Novel Rx

Learn more about the fundamentals of CAR T-cell therapy and its investigational use in autoimmune disease. Sponsored by Bristol Myers Squibb. https://t.co/VvTOYY3tvz #CARTCellTherapy https://t.co/ESW8Z5BZSm

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Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
EULAR meeting room

Psoriatic Arthritis: EULAR 2026 Recap

Jack Cush, MD

Years of IL-17 vs. IL-23 debate in PsA finally got tested head-to-head: bimekizumab outperformed risankizumab on joint outcomes in the BE BOLD trial, while a GLP-1 combination study suggests weight and metabolic status are active drivers of PsA — not just comorbidities. This recap also digs into

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Seronegative RA Disease Activity (7.17.2026)

Jack Cush, MD

Dr. Jack Cush reviews the news, journal articles and Gout features from this past week on RheumNow.com

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ARTIC trial enrolled 234 DMARD naive RA (<2yrs) pts; 15.4% (36) were seronegative (SNRA). @enrollment SNRA worse than SPRA(+) w/ higher SJC (17 vs 8, p<0.001), DAS28 (3.9 vs 3.4, p=0.03), US scores (55 vs 25, p<0.001), MD global (49 vs 39, p=0.006). No diff in Sharp score, https://t.co/xDxQKY8ZG2
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
20 yr. Tx trends in 6583 #SSc pts. 2005 to 2025 endothelin receptor antagonists & prostanoids/prostacyclins from 3% to 28%. CCB & PDE-5 inh stable. CTX shifted to mycophenolate, RTX, & nintedanib. Steriods decr from 50% to 18% https://t.co/nrm1Ov285f https://t.co/ftLn3bGH72

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Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
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Gout Cavalcade (7.10.2026)

Jack Cush, MD

Dr. Jack Cush reviews the news, journal articles and regulatory decisions from the past week. July is Gout: More than Flares month.

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CAR-T

CAR-T Therapy: EULAR 2026 Conference Recap

Jack Cush, MD

CAR-T therapy in autoimmune disease is moving fast - but is it ready to move beyond specialized referral centers? This EULAR 2026 recap covers the mechanistic data, relapse biology, and access innovations shaping that answer.

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< 40% of gout patients are on ULT; <40% of ULT-treated gout patients achieve T2T (SUA < 6.0 mg/dl). For more gout content, follow our Gout: More than Flares campaign at https://t.co/j3iLMZz4HM, https://t.co/zFTozS62me

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Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
The global Chronic Refractory Gout Market is projected to grow from ~$2.94 billion USD in 2022 to nearly $10.07 billion USD by 2036, reflecting introduction of innovative therapies. Chronic Refractory Gout in the 7Major Markets exceeded 400,000 pts in 2025 (>200K in USA) https://t.co/MSzBNTXTPj
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
Whats the BEST FIRST Rx in DMARD-Naive #RA - Tofacitinib or MTX. RCTs (ORAL Start, RA-BEGIN, SELECT-EARLY, FINCH 3) prove JAKi > MTX. A recent 116 RCT from China also shows Tofa > MTX by SDAI50 (94% v 75%) @3 mos & Tofa was more cost effective. https://t.co/KL2qlDgF6D https://t.co/wNVBgQkaMI

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Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
NEJM.Magnify

NEJM Retracts Pivotal ADVOCATE Trial of FDA-Approved Avacopan

MedPage Today

The New England Journal of Medicine (NEJM) retracted the pivotal study supporting FDA's approval of avacopan (Tavneos) for severe forms of anti-neutrophil

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DMARD Efficacy in RA-ILD

Jack Cush, MD

A network meta-analysis in the Journal of Autoimmunity reviews the pharmacologic options for rheumatoid arthritis–associated interstitial lung disease (RA-ILD). RA-ILD guidelines were recently presented by ERS/EULAR, but these were mainly conditional, low-certainty recommendations.

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RHEUM SURVEY>> Which Gout drugs lower the risk of cardiovascular death? Answer here: https://t.co/1OY1B3ET7B https://t.co/MRJP5OOtXb

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Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
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Uric Acid: Is Lower Better?

