IL-17

OL phase 2 study 50 active systemic JIA pts Randomized to IL-1 inhibitor, firsekibart or TCZ q2wk x 24 wks. At day 28, modified ACR Pedi 30response (no fever) favored FIRS 3mg dose (94% vs 75% vs 82%). Also higher ACR Pedi 70/90 responses & steriod tapers. https://t.co/8bdCLUFFLT https://t.co/ddQe7k25UE

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Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
TRACE study in 90 active axSpA, biologic-naïve, Rx w/ secukinumab 150 mg; @wk16 ASDAS remission in 30 (35%)& 55 incr SEC to 300 mg. By wk 24, 22% of 300 mg achieved ASDAS remission; but without signif change in MRI inflamm (SPARCC). Most MRI changes in 1st 4wks https://t.co/1ct22RdFZq
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
Updated CRA/SPARCC Recommendations for Axial Spondyloarthritis The original CRA/SPARCC recommendations endorsed IL-17i and TNFi as equivalent second-line options for adults with active axSpA who fail an adequate NSAID trial. JAK inhibitors were reserved for patients with prior https://t.co/e1iLSksgYj
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
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Malignancies Not Increased with Biologic Therapies

Jack Cush, MD

The risk of malignancy in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients receiving biologic agents was evaluated by metanalysis of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and found no significant increased risk of malignancy compared with other disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs) or with placebo

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JAMA Guideline on the Management of Crohn Disease

Jack Cush, MD

JAMA has published a current Clinical Guidelines Synopsis on the Management of Crohn Disease (CD) in Adults.

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Updated CRA/SPARCC Recommendations for Axial Spondyloarthritis The original CRA/SPARCC recommendations endorsed IL-17i and TNFi as equivalent second-line options for adults with active axSpA who fail an adequate NSAID trial. JAK inhibitors were reserved for patients with prior https://t.co/1GNb3Tc5gR
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
Canada.maple.leaf

Updated CRA/SPARCC Recommendations for Axial Spondyloarthritis

Jack Cush, MD

In 2024, the Canadian Rheumatology Association (CMA) and the Spondyloarthritis Research Consortium of Canada (SPARCC) published a comprehensive set of 56 treatment recommendations for the management of axial spondyloarthritis. This first update is focused on the reassessment of IL-17i

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What’s New PsA? (4.3.2026)

Jack Cush, MD

Dr. Jack Cush reviews the news and major articles from this week, including FDA safety warnings, reports from AAD, PsA trials.

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Ixekizumab With Tirzepatide Efficacy in Obese Psoriatic Arthritis

Jack Cush, MD

The TOGETHER-PsA trial has demonstrated the efficacy and safety of ixekizumab (IXE) administered with tirzepatide (TZP) in adult active psoriatic arthritis (PsA) patients who were overweight or obese.

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Moral Distress (3.27.2026)

Jack Cush, MD

Dr. Jack Cush reviews the journal reports and news from RheumNow.com.  This week we discuss moral distress, FM in PsA, Lyme Vax is back & hidden but tangible benefits of the MDHAQ.

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Real-world safety of tofacitinib vs biologics in 48,167 #PsA pts Rx w/ TOFA (3,166); TNFi (27K); IL-17Ai (20K); risankizumab (4,381); ustekinumab (4,499). Crude IRs/100 PY were 1.78-2.53 for serious infxn, 0.27–0.61 MI/stroke, 0.17–0.42 VTE, & 0.74–1.06 cancer. TOFA had signif https://t.co/Z5wZTGc5gB
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
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Systemic Treatments for Chronic Plaque Psoriasis

Jack Cush, MD

JAMA Dermatology has published a review of the pharmacologic landscape on managing adults with moderate to severe plaque psoriasis. Armstrong et al

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Rheumatology Pitfalls (3.20.2026)

Jack Cush, MD

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

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safety data

Long-Term Bimekizumab Safety Data

MedPage Today

Adverse effects from bimekizumab through 2 years or more of treatment for psoriatic arthritis (PsA) and axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA) were about as expected from shorter-term data, results from long-term extension studies indicated.

