Novel Rx

What are the Pros and Cons of autologous CAR T cell therapy? Summary slide from Georg Schett who also mentioned the exciting in vivo CAR approach using nanoparticules in myeloma, something to stay tuned for @RheumNow #APLAR25 https://t.co/kWjrx6N9Dv

Links:

Aurelie Najm @AurelieRheumo( View Tweet )
Different B cells depletion strategies in SARDs highlighted by Georg Schett From low and short lived depletion achieved w/ drugs to sustained deep tissular depletion with CAR T cells leading to potential immune reset @RheumNow #APLAR25 https://t.co/t35lrzEomF

Links:

Aurelie Najm @AurelieRheumo( View Tweet )
Paradigm shift in CTD PAH -Early triple therapy in patients with intermediate and high risk -Sotatercept, a blocker of activin-Smad2/3 signaling have increased survival importantly Data presented by Dr Khanna @RheumNow #APLAR25 https://t.co/Z4yA6DwtOb

Links:

Aurelie Najm @AurelieRheumo( View Tweet )
AbbVie's US patent protection for Rinvoq (upadacitinib) will run till April 2037. SEC filing shows AbbVie has reached an agreement with generic manufacturers challenging Rinvoq patents. UPA is their 2nd leading product with nearly $3.75 billion worldwide sales in 1st 1/2 of

Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )

Antifibrotics - A New Class of Therapies in Rheumatology? Rheumatologists typically manage systemic autoimmune rheumatic diseases (SARD) and associated interstitial lung disease (ILD) with immunosuppressants. However, evidence increasingly supports also the use of antifibrotic https://t.co/IobQagC0ZE
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
Study of 111 TAKayasu arteritis pts Rx w/ 74 MMF+MTX vs 37 CYC/AZA. Response rates at 28 & 52 weeks were 58.1% and 55.4% in the MMF+MTX group, respectively, higher than 32.4% at both time points in the CYC/AZA group. https://t.co/wqlOLH0VEA https://t.co/nbLvcyYkbn

Links:

Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
Long-term data from the 48-wk phase 2 SLEek study of upadacitinib +/- a BTK inhibitor elsubrutinib, in SLE pts, showed both arms effective (little added from BTK), @ 1yr, 127 pts maintained efficacy, GC dose and flare rates https://t.co/FbTHCGZ4pQ https://t.co/cATXVHsiXV

Links:

Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
ILD damage fibrosis path

Antifibrotics - A New Class of Therapies in Rheumatology?

Shervin Assassi, MD

Rheumatologists typically manage systemic autoimmune rheumatic diseases (SARD) and associated interstitial lung disease (ILD) with immunosuppressants. However, evidence increasingly supports also the use of antifibrotic agents in this setting. Pulmonologists have long used

Read Article
guidelines.recommendations.jpg

ERS/EULAR guidelines for CTD-related interstitial lung disease

Jack Cush, MD

The European Respiratory Society (ERS) and European Alliance of Associations for Rheumatology (EULAR) have published clinical practice guidelines for the evaluation and management of connective tissue diseases (CTD) associated interstitial lung disease (ILD) in two simultaneous publications in

Read Article
One of the most impt updates recommended to add a bDMARD if tx target is not achieved by the 1st csDMARD (no more prognostic stratification) But, accdg to Dr. Smolen, adding a 2nd csDMARD should still be considered especially in resource-limited countries. @RheumNow #APLAR25 https://t.co/ZQiviGcrYp

Links:

sheila @RHEUMarampa( View Tweet )
Combined Therapy in Rheumatoid Arthritis Interstitial Lung Disease RA-ILD is a major therapeutic evidence gap in treatment, affecting 8% of patients. It was often under-diagnosed, leading to more severe cases and inflated mortality rates. Despite advancements, RA-ILD, https://t.co/sSzMvDUMf5
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
Long term outcomes of secukinumab in Children & Adolescents w/ Psoriasis (n=84). 80% completed 4 yrs of Rx w/ either low dose [N 31] & high dose [N 36]) with sustained PASI 75/90/100 results at week 208 [SEC LD: 96%/89%/52%; SEC HD: 88%/82%/73%]. No deaths; No dose-dependent https://t.co/y059SJTxP1
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
Lung,AI,Pleura

Combined Therapy in Rheumatoid Arthritis Interstitial Lung Disease

Richard Conway, MBBChBAO, PhD

Rheumatoid arthritis interstitial lung disease (RA-ILD) represents a major therapeutic evidence void in our current treatment paradigm. RA-ILD is common, with clinically significant disease seen in 8% of patients. In the past RA-ILD was frequently under-diagnosed, leading to identification of a

