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Drug Safety

Wealth and Where you Live Influences Outcomes

EurekAlert!

Patients from wealthier European countries tend to start treatment with biologics earlier but also stop or switch treatment earlier. They also experience lower disease activity at treatment start than patients in middle- and low-income countries.

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POETYK PsA-1: Deucravacitinib in Biologic-Naïve PsA

POETYK PsA-1 trial tested the disease modifying efficacy of deucravacitinib, a tyrosine kinase 2 (TYK2) inhibitor, in psoriatic arthritis (PsA) patients and was shown to be superior vs to placebo for clinical responses, patient-reported outcomes, and structural damage inhibition in PsA.

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In a Cohort of 410 #SLE pts, there were 37 MALES who demonstrated a high prevalence of renal (IV/V lupus nephritis 49%) and a notable incidence of Plaquenil-related retinal toxicity. 62% on HCQ, but 22% D/C HCQ due to retinal toxicity or drug intolerance. https://t.co/VISwHO1wcK https://t.co/6SoD6mD5tf
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New Avacopan Analysis Sent to FDA After data manipulation allegations, the FDA has been calling for the vasculitis drug to be pulled from the market since January. Amgen has submitted a third-party review of avacopan's (Tavneos) pivotal trial data and other analyses to the FDA https://t.co/zBg4pFBfSP
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Mentshlichkeit* (8.7.2026)

Dr. Jack Cush reviews the news and recent journal reports on RheumNow.com.

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Rethinking Treatment of EGPA

Eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis (EGPA) has long been managed by extrapolating results from microscopic polyangiitis and granulomatosis with polyangiitis clinical trials. But new insights into EGPA's has lead to advances in therapy and new treatment paradigms.

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Keep HCQ Blood Levels Up to Avoid Cardiovascular Disease in Lupus

MedPage Today

People taking hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) for systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) showed markedly increased risk for atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease when blood levels of the drug were low and when long-term adherence was poor, a prospective study showed.

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A Tribute to Daniel L. Kastner, MD, PhD (1951–2026)

The rheumatology, genetics and NIH communities mourn for Dr. Daniel L. Kastner, who died on July 28, 2026, in Bethesda, Maryland, at age 74. The following are declarations, tributes, and memories dedicated to this mensch of a man, titan of science, memorable mentor and humble physician.

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New Avacopan Analysis Sent to FDA After data manipulation allegations, the FDA has been calling for the vasculitis drug to be pulled from the market since January. Amgen has submitted a third-party review of avacopan's (Tavneos) pivotal trial data and other analyses to the FDA https://t.co/TdLWRMPvnR
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Tips for safe use of allopurinol https://t.co/Yn1u1bEj4F https://t.co/lMWPI9OsVe
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JAMA Review of Hip Fracture

The July 16th edition of JAMA reviews the highly prevalent problem of hip fractures - a major global health burden: 14.2 million occur worldwide annually (280,000 in the US), with global incidence higher in women (833.9/100,000) than men (510.0/100,000). Lifetime risk at age 50 is 22.9% for

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JAMA Case Quiz - A 57 yoF w/ #RA has a new vesicular rash. 9mos prior ETN change to ADA. Rash (painful, pruritic) started 2 wks ago. Exam: PIP swelling, & ulcerated plaques on neck, chest, & erythroderma on hands, CRP 15.0 mg/L , ESR 111 mm/h. What would you do? order?

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Four Decades of Gout Management

During this month-long campaign on Gout, we have documented many significant changes in our approach to gout, as well as many unmet needs and deficiencies that merit our continued, primary attention.  We are all familiar with the famous 1905 quote, “Those who cannot remember the past

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New Avacopan Analysis Sent to FDA

MedPage Today

After data manipulation allegations, the FDA has been calling for the vasculitis drug to be pulled from the market since January.

Amgen has submitted a third-party review of avacopan's (Tavneos) pivotal trial data and other analyses to the FDA in a bid to keep the embattled drug for

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Tips for safe use of allopurinol

These are tips and hopefully the patients are abstaining from moderate alcohol and are not tipsy! Here are 5 tips that may not be totally obvious.

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STOP-HZ trial - 30 #RA pts going on tofacitinib given Shingrix (RZV) on day 1 & wk 8 & started Tofa on d1 or wk8. @wk 12 VZV responses incr in both (2.66 & 2.91 fold incr). @wk 4, d1 Tofa had fewer ≥1.5-fold VZV vs wk8 (44.8% vs 80%); BUT can you wait 8wks to start JAKi? https://t.co/tH0zPgBbHQ
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Chikungunya Club Meeting (7.24.2026)

Dr. Jack Cush reviews the news, journal reports from the past week on RheumNow.com.

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The Lancet Rheumatology has a good editorial about the avacopan bad news reports with EMA, FDA and Japan issuing negative opinions that threaten the drugs future. Yet, since approval real world data on avacopan has been favorable w/ less steroid toxicity & most hepatotoxicity https://t.co/k6ebVeWv2K
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Genetic study of 16 pts w/ Allopurinol-induced severe cutaneous adverse Rxn (SJS/TEN) shows 2 class I alleles to be associated: HLA-B*58:01 (OR, 28.0 [95% CI, 8.6-100.6]) and HLA-A*34:02 (OR, 20.6 [95% CI, 3.3-131.1]). Both explain 80% risk in US pts https://t.co/OxDXuWCbup https://t.co/oky61JImQV
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Psoriatic Arthritis: EULAR 2026 Recap https://t.co/tBMu4CEn0o https://t.co/iztShOHxOf
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From 2015-2024, 148 inflam arthritis pts (43 SpA, 35 PsA, 50 RA) w/ a prior cancer were followed 58.1 mos. 24 (19%) had CA recurrence/progression. Post-CA exposure to b/ts-DMARDs did not incr. recurrence risk after adjusting for age & comorbidity burden. https://t.co/MHKIqwyjNN https://t.co/uhOdq1cCPW
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RHEUM SURVEY Q: Which gout drug has the greatest toxicity risk? Answer here>> https://t.co/EQrEjD9237

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Expert Perspective on Calcium Pyrophosphate Deposition Disease

A recent perspective by Tedeschi tackles many unresolved issues around CPPD diagnosis, classification, and management, including the lack of clinical trials or FDA approved treatments.

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Pragmatism in Gout: How therapeutic choices can have multiple benefits

William James famously wrote in Pragmatism, “There can be no difference anywhere that doesn’t make a difference elsewhere.” Gout treatment offers a striking medical example of that idea. Drugs prescribed to calm flares or lower uric acid are designed with one primary goal in

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ACP Position Paper on Dietary Supplements More than half of U.S. adults use dietary supplements, yet only a quarter use supplements recommended by a healthcare professional, and current law allows supplements to reach the market without a premarket safety evaluation, unlike https://t.co/gwLG4ElfCq
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