Novel Rx

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 )
RHEUM SURVEY> Do you prefer a lupus drug if it has a lupus nephritis indication (when your treating non-renal SLE)? Answer here >> https://t.co/1KridYM9n8 https://t.co/zIqNB5Mc0O

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Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
B CELL DEPLETION

B cell Targeting in SLE

MedPage Today

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.

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Systematic review of live virus MMR in #JIA had 9 studies (743 pts) showing no flares, good safety & immunogenicity in short term, BUT incomplete or less durable protection in biologic-treated patients, especially for measles & rubella. 5-yrs post MMR, seroprotection was lower if https://t.co/JQhL9o1O4e
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
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/IFSHOM8g7w

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Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
From BiTE to TriTE: Progress of T-cell Engagers in RMDs At EULAR 2026 in London, T-cell engagers drew attention as a strategy to achieve deep B-cell depletion and drug-free remission in refractory RMDs. BiTEs offer off-the-shelf availability, reversible toxicity from short https://t.co/jjXrf9tcaA
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
Eular stage

Late-Breaking Studies at EULAR 2026

MedPage Today

Late-breaking abstracts presented at the European Alliance of Associations for Rheumatology's (EULAR) annual meeting, held here last week, addressed a wide range of clinical

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From BiTE to TriTE: Progress of T-cell Engagers in RMDs At EULAR 2026 in London, T-cell engagers drew attention as a strategy to achieve deep B-cell depletion and drug-free remission in refractory RMDs. BiTEs offer off-the-shelf availability, reversible toxicity from short https://t.co/o8Tn77aYRg
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
How many CAR-T’s do we need to test drive? There were 93 abstracts with CAR-T in title at #EULAR2026! Additionally, there was an excellent review (WIN) by Dr. Hector Chinoy. We know lots but have more questions. https://t.co/FvnqmKSMT4 https://t.co/Qosum9s1UX

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Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
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. https://t.co/8eZyDxL7wu https://t.co/Nvbj1NQb5A

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Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
Obinutuzumab drives histologic remission in lupus nephritis At #EULAR2026, new data from the phase III REGENCY trial add to the case for obinutuzumab in lupus nephritis. Investigators report deep intrarenal B-cell depletion and significantly higher rates of histological https://t.co/13HY1qIDcj
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
RheumNow Podcast square

EULAR 2026 Rheumatology RoundUp

Jack Cush, MD

It’s time for Rheumatology RoundUp from EULAR 2026 from London, UK. Drs. Artie Kavanaugh and Jack Cush review their choice presentations from the meeting, offering their perspectives on impact and applicability.

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CAR T on purple background

How many CAR-T’s do we need to test drive?

Janet Pope, MD, MPH, FRCPC

CAR-T at #EULAR2026 raised as many questions as it answered. Here's what we know, what we're still asking, and why the answers matter.

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EULAR meeting room

NK Cells Without a CAR: AB-101 Is Neither CAR-T nor CAR-NK

Henrique Dalmolin, MD

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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Eular stage

What’s New in Macrophage Activation Syndrome Therapeutics

Bella Mehta, MBBS, MS

MAS, the most severe complication of Still’s disease, is increasingly recognized as a cytokine-driven hyperinflammatory state centered on interferon gamma (IFNγ). Therapeutic advances presented at EULAR 2026 demonstrate both consolidation of established pathways and expansion into novel biologic

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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 )
green container of pills

New Oral Option for axSpA: Filgotinib for Radiographic and Non-Radiographic Disease

Antoni Chan, MD, PhD

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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SLE Pipeline of New Therapies Dr. Andrea Fava, EULAR 2026 in London. https://t.co/GwntaPwzWr https://t.co/prFnaSKuqF

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Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
#TYK2i #deucravacitinib #RCT in #SLE LTE of #PAISLEY #RCT PERSISTENT #LLDAS &#DORIS #remission over 3 more yrs post 1 yr RCT BUT ++dropouts #POS0695 #EULAR2026 @RheumNow https://t.co/vtrMYrFmJ9

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Janet Pope @Janetbirdope( View Tweet )
#EULAR2026 Please find my video on deep tissue depletion and associated histological remission following treatment with Obinutuzumab in #lupus nephritis @RheumNow https://t.co/V9CNdPsLcV https://t.co/WLVFyaSSUE

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Md Yuzaiful Md Yusof @Yuz6Yusof( View Tweet )
This study evaluated the risk of flares after sustained drug-free rem in SLE. % of pts w/ reported flares w/n yrs in rem: 48.6% at 2yrs 42.3% at 3yrs 35.2% at 5 yrs Mucocut, msk, renal & immuno - ⬆️affected domain Reassess pts regularly. POS1354 @RheumNow #EULAR2026 https://t.co/DG0yNOW1nh

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sheila @RHEUMarampa( View Tweet )
#OP0156 #EULAR2026 FT839, CART therapy targeting CD19 & CD38, showed potent depletion of pathogenic B cells, plasmablasts/plasma cells & activated T cells, w/o conditioning chemotherapy. Data suggest potentially more accessible CART approach across autoimmune diseases. @RheumNow https://t.co/9COyXbghkl

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Mrinalini Dey @DrMiniDey( 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 )

Checklist IgG4

INDIGO: Switching B Cells Off, Not Out, in IgG4-Related Disease

Henrique Dalmolin, MD

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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SELECT-Axis 2 trial and Withdrawal of Upadacitinib - Of 734 pts, 194 were in remission at wk104--> UPA w/d & 22% maintained drug-free remission for >48wks. Rest flared, median time to flare: 3.1 mos (89% regained LDA by wk24 w/ restart) #EULAR2026 #axSpA POS1350 https://t.co/7A7CAHxLxX
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )

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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Podcasts

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