Brepocitinib in Dermatomyositis
The NEJM reports that brepocitinib, an oral TYK2–JAK1 inhibitor, was studied in a phase 3 trial of refractory dermatomyositis (DM) patients and shown to have significant benefits at the higher dose.
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Target trial emulation: biologics or JAK vs RTX in RA-ILD -- abatacept (n=694), JAKi (156), IL-6i (389), or TNFi (734), PS-matched =# RTX; no significant differences (HR 0.74-1.09 NS) in outcomes of resp hosp, lung transplant & death. But ABA (HR 0.84) & JAKi (HR 0.62) had less https://t.co/2ZVyf8neVH
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
Moral Distress (3.27.2026)
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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Systemic Treatments for Chronic Plaque Psoriasis
JAMA Dermatology has published a review of the pharmacologic landscape on managing adults with moderate to severe plaque psoriasis. Armstrong et al
Spotty Medicare Coverage for Newer Rheumatoid Arthritis Meds
MedPage Today
Medicare coverage of targeted disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (DMARDs) for rheumatoid arthritis (RA) -- both under Medicare Advantage and in separate Part D plans -- is likely to leave many patients wanting, researchers found.
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Rheumatology Pitfalls (3.20.2026)
Dr. Jack Cush reviews the regulatory actions, news and journal reports from this past week on RheumNow.com.
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2025 Update: EULAR Recommendations on Rheumatoid Arthritis Management
The European Alliance of Associations for Rheumatology (EULAR) has updated their rheumatoid arthritis (RA) management recommendations, notably with fewer recommendations (total of 9, down from 11 in 2022 version), by merging and removing previous recommendations.
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Basic, full-read overview of "JAK inhibitors: risks and safety principles" from the Pharmaceutical Journal. Addresses MOA, indications, warnings, monitoring, adverse effects, interactions, Serious AEs, vaccination and best practices. https://t.co/6kZCde1NdF https://t.co/NlEKtvUGPa
Links:
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
Basic, full-read overview of "JAK inhibitors: risks and safety principles" from the Pharmaceutical Journal. Addresses MOA, indications, warnings, monitoring, adverse effects, interactions, Serious AEs, vaccination and best practices. https://t.co/qrqeu1CzRg https://t.co/7qIszLwUrf
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
TYK2 Inhibitor Deucravacitinib FDA Approved for Psoriatic Arthritis
On Friday, March 6th, the FDA approved deucravacitinib (Sotyktu) for the treatment of adults with active PsA based on the results of the pivotal Phase 3 POETYK PsA-1 and POETYK PsA-2 clinical trials. https://t.co/a6rmortnoS
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
TYK2 Inhibitor Deucravacitinib FDA Approved for Psoriatic Arthritis
On Friday, March 6th, the FDA approved deucravacitinib (Sotyktu) for the treatment of adults with active psoriatic arthritis (PsA) based on the results of the pivotal Phase 3 POETYK PsA-1 and POETYK PsA-2 clinical trials. Deucravacitinib, an oral selective tyrosine kinase 2 (TYK2)
FDA has approved deucravacitinib (Sotyktu) the Treatment of Adults with Active Psoriatic Arthritis based on the results of the pivotal Phase 3 POETYK PsA-1 and POETYK PsA-2 clinical trials. Sotyktu is the only tyrosine kinase 2 (TYK2) inhibitor to be approved for PsA https://t.co/8xBrgPfENH
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DERM on RheumNow PODCAST (February 2026)
The Derm on RheumNow podcast is a collection of Citations and Content curated for dermatologists – addressing Psoriasis, PsA, CLE, vasculitis, HS, and other CTD skin disorders. dermatology drugs, biologics, JAKs - their use, efficacy, https://t.co/4ub0MeY9vF
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
UBER Rheumatology Ride (3.6.2026)
Dr. Jack Cush reviews the news and journal reports from this week on RheumNow.com
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Retrospective study of 1553 IBD pts taking biologics or JAKi, w/ 5+ yrs of F/U, 6.8% developed MSK Sxs, with one-third subsequently Dx w/ SpA. HLA-B27 positivity (HR 3.7) and higher UC disease activity (HR 1.57) were associated with an increased risk of SpA. https://t.co/I2YSOLhkAb
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BREAKING NEWS: How many patients with RA achieve and maintain remission with a JAKi? Find out in the RheumNow poster hall with data from the latest real-world study of long-term RA remission. Sponsored by AbbVieMedical Affairs + Health Impact. https://t.co/PPYVfz3tuC https://t.co/Boq8V3qqFp
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Full read review of JAK inhibitors. JAK inhibitors have a reasonably rapid onset of action and a short half-life, which facilitates management of any adverse effects. The half-life of Tofacitinib, Baricitinib & Upadacitinib is 3 hrs, 13 hrs. & 9-14hrs. https://t.co/C9t2SQ3Juq
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SATISFACTION (2.27.2026)
Dr. Jack Cush reviews the news and journal reports from this past week on RheumNow.com.
