Rheumatology Pay Up (9.25.2026)
Dr. Jack Cush reviews the news and journal reports from this past week on RheumNow.com.
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Do biologic Rx lower risk of PsA? Metanalysis (15 studies, 124,138 psoriasis pts, 778K PYrs F/U), showed Biologic use assoc w/ lower risk of PsA (HR 0.54); best for IL-17i (0.65) & IL-12/23 or IL-23i (0.46) vs TNFi. IL-23i superior to IL-17i (HR 0.67) https://t.co/pjZZJ8yq9A https://t.co/yIwQs2FwLW
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Amgen announced topline results from the Phase 3 OASIZ 301 study showing the efficacy of dazodalibep in Sjögren's dz, w/ signif ESSDAI improvements at wek 48. DAZO is a CD40L antagonist fusion protein https://t.co/5QPBdZivxC https://t.co/VfV873Lire
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52 VEXAS pts Rx w/ IL‐1i, IL‐6i, or JAKi therapy judged as compl Resp (CR), partial (PR), Failure (TF). @ 6mos: 3/19 IL‐6i had CR, 4/19 PR, 7/19 TF. JAKi had 2/17 CR, 3/17 PR, 6/17 TF. No CR w/ IL‐1i or TNFαi, only 1/5 IL‐1i patients experienced PR. Only IL‐6i & JAKi had https://t.co/wqogmfeAru
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17 Sept EMA CHMP recommended marketing authorisation for secukinumab (Cosentyx) in the treatment of polymyalgia rheumatica. BUT- not yet EMA approved in the EU. https://t.co/ZGUSbw06vX https://t.co/EqRwpT8Sxo
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Chinese 52 wk study of XKH004, a novel, SC, humanized anti-17A/F in 323 active AS pts Rx q4 wks vs PBO. @ Wk 16, XKH004 was superior for ASAS40 (45.4% vs 19.4%; P<0.001), improved to 66% by wk 52. https://t.co/f7w41m4QZy https://t.co/LELo52zUb7
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Early RA Referral Clinics Work (9.18.2026)
Dr. Jack Cush reviews the news and journal reports from this past week on RheumNow.com
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Chinese 52 wk study of XKH004, a novel, SC, humanized anti-17A/F in 323 active AS pts Rx q4 wks vs PBO. @ Wk 16, XKH004 was superior for ASAS40 (45.4% vs 19.4%; P<0.001), improved to 66% by wk 52. https://t.co/f7w41m4QZy https://t.co/5MPm388kau
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FDA Grants Priority Review to Zasocitinib for Plaque Psoriasis. Regulatory decision expected 1st quarter 2027. Supported by phase 3 RCTs, 3000 pts -- LATITUDE PsO 3001 and 3002 clinical trials. https://t.co/o7oqxSXHSw https://t.co/evzPtaTWI4
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Together PsA 52 wk data (n 271): ACR50 plus >10% wt loss - 39.2% w/ Taltz & Zepbound vs 1.7% w/ Taltz alone. Together PsO trial results (n 274): PASI100 plus >10% wt loss - 30.6% w/ Taltz & Zepbound vs 4.4% w/ Taltz alone. https://t.co/27TBZyL8l1 https://t.co/VdQJALdoJt
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True or False: A meta-analysis of hidradenitis suppurativa patients showed IL-17 inhibitors significantly increased IBD risk compared to placebo.
See if you got it right in this week's RheumIQ quiz at https://t.co/UaXqHKWizt.