Joshua Baker, MD, MSCE  Brian Coburn, MD, PhD

Lowering serum urate and urate crystals in the body is indispensable for long-term management of gout. The pathophysiology is simple and powerful: no urate crystals, no gout flares. However, this simplicity in goal belies a nuanced consideration in management: how low should serum

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Insights into Treating Lupus - A Rheum Survey RheumNow recently surveyed clinicians to better understand current practice patterns, educational needs, and barriers to the use of new, advanced therapies in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). A total of 197 clinicians completed https://t.co/HNaUK5Q9uq
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
RT @rheumarampa "There’s more work to do” as Dr. Floris van Gaalen summarizes the challenges in peripheral SpA -pSpA has limited lab value testing like imaging, clinical diagnosis - few clinical trials to support tx guidelines - SPARTACUS trial: GOL vs. MTX in early pSpA

Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )

RT @yuz6yusof #EULAR2026 OP0337 In double blind LTE WILLOW study, cutaneous efficacy (change in CLASI, CLASI 70/50) was maintained in Enpatoran, TLR 7/8-i by WK48. Those switched from PBO to ENP at WK24 also showed equal efficacy to ENP-ENP group. Promising treatment for #CLE

Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )

RT @aurelierheumo A long release version of xanthine oxidase inhibitor in gout -442 pts 36 wks -HR091506 vs febuxostat -SUA <300 μmol/L: 63.8% vs 40.7% (Δ +22.9%, p<0.0001) -higher SUA reduction vs baseline -Similar overall TEAEs (~90%) A molecule to keep an eye on! #LB0008

Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )

ICYMI: B Cells at the Brink in Sjögren Disease The current issue of Arthritis & Rheumatology reviews current understanding of the immunopathogenesis of Sjögren disease (SjD) and how that has influenced the quest for drug development for this most systemic autoimmune disorder. https://t.co/OBFqHYof5m
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
RT @minidey #OP0342 Interim real-world ASTER data showed anifrolumab improved overall SLEDAI-2K scores & reduced disease activity across multiple organ systems over 12 months, particularly mucocutaneous &amp; MSK domains. Nearly 30% achieved SLEDAI-2K=0 at 1 year. #EULAR2026

Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )

Eosinophil

ICYMI: EGPA Review

Jack Cush, MD

A current review of eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis (EGPA) provides current recommendations on diagnosis and management.

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ICYMI: 2025 Update: EULAR Recommendations on Rheumatoid Arthritis Management

Jack Cush, MD

The European Alliance of Associations for Rheumatology (EULAR) has updated their rheumatoid arthritis (RA) management recommendations, notably with fewer recommendations (total of 9, down from 11 in 2022 version), by merging and removing previous recommendations.

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Sjogren_syndrome_salivary%20bx%282%29.jpg

ICYMI: B Cells at the Brink in Sjögren Disease

Jack Cush, MD

A recent issue of Arthritis & Rheumatology reviews current understanding of the immunopathogenesis of Sjögren disease (SjD) and how that has influenced the quest for drug development for this most systemic autoimmune disorder.

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Is there a path to precision medicine in #RA? Theres a substantial unmet need. Immunoengineering is possible thru nanotechnological delivery vectors, cellular therapeutics, & biomaterial scaffolds, with compelling preclinical and early clinical support. https://t.co/gL56EOlt7p https://t.co/31IRNXckym

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Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
B cell Targeting in SLE Prospects are growing that an approved, off-the-shelf drug can rescue patients with certain ultra-refractory autoimmune diseases, a pair of new reports suggest. https://t.co/wGaZPnXfID https://t.co/a0fNvdcrbQ

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Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )

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
APR Safety Video Cover
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
D2T RA Cover
Dr. Cush addresses the management of difficult-to-treat rheumatoid arthritis (D2TRA).
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Hydroxychloroquine for Everyone

Jack Cush, MD
ra.hands2_.JPG
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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