Fallen Angels (1.17.2025)
Dr. Jack Cush reviews the news and journal reports from the past week on RheumNow.com; and pays homage to colleagues who passed away in 2024.
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Medicare has announced another 15 expensive drugs (now total 25) undergoing price negotiation with manufacturers. Enbrel and Stelara were in the 1st ten. Included in the next 15 Rx are Ofev (nintenib) & Otezla (apremilast) & GLP-1 drugs. https://t.co/SBwSprvo6K… https://t.co/okJXJCgOFm https://t.co/im2ggtgvt3
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QD Clinic - Natural RA
PsO/PsA patient avoiding DMARDs and Biologics, and wants Natural therapies
Features Dr. Jack Cush
QD Clinics - lessons from the clinic, sponsored by RNL2025 in Dallas, TX; Feb 8 & 9, 2025
Register at https://t.co/2dcFVgu8z6
https://t.co/nYhcPaC0qW https://t.co/wT80JoY4OE
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Network metanalysis of 9 RCTs, 3699 patients looked at small molecule Rx in #PsA. With ACR 50/70, PASI 75, & HAQ-DI @ wk 12-16, UPA was > ADA in PASI75 (RR 1.2); Deucravacitinib > Otezla at HAQ (RR −0.16) no OTHER SIGNIF differences observed https://t.co/WQCFQDnnft https://t.co/7NTNIpzEuG
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Outcomes of Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome in Children (MIS-C)
A nationwide cohort study of patients with multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C), a life-threatening complication of COVID-19 infection, showed that many had severe disease during the acute phase, but most recovered quickly and had a reassuring midterm prognosis.
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Eltrombopag, a Potential New Treatment for ITP
A pilot trial has shown a thrombopoietin receptor agonist, eltrombopag (Promacta), to be effective in connective tissue disease-related (CTD), refractory immune thrombocytopenia (ITP).
https://t.co/hYSAEKOjq5 https://t.co/QzBNA3SWVo
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BACHELOR Trial - Baricitinib in Early Polymyalgia Rheumatica
Lancet reports a French study demonstrating the efficacy of baricitinib in patients with polymyalgia rheumatica (PMR).
Alive in 2025 (1.10.2025)
Dr. Jack Cush brings in the new year with a review of the latest from RheumNow.
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SetPoint Medical has applied to FDA for pre-market approval of Vagal nerve neuroimmune modulation device to Rx mod-severe #RA, not responding to 2 biologics. Based on RESET-RA 242 pt, 12 wk RCT showing ACR20=35% vs 24% PBO resp. SAE only 1.7%. https://t.co/d8RfXBFUSS https://t.co/Fq1qkfo1NM
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Dazukibart Effective in Adults with Dermatomyositis
Lancet reports that the use of dazukibart, a selective monoclonal antibody against interferon B (IFNβ), was clinically effective in reducing disease activity in adults with active dermatomyositis (DM).
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Network metanalysis of 9 RCTs, 3699 patients looked at small molecule Rx in #PsA. With ACR 50/70, PASI 75, & HAQ-DI @ wk 12-16, UPA was > ADA in PASI75 (RR 1.2); Deucravacitinib > Otezla at HAQ (RR −0.16) no OTHER SIGNIF differences observed https://t.co/T0eMkXrxQX https://t.co/FCkbuhi1ze
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FDA Approves First Generic of GLP-1 Receptor Agonist Victoza (liraglutide injection) to Lower Blood Sugar in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes https://t.co/1BYQFU2PsY https://t.co/jmbS9UDnhI
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Anti-Zoster Drug Prevents Shingles in Lupus Patients on Anifrolumab
The antiviral drug valaciclovir (Valtrex), given prophylactically, kept patients with SLE under treatment with anifrolumab (Saphnelo) from having herpes zoster attacks, researchers said, offering a potential… https://t.co/I3u8tK5EMq https://t.co/VItPWtrPUA
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Nipocalimab, a mAb that blocks FcRn, was granted a Priority Review from the FDA. J&J has submitted Biologics License Application (BLA) for the treatment of antibody positive (anti-AChR, anti-MuSK, anti-LRP4) myasthenia gravis based on Phase 3 Vivacity-MG3 study.… https://t.co/6sVbrgTBvF https://t.co/9a1dBWz87R
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GLP-1 Agonists Alleviate Knee Osteoarthritis
In October, the NEJM published a randomized clinical trial demonstrating the efficacy of glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1ra) in patients with obesity and knee osteoarthritis.
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Anti-Zoster Drug Prevents Shingles in Lupus Patients on Anifrolumab
The antiviral drug valaciclovir (Valtrex), given prophylactically, kept patients with SLE under treatment with anifrolumab (Saphnelo) from having herpes zoster attacks, researchers said, offering a potential… https://t.co/zebERdPfzV https://t.co/MOIjbhcWSa
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Phase 3 Trial Results of Deucravacitinib in Psoriatic Arthritis
Bristol Myers Squibb announced recently the results from POETYK PsA-1 and POETYK PsA-2, Phase 3 trials pivotal trials of deucravacitinib (DEUC) in adults with active psoriatic arthritis (PsA).… https://t.co/yKBV91dR8z https://t.co/nndnpYheNu
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UKs University of Birmingham researchers have just been awarded £3.5 million funding from Johnson & Johnson to investigate mechanisms of response and non-response to biologic and targeted synthetic therapies in rheumatoid arthritis. https://t.co/or9amYqljz https://t.co/EvDhVfqOig
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Calcinosis cutis affects 20–40% of systemic sclerosis pts - and nothing works! PRELIMINARY animal and invitro studies suggest that Citric acid is more effective than sodium thiosulfate in chelating calcium in a dissolution model of calcinosis https://t.co/AEJmW95vud https://t.co/3NnKjHQJtv
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Small but useful open label RCT of MMF vs CYC vs TAC in SLE nephritis
Surprisingly similar rates of remission at week 24... suggests TAC could be an option for induction?
#ACR24 @RheumNow Abstr#0670 https://t.co/ug2ZzzSrGi https://t.co/O6r1e8ioO0
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Best of 2024: SGLT2 Inhibitor Protective Effects in Lupus
https://t.co/aNk5pgBpiJ https://t.co/C427ayULng
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Calcinosis cutis affects 20–40% of systemic sclerosis pts - and nothing works! PRELIMINARY animal and invitro studies suggest that Citric acid is more effective than sodium thiosulfate in chelating calcium in a dissolution model of calcinosis https://t.co/Cbzi00xHdb https://t.co/JLSIyOdxKb
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JAK inhibitors are effective at repigmentation in vitiligo. 5 RCTs, 1,550 pts showed >50% improvement (TVASI50; RR 2.67) or >75% (FVASI75; RR 3.97_ JAKi increased skin AE, but not significantly different from placebo pts. https://t.co/zIreYlUyLt https://t.co/pCWKL2vSVs
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ICYMI: VITAL Info on Autoimmune Disease (2.9.2024)
Dr. Jack Cush reviews the journal reports from the past week on RheumNow.com. Highlights are summarized by three songs: "Stairway to Heaven", "You're No Good", and "How Long (has this been going on)".
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Small but useful open label RCT of MMF vs CYC vs TAC in SLE nephritis
Surprisingly similar rates of remission at week 24... suggests TAC could be an option for induction?
#ACR24 @RheumNow Abstr#0670 https://t.co/dr3M3cnjRG https://t.co/1wewEuJRAl
Links:
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
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