NK Cells Without a CAR: AB-101 Is Neither CAR-T nor CAR-NK
Much of the meeting came for the next CAR T readout. AB-101 drew attention for a different reason. It depletes B cells by a completely different route.
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Strike First: TNFi vs. Step-Up Therapy in Early Peripheral SpA
The approach to treating peripheral SpA has remained the same for a long time. The guidelines recommend starting with NSAIDs, escalating to conventional synthetic DMARDs, typically sulfasalazine or methotrexate, and https://t.co/iEqzp6FStv
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
Three Abstracts That May Shape the Future of RA Treatment
Our therapeutic armamentarium in RA keeps on growing. New studies and new molecules, new mechanisms of action or new ways of using old drugs are presented every year at conferences. But which are the ones who can have an https://t.co/CaMSHlkbFD
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
Strike First: TNFi vs. Step-Up Therapy in Early Peripheral SpA
The approach to the treatment of peripheral SpA has been the same for a long time. The guidelines recommend starting with NSAIDs, escalate to conventional synthetic DMARDs, typically sulfasalazine or methotrexate and https://t.co/pG9dGSfgcP
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
Hot topic: menopause and inflammatory arthritis outcomes in RA and PsA
Across EULAR 2026 abstracts this year and presented in a session called “this is a woman’s world”, strong signals are emerging that the menopausal transition is associated with changes in disease phenotype, disease activity, and treatment response in both RA and PsA.
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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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Making Methotrexate More Effective
Dr. Jonathan Kay reports on abstract OP0206 and OP0207 presented at EULAR 2026 in London
https://t.co/HfzSPVbcBl https://t.co/n6FKX34j8p
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
Treat to Target Works in Elderly Onset RA
Dr. Jiha Lee reports on abstract POS1326 at EULAR 2026 in London
https://t.co/X4vhR9KofC https://t.co/TSquFmZJCP
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
Can you step down #belimumab
In well controlled #SLE without flaring?
N=22 on #BEL eligible of 152
Able to taper if
REM >6/12
No #steroids
Normal C3,C4
Neg #antiDNA
Remission maintained in pts who reduced dose
6/22 didn’t flare OFF Rx
✅nice
#POS1052 #EULAR2026
@RheumNow https://t.co/IEyfRtTGfT
Links:
Janet Pope @Janetbirdope( View Tweet )
Day 4 EULAR Report
The last day in London was exciting as both the Late-Breaking abstracts and new EULAR guidelines were presented. Guidelines presented addressed several significant unmet need areas including PMR, GCA, Takayasu’s arteritis, Vaccinations in Rheumatic patients, Imaging in spondyloarthritis and
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Remember
Babies of pts on chronic #immunosuppression with #SARDs
❎delay #vaccinations til 6/12
For safety & to mount sufficient response
#rotovirus #vaccine is Ok before 6 months or vaccine is ineffective
Pts w #SARDs need #COVID shots
@RheumNow #EULAR2026 #vaccine #recom https://t.co/WEzNajWlxY
Links:
Janet Pope @Janetbirdope( View Tweet )
What’s new with the 2026 update of reco for vax in AIIRD?
Vaccinate as soon as possible
Non-live vaccines are safe
Hold MTX for upto 2wks to inc vax yield
Strong reco for RZV
Catch-up vax for HPV in SLE
Rotavirus vax for newborns exposed in utero to TNFi
@RheumNow #EULAR2026 https://t.co/RZbyvAcYRI
Links:
sheila @RHEUMarampa( 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 )
Thoracic U/S for #RA-ILD screening? Multicenter study (n=272, Argentina/Denmark/Belgium): 86% sensitivity and 94% NPV. Accessible, no radiation, integrates into clinic flow. Time to build TUS into routine RA-ILD pathways? @RheumNow #EULAR2026 POS1265 https://t.co/FGH5iUstxa
Jiha Lee @JihaRheum( View Tweet )
Patient-initiated telemedicine follow-up cut rheumatology visits by 25% in stable #SpA, but not equally for everyone. Reductions were greatest in men, axSpA, bDMARD users, and the oldest patients (64+, 34% fewer visits). Patient-centered care delivery @RheumNow #EULAR2026 POS1345
Jiha Lee @JihaRheum( View Tweet )
T2T works in elderly-onset #RA. tREACH trial (n=425): EORA (mean age 73) achieve LDA similar to young-onset RA; often with lower treatment intensity when seronegative. Drug tolerability comparable in EORA vs YORA despite more comorbidities. @RheumNow #EULAR2026 POS1326 https://t.co/tKRki2KLzP
Jiha Lee @JihaRheum( View Tweet )
INDIGO: Switching B Cells Off, Not Out, in IgG4-Related Disease
B-cell targeting has moved to the centre of IgG4-related disease treatment, with inebilizumab, a CD19 depleter, as the recent benchmark. At EULAR 2026, INDIGO tested whether the disease can be controlled by switching B cells off rather than depleting them.