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A Day of Infamy (9.11.2026)
Dr. Jack Cush reviews the news and journal reports from this past week on Rheumnow.com - including obesity, disappointing durability with GLP-1 drugs, AI diagnoses and worries about CV risk in ANCA-associated vasculitis. And take this week's RheumIQ quiz
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Meta-analysis 24 studies (3015 hidradenitis suppurativa pts) taking IL-17 inhibitor, IBD adverse events were rare, w/ no difference in IBD risk betw IL-17i & PBO (0.23% vs 0 of 2572 vs 1066 pts respectively) thru wk 16. The reported assocn of IL-17 inhibitors w/ IBD risk is https://t.co/kDwR5Fc1zI
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High BMI decreases the odds for MDA in PsA, esp w/ TNFi Rx (but not Inflx, IL-17i, IL-12/23i, IL-23i, JAKi). Longitudinal PsA cohort 1291 pts (mean BMI 29); Higher BMI independently assoc w/ signif. lower odds for MDA (OR 0.97), also female, age, smoking, FM & Xray damage. https://t.co/zAJ8Pmk1HY
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Secukinumab in Polymyalgia Rheumatica
PMR is a common disorder of the elderly that responds well to GC, but is plagued by an inability to wean off of GCs. The NEJM has published the results of the REPLENISH trial demonstrating that secukinumab (an interleukin-17A inhibitor) is https://t.co/ijkHKC7IWJ
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NME: New Molecular Entities (8.28.2026)
Dr. Jack Cush reviews the news and journal articles from this past week on RheumNow.com. Take this week's RheumIQ and test your knowledge!
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Secukinumab in Polymyalgia Rheumatica
Polymyalgia rheumatica (PMR) is a common disorder of the elderly that responds well to glucocorticoids (GC), but is plagued by an inability to wean off of GCs.
Spyre Therapeutics topline results of its anti-TL1A Ab (SPY072) in RA (n 133) sub-study: Phase 2 SKYWAY 12wk trial showed 2 doses SPY072 were signif better vs PBO for ACR20 (63% & 58% vs 43%), ACR50 (31% &38% vs 19%), DAS28-CRP reductions (-1.5 & -1.9 vs -1.3). TL1A inhib are https://t.co/S6gapB21uq
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Prolonged exposure to targeted Rx in #SpA not assoc w/ increased cancer risk. French claims study 56,591 SpA pts- 1,224 CA (1,029 solid, 116 Heme). TNFi, IL17i, IL12/23i, IL23i, JAKi Exposure >6 vs ≤6 mos assoc w/ lower CA (HR 0.86; 0.75-0.99); signif for Heme (HR 0.65), not https://t.co/rHAa0CkAjT
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Can Effective Psoriasis Therapy Prevent Psoriatic Arthritis?
A review article assesses and integrates mechanistic, imaging, and clinical evidence to examine whether effective treatment of psoriasis may modify the future risk of psoriatic arthritis (PsA).
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Simple infographic on the MOA of deucravacitinib (Sotyktu). https://t.co/fXbxMAzvAE https://t.co/6IvA0Xz3m2
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MoonLake announced positive phase 3 data from its IZAR-1 RCT using its dual A/F IL-17 inhibitor sonelokimab, showing significant responses at week 16: 66% ACR20, 42% ACR50, 41% minimal disease activity (MDA), & 61% PASI90 at week 16. a 2nd IZAR-2 PsA RCT is in progress https://t.co/eX0cxekRKG
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COLIPSO prospective study of psoriasis or psoriatic arthritis adults starting ts/bDMARDs; MRI done serially. 35 pts f/u for ~29 wks - MASLD. Only Rx w/ IL-17 inhibitors improved liver fat and inflammation in psoriatic disease as well as clinical outcomes. https://t.co/MFjvh5OJg2 https://t.co/k0C7RSvaaR
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British Dermatology Biologics registry (BADBIR) 18976 #PSO pts had incidence serious infxns (SIE) 28 SEI/1000 Pt-Yrs; higher if they had prior infxn (79/1000 PYs). SIE signif lower w/ RIZankizumab (HR 0.74-.80) vs BROAD, ETN, other standards Rxs. SIE deaths rare (1.81/1000 PYs) https://t.co/GTr3DLCVXs
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British Dermatology Biologics registry (BADBIR) 18976 #PSO pts had incidence serious infxns (SIE) 28 SEI/1000 Pt-Yrs; higher if they had prior infxn (79/1000 PYs). SIE signif lower w/ RIZankizumab (HR 0.74-.80) vs BROAD, ETN, other standards Rxs. SIE deaths rare (1.81/1000 PYs) https://t.co/5HqJ3zpO0g
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
Recent Blogs
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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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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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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EULAR 2021 - Day2c00:37:25 -
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