetbirdope( View Tweet )
#EULAR2026 LB0005 More promising news in #PMR. Phase 3 RCT of Baricitinib + GC Taper in N=46:
Part 1: BARI vs PBO 65% vs 17% GC-Free Remission at WK16
2: PBO-BARI improved response 17% to 65% at WK28
3: Lower remission rate in those stopped BARI vs continued at WK44 @RheumNow https://t.co/D77aHcACJE
Links:
Md Yuzaiful Md Yusof @Yuz6Yusof( View Tweet )
Baricitinib did not demonstrate non-inferiority w/ TNFi for first VTE in the RA-BRIDGE and RA-BRANCH trials.
Identifying high-risk pts and individualizing tx is paramount.
LB0009 @RheumNow #EULAR2026 https://t.co/MSiBq0FnEq
Links:
sheila @RHEUMarampa( View Tweet )
Abstr LB0009
Baricitinib vs TNFi in RA patients enriched for VTE risk. 3,640 patients. 3.7 years median follow-up.
VTE: HR 1.61 (95% CI 0.97–2.66)
non-inferiority not demonstrated
MACE: HR 1.06 no cardiovascular excess
Serious infections: HR 1.32 (p<0.05)
@RheumNow https://t.co/NSNRJi9B4r
Antoni Chan MD (Prof) @synovialjoints( View Tweet )
Abstr LB0009
Baricitinib vs TNFi in VTE-enriched RA. 3,640 patients. 3.7 years.
Safety endpoints
VTE HR 1.61 non inferiority not met
Serious infections HR 1.32 (p<0.05)
MACE HR 1.06 reassuring
@RheumNow #EULAR2026 https://t.co/nR6TMowlYS
Antoni Chan MD (Prof) @synovialjoints( View Tweet )
Top 5 abst in #SjD
#anifrolumab +RCT
#ianalumab LTE Rx sustained
#telitatacept +LTE
#iana improves u/s parotids
#TYK2 sig in#SjD
OP0002, 0126, 127, 160 POS0284
#EULARbest #EULAR2026
@RheumNow @eular_org
Janet Pope @Janetbirdope( View Tweet )
Aiming for #DORIS #SLE #remission
Or #LLDAS in #SLE
Related to ⬆️survival
#deep outcome in RCTs
➡️archived in #deucravacitinib ph2 #LTE
&
ph3 #dapirolizumab & #obintuzimab
-achieved in #CAR-T trials in #lupus
POS0683, 1364, 0695, OP0338
& several 🚗 T abst
#EULAR2026 @RheumNow
Janet Pope @Janetbirdope( View Tweet )
JAK-SPARE: Ph3 RCT on baricitinib for rem induxn in early PMR.
BARI was effective vs. PBO in inducing & maintaining GC free rem.
No new safety signals.
New tx option for PMR (esp early). Decreases GC dependence & side effects.
LB0005 @RheumNow #EULAR2026 https://t.co/mWrr1RdPCm
Links:
sheila @RHEUMarampa( View Tweet )
#OP0204 #EULAR2026 Shared decision-making in practice! BACH study tested “treat by choice” in RA. Patients preferred oral JAKi over SC TNFi (55% vs 45%)
Importantly, own choice led to higher treatment satisfaction, better drug survival & fewer adverse events. @RheumNow #EULARBest https://t.co/iI1n2OGzqY
Mrinalini Dey @DrMiniDey( View Tweet )
Key messages in the tx of ax/p-SpA:
>csDMARDs only effective in pSpA
>consider individualized treatment for bDMARDs and JAKis
>Cycling TNFi equally effective to switching
@RheumNow #EULAR2026 https://t.co/oeO3BxmYYo
sheila @RHEUMarampa( View Tweet )
Therapeutic Updates
A JAKi CHAT: Shared Decision-Making in RA
Sponsored by AbbVie Medical Affairs + Health Impact
Experts Dr. Jeffrey Curtis and Dr. Kevin Winthrop discuss best practices for shared decision-making, how to talk with patients about the risks of poorly controlled RA, and ways to use a new tool for visualizing the long-term safety of a JAKi.
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Recent Blogs
JAK inhibitors obviously have dominated a lot of the discussion in our therapeutic landscape over the last couple of years. What about their use in polymyalgia rheumatica? Let's consider.
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With the increasing development and use of new biologics and oral targeted therapies to treat RA and other immune mediated inflammatory diseases, an awareness of infection risk and prevention has become of increasing interest as well. While our patients may be susceptible to many different types of infections depending on immunosuppressive regimen, age and co-morbidities, I’ll highlight a few of the “usual suspects”.
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Cancer is the most difficult DMARD risk to discuss with patients. Few warnings could scare people away from a drug faster than the words “may increase risk of cancer,” yet the risks (even when substantiated) have all been low and may be counterbalanced by the benefits of disease control.
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Podcasts
PsA Topic Podcast compilation
EULAR 2026 Daily Podcast Day 4c-
EULAR 2026 Daily Podcast Day 4a