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TMP-SMX prophylaxis cuts PJP risk by 69% (RR 0.31) & mortality by 59% (RR 0.41) in immunosuppressed rheum dz pts —but ADRs are 26x more common. NNT=323, NNH=5. Risk-adapted approach recommended. #EULAR2026 POS1190 https://t.co/4yjD9CmySM
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
#EULAR2026 POS1139 Pay attention in #SLE with anti-Sm+ RNP+. Data from 3 RCTs & a cohort:
-enriched in Black patients
-poor response to B-cell depletion inc. Obi
-non-response is assoc. with BAFF-dependent B-cell repopulation. So, use Belimumab
-High ferritin = flare @RheumNow https://t.co/3uDMigY8i2
Md Yuzaiful Md Yusof @Yuz6Yusof( View Tweet )
Extended-release febuxostat (HR091506) vs standard febuxostat in gout. 442 patients, 36 weeks.
SUA <300 μmol/L at Week 36:
63.8% vs 40.7% (p<0.0001)
A 23% difference on the most stringent urate target. Well tolerated and acceptable safety profile
Abstr LB0008 @RheumNow https://t.co/PSrn7K5BVS
Antoni Chan MD (Prof) @synovialjoints( View Tweet )
#EULAR2026 LB0008 Phase 3 RCT in China of pts with high urate (SUA) & 2 gout flares within last year (N=142), HR091506, an extended formulation release of Febuxostat to prolong response was superior to Febuxostat at WK36. Unclear if will proceed to regulatory submission @RheumNow https://t.co/9lcVEzcxc1
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 )
Abstr LB0004
CC312 is a CD19/CD3/CD28 tri-specific T cell engager and sustains SRI-4 responses beyond one year with rapid, deep B-cell depletion in autoimmune diseases. Not CAR-T. Not a conventional biologic. A T cell engager that redirects your own immune cells to deplete B https://t.co/rTs3Rg7BPe
Antoni Chan MD (Prof) @synovialjoints( View Tweet )
#EULAR2026 LB0007 Phase 2 RCT of Nipocalimab, an FcRn-i in moderate-to-severe #SLE, with mandatory GC taper =<7.5mg/d by WK16: met primary endpoint at WK24 (SRI-4) vs PBO. Effect size better in Ab+, Ab-High & IFN-High. 23% had IgG<3 at WK58 but SIE. Phase 3 is underway @RheumNow https://t.co/EpgNOHcEqC
Links:
Md Yuzaiful Md Yusof @Yuz6Yusof( View Tweet )
Immune Dimming or Immune Reset in RA: How Far Should We Go?
CD19-directed CAR T-cell therapy has rapidly moved into autoimmune disease, driven in large part by striking reports in SLE, where sustained drug-free remission has raised the possibility of a true immune reset. In RA, where multiple effective therapeutic classes already exist, the relevance of
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Lupus Nephritis
Sponsored by RheumNow
View our six video perspectives on lupus nephritis, including Management of CKD in Lupus Nephritis.
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Recent Blogs
At first, it seemed similar to many other such sessions – a circle of folding chairs, a group of colleagues whose visages exuded understanding and acceptance – but this was special. I started the meeting…. “Hi, my name is Artie.”
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Podcasts
RA Topic Podcast compilation
PsA Topic Podcast compilation
EULAR 2026 Daily Podcast Day 4a