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UCB announced topline results of the BE-BOLD head-to-head study where bimekizumab (IL-17i) was superior to risankizumab (IL-23i) study; 553 active PsA in achieving an ACR50 response at 16 weeks. Enrolled PsA pts were either bilogic naïve or who had previous exposure to 1 TNFi

Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )

Data from the KEEPsAKE 1 trial in bio-naive patients with PsA Dr. Wells and Dr. Singla share 5-year safety and efficacy data of an IL–23 inhibitor and their thoughts on using it to manage PsA. Sponsored by AbbVie Medical Affairs + Health Impact.  https://t.co/xoPdYAof7m https://t.co/ycqMod2qLN

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Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
UCB announced topline results of the BE-BOLD head-to-head study where bimekizumab (IL-17i) was superior to risankizumab (IL-23i) study; 553 active PsA in achieving an ACR50 response at 16 weeks. Enrolled PsA pts were either bilogic naïve or who had previous exposure to 1 TNFi

Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )

Korean National Insurance claims study (2010–2023) of treatment persistence of IL-17i vs TNFi (IL-17i: 375; TNFi: 1285) in 1660 axSpA pts found equal Tx durations. However, primary nonresponse D/C was significantly higher w/ TNFi vs IL-17i (adj HR 1.54 to 2.11) https://t.co/2CF4OCPT6z
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
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SATISFACTION (2.27.2026)

Jack Cush, MD

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

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Sonelokimab (SLK) is a nanobody that inhibits IL-17A & IL-17F. Press release from Moonlake shows SLK was effective in the phase 2, S-OLARIS study of 26 axial spondyloarthritis pts where 80+% of patients achieved ASAS40 by Week 12 https://t.co/BQjBcvESfe https://t.co/tXRKj8CPbz

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Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
J Rheum full read editorial on What HLA-B27 Can—and Cannot—Tell Us!. HLA-B27 also holds prognostic and theragnostic value, given its association with greater structural damage, higher inflammatory burden, and better response to tumor necrosis factor and interleukin 17 inhib. https://t.co/3xNDtePEzn
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
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Referral Rules to Live By (2.20.2026)

Jack Cush, MD

Dr. Jack Cush reviews the news and journal reports from this past week on RheumNow.com. Highlights include referral rules, combination biiologics in psoriasis and don't use JAK inhibitors in pregnancy.

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Together PSO Trial - Combination Ixekizumab and Tirzepatide Today Lilly announced top line results of the TOGETHER-PsO open-label, Phase 3b trial demonstrating the significant benefits of concomitant ixekizumab (IXE: an IL-17A inhibitor) and tirzepatide (TIR: GLP-1agonist) over https://t.co/YWCjN2NyGM
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
Merola RNL26 Shot

Paradoxical Reactions, Target Selection & the Future of Imaging in Psoriatic Care

Audrey Gibson, PA-C

From paradoxical psoriasis to IL-23 vs IL-17 to imaging in PsA, speakers in RheumNow Live's "Decisions in Psoriatic Arthritis" pod delivered valuable, clinically relevant education.

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Slim,waist,obese,obesity

Together PSO Trial - Combination Ixekizumab and Tirzepatide

Jack Cush, MD

Today Lilly announced top line results of the TOGETHER-PsO open-label, Phase 3b trial demonstrating the significant benefits of concomitant ixekizumab (IXE: an IL-17A inhibitor) and tirzepatide (TIR: GLP-1agonist) over IXE alone.

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Recent Blogs

Best of 2022: The Enthesitis Challenge in Psoriatic Arthritis

Robert Chao, MD
heel enthesitis spur calcaneal
A colleague of mine once told me an interesting story of how her father, who was a doctor, misdiagnosed his wife with fibromyalgia when she actually had psoriatic arthritis with enthesitis all along. I would venture out and say that the average physician would have trouble evaluating enthesitis because even we, as rheumatologists do! 
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Best of 2022: Toss of a Coin - How do You Choose PsA Medication?

M. Elaine Husni, MD, MPH
Coin toss
When balancing all these disease domains, individual phenotypes, and comorbidities, sometimes treatment decisions can feel like tossing a coin. Fortunately, numerous guidelines have been published to help us do better than tossing a coin…or do they? 
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2021 GRAPPA Recommendations - Looking Back, Looking Forward

Artie Kavanaugh, MD
reflections,ripple
With the recent publication of the third iteration of the GRAPPA Psoriatic Arthritis (PsA) treatment recommendations, it seems to be an auspicious time to reflect on some key considerations that arose during the development of the recommendations, as well as to look towards what the future may hold.
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