Read Article
Wait! FDA approved the Chikungunya Virus Vaccine 2 yrs ago, but just pulled the vaccine, Ixchiq, citing serious safety concerns (specifically CBER reports of >20 serious adverse events, including 21 hospitalizations, 3 deaths, w/ 1 fatality directly linked to vaccine-derived https://t.co/aaC38VX7rF
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
New #therapy in #SLE #lupus https://t.co/TPeKxfw9hq

Links:

Dr hanady manasfi @hanadymanasfi( View Tweet )
AbbVie announces positive topline results from a 2nd Phase 3 UP-AA Trial evaluating Upadacitinib in Alopecia Areata (AA) - w/ 45% and 55% of severe AA pts rx w/ UPA 15 mg and 30 mg, achieving a SALT score ≤ 201 (80% or more scalp hair coverage) at week 24 https://t.co/8p1FvJx0s0
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
FDA has granted Soligenix "Orphan Drug Designation" to study dusquetide in the treatment of Behçet's dz, based on an 8 patient proof of concept Phase 2a trial. Not yet FDA approved, dusquetide is a short peptide innate defense regulator (IDR). Behcets affects 18K in USA and https://t.co/RzzVuQ6bAB
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
Telitacicept, a BLyS (BAFF)/APRIL dual-target fusion drug, announced it has met the primary endpoint in its Phase III clinical trial in treating primary Sjögren's syndrome (pSS) in China. Primary endpoint was the change in ESSDAI score at Week 24. https://t.co/afOgpGLdV1 https://t.co/9EKbbrCgTL

Links:

Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
RheumNow Podcast square

Sjögren's Graduates (8.22.2025)

Jack Cush, MD

Dr. Jack Cush reviews the news, journal reports, FDA approvals, drug safety, and more from this week.

Read Article
PsA.Hands_.jpg

Safety of Combination Targeted Therapies in Psoriatic Arthritis

MedPage Today

Treating psoriatic arthritis (PsA) patients with more than one targeted therapy appears to be just fine, with no increased risk of serious infections, insurance claims data indicate.

Read Article
myositis.jpg

Uncertainty with immunosuppressive for idiopathic inflammatory myopathies

Jack Cush, MD

A current Cochrane review suggests a continued unmet need regarding the status and utility of targeted immunosuppressant and immunomodulatory treatments for the idiopathic inflammatory myopathies (IIM). Overall there has been little progress since the previous Cochrane review (2012) that found

Read Article
FDA Approves 1st new Fibromyalgia drug in 15 yrs - Tonmya (cyclobenzaprine HCl sublingual) as treatment of fibromyalgia in adults. Based on 2 phase 3 trials and 1400+ pts. Dose 2.8 mg tabs 1-2 SL qhs (peak concentration 4.3 hours; t1/2 life = 36 hrs, longer w/ elderly, liver dz) https://t.co/8DVRet5sjU
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
Anifrolumab appears effective & safe in refractory Cutaneous LE. OL Study of 15 CLE, on HCQ, topical steroids, failed multiple DMARDs. All Rx w/ ANIF 300 mg IV q4wks. ALL improved, CLASI-A decr from 16 to 1 (p<0.001); CLASI-D decreased from 5 to 4 (p<0.001). DBPCT needed! https://t.co/umEYz0XDyt
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
RheumNow Podcast square

Teaching You How to Think… (8.15.2025)

Jack Cush, MD

Dr. Jack Cush reviews the news, journal reports and press clippings from the past week on RheumNow. Positive results in a Sjogren's trial, to PT or not to PT, and  aphorisms to live by.

Read Article
The world of rheumatoid arthritis treatment has changed dramatically. What do the experts say about the evolution of biologics and DMARDs over the last 20 years? Join us for a live webinar, moderated by Dr. Jack Cush, where we'll unpack the results of a nationwide survey. Tues, https://t.co/o2WqAaQ2mN
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )

Recent Blogs

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. Read Post

Best of 2023: New ACR RA-ILD Treatment Guidelines – What Were They Smoking!?

Richard Conway, MBBChBAO, PhD
Lungs ILD
Rheumatoid arthritis related interstitial lung disease (RA-ILD) is common, with symptomatic RA-ILD affecting approximately 8% of RA patients. There is a very limited evidence base supporting treatment and therefore the recent release of ACR guidelines is to be welcomed. However, the published guidelines appear discordant with the best available evidence base.  Read Post
How well do you know this week's rheumatology news?
Take the rheumIQ quiz
Take the RheumIQ Quiz

×