DAHLIAS study - Nipocalimab in Sjögren's Disease
Nipocalimab, a neonatal Fc receptor blocker that reduces circulating IgG and autoantibodies, was shown to be effective in a phase 2 trial in patients with severe Sjögren's disease.
Combining CAR-T with CAR-Treg All in One
Dr. Alfred Kim reports on abstract 0981 (GNTI-350: A CAR-Treg Therapy Offering Durable Immune Reset with Improved Safety for B Cell–Driven Autoimmune Diseases).
https://t.co/SXuLYyUCXo https://t.co/5CAzoGfOyf
Links:
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
IL-23 Blockade Goes Oral
A new player is entering the IL-23 arena — and it’s a tablet! Icotrokinra (ICO), a first-in-class peptide that binds and blocks the IL-23R, is showing encouraging efficacy and safety across a range of psoriasis (PSO) and psoriatic disease (PsD) studies. https://t.co/MyqCjilYGL
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
Sjogren’s disease: two drugs with positive trials Sjogren’s disease: two drugs with positive trials
After several failures of therapies in Phase 3 trials of Sjogren’s disease (SjD) over many years, all hope is not lost! At #ACR25, not one but two drugs presented their efficacy https://t.co/kTTdZnVUtj
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
B Cell Depletion: Check the Lymph Node
Dr. Akhil Sood reports on abstract 2695 (B-cell depletion and lymphoid follicle disruption upon different B-cell depleting agents) presented at #ACR25.
https://t.co/bvZMGWNzfe https://t.co/dB6iQlgoYx
Links:
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
IL-23 Blockade Goes Oral
A new player is entering the IL-23 arena — and it’s a tablet! Icotrokinra (ICO), a first-in-class peptide that binds and blocks the interleukin-23 receptor (IL-23R), is showing encouraging efficacy and safety across a range of psoriasis (PSO) and https://t.co/7awBk16ZrQ
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
IgG4: Rare, but new treatments on the horizon
IgG4 is a rare autoimmune disease with excessive IgG4 immunoglobulins that can affect multiple organs yielding plasma cell deposition (inflammation) and fibrosis.
https://t.co/v07Kp5tQXg https://t.co/rIvOF0mrM1
Links:
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
Ianalumab Shows Phase 3 Success in Sjögren’s: Is It Clinically Meaningful?
On the final day of ACR25, late-breaking abstract #24 drew particular attention, presenting results from the first positive Phase 3 trials of a potential systemic treatment for a disease that has long lacked one.
Read Article
Deucravacitinib and Renal Function: Insights from the PAISLEY Trial
In the phase 2 PAISLEY trial, deucravacitinib met its primary and secondary endpoints, demonstrating efficacy across multiple clinical and patient-reported outcomes. However, the impact on renal function has remained unclear. An abstract presented at ACR provides new insights.
Read Article
Nerandomilast for ILD
Dr. Mike Putman reports on abstract 1662 (Efficacy and Safety of Nerandomilast in Patients with Autoimmune Disease-Related Progressive Pulmonary Fibrosis: Subgroup Analysis of the FIBRONEER-ILD trial). #ACR25
https://t.co/J0e4SbVgFE https://t.co/dlOM700yVQ
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
Are we putting the CAR-T before the horse?
CAR T-cells have been a revolutionary development in rheumatology. We have seen a population of patients with severe refractory autoimmune conditions almost overnight presented with the prospect of not just improvement, but of a cure. https://t.co/niPU5cAojP
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
Beyond malignancy, look out for LICATS with CAR-T
CAR T cell therapy took the centre stage in 2022 where data pertaining to a successful case series of 5 patients with refractory SLE were published by Prof Schett’s group. Since then, this area of therapeutic has expanded exponentially. Our growing enthusiasm was slightly dampened though when
Read Article
GLP-1 and SGLT-2: Treatments Too Good to Ignore?
Dr. Peter Nash reviews several studies presented on GLP-1s at #ACR25. He recommends for review abstracts: 0841, 0849, 1027, 2685, 0165, 0233 and 2658.
https://t.co/OclO05bpku https://t.co/kASID9jnAP
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
Psoriatic Arthritis: Which biologic agent is the best first choice?
A growing arsenal of therapeutic targets in psoriatic arthritis (PsA) has enhanced the landscape of treatment in patients with this disease.
https://t.co/pRMyPCvMrN https://t.co/nOgnf5F3Pw
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
Taking a closer look: B-Cell depletion beyond the blood
Following the landmark case series by the Erlangen group, multiple cellular therapies have entered the race—each with unique targets, constructs, and mechanisms. Yet, a fundamental question remains: How deep is the B-cell depletion? In clinical practice, peripheral blood counts often serve as
Read Article
Topline results of ALLEGORY study (Genentech) - 300 pt. phase 3 DBRPCT obinuntuzumab vs PBO in active SLE w/ SRI-4 primary outcome at wk 52. The anti-CD20, B-cell depleter, Rx met all efficacy endpoints primary and all key secondary endpoints. Gazyva was FDA approved last wk https://t.co/Wd6EFEjvGP
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
FDA is going to "fast-track" biosimilars to curtail the costs of expensive biologics https://t.co/h5NBsUaM97
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
Tacrolimus in Lupus Nephritis Management
Prof. Sandra Navarra and colleagues compared the efficacy and safety of tacrolimus and glucocorticoids vs. mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) as a continuous induction-maintenance treatment for class III/IV+V lupus nephritis.
Read Article
ACR 2025 Rheumatology Round Up
Drs. Jack Cush & Arthur Kavanaugh, two of rheumatology’s most trusted voices, provide a breakdown of the latest breakthroughs and hottest topics in rheumatology from the 2025 ACR Convergence meeting in Chicago.
Read Article
The Rapidly Evolving Landscape of Cellular and Immune-based Therapies
When Henry Ford unveiled the Model T in 1908, the automobile industry was forever changed. A similar transformation is now underway in rheumatology, where cellular and immune therapies are redefining how we https://t.co/RQuVETSTG4
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
New Gout Therapies Show Promise in Phase III Trials
At #ACR25, the American College of Rheumatology’s annual meeting, researchers presented pivotal Phase III studies highlighting novel therapeutic options for patients with gout, particularly those with limited treatment choices https://t.co/Ff16L2CHc0
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
Upadacitinib is a Double Edged Vascular Sword in GCA
Dr. David Liew discusses abstracts O751, O738, and O734 presented at #ACR25.
https://t.co/eTmVehP2Cd https://t.co/vxehwRWM2D
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
ACR25 Best Abstracts - Day 4
Here's the last installment of our "ACR Best" abstracts as chosen by the RheumNow faculty. Most of these were from the final, day 4, but a few were noteworthy holdovers from day 3. Enjoy!
Read Article
SLE Conference Preview: progress in biologics at #ACR25
We now have four licensed targeted therapies (i.e., belimumab, voclosporin and obinutuzumab for active lupus nephritis and belimumab and anifrolumab for active non-renal SLE). What are other issues to be addressed and https://t.co/uvVICAsCzo
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
NEPTUNUS: Ianalumab in Sjogren's https://t.co/K9Xm51Kb5X
Finally good news in Sjogrens disease.
@RheumNow
#ACR25
Nouf Al hemmadi @NoufAhmedAlham2( View Tweet )
Recent Blogs