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Full read review of JAK inhibitors. JAK inhibitors have a reasonably rapid onset of action and a short half-life, which facilitates management of any adverse effects. The half-life of Tofacitinib, Baricitinib & Upadacitinib is 3 hrs, 13 hrs. & 9-14hrs. https://t.co/jKO2LL2TVC
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
Referral Rules to Live By (2.20.2026)
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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Diagnosing and Managing GCA and Takayasu’s Arteritis
Giant-cell arteritis and Takayasu’s arteritis are both large-vessel vasculitides, but each brings its own diagnostic and management challenges. Many of the difficulties overlap because they are rare, heterogeneous, and lack perfect diagnostic tests or specific biomarkers.
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Can I Use JAK Inhibitors During Pregnancy?
Short answer: Not yet.
https://t.co/E9yrWR5zTG https://t.co/NLy6OibkYH
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
Can I Use JAK Inhibitors During Pregnancy?
In 2020, the ACR Recommendations on Reproductive Health notably avoided firm guidance on the use of JAK inhibitors (JAKi) during pregnancy stating, "There is no available evidence regarding use or safety of the new small- molecule agents, tofacitinib, baricitinib, and apremilast, during
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Vasculitis
Sunday’s vasculitis session at RNL26 was a fantastic update on inflamed blood vessels, large and small, by two experts in the field: rheumatologist Dr. Mike Putman and dermatopathologist Dr. Clay Cockerell.
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Advances in RA-ILD
Dr. Jeffrey Sparks gave a state of the art update on Advances in RA-ILD, many of which he and his group have played a big part in, on Saturday at RNL26.
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A JAKi CHAT: Shared Decision-Making in RA
Sponsored by AbbVie Medical Affairs + Health Impact
Experts Dr. Jeffrey Curtis and Dr. Kevin Winthrop discuss best practices for shared decision-making, how to talk with patients about the risks of poorly controlled RA, and ways to use a new tool for visualizing the long-term safety of a JAKi.
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Recent Blogs
JAK inhibitors obviously have dominated a lot of the discussion in our therapeutic landscape over the last couple of years. What about their use in polymyalgia rheumatica? Let's consider.
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With the increasing development and use of new biologics and oral targeted therapies to treat RA and other immune mediated inflammatory diseases, an awareness of infection risk and prevention has become of increasing interest as well. While our patients may be susceptible to many different types of infections depending on immunosuppressive regimen, age and co-morbidities, I’ll highlight a few of the “usual suspects”.
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Cancer is the most difficult DMARD risk to discuss with patients. Few warnings could scare people away from a drug faster than the words “may increase risk of cancer,” yet the risks (even when substantiated) have all been low and may be counterbalanced by the benefits of disease control.
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Podcasts
ACR 2025 SpA Topic Podcasts Compilation 1
EULAR 2024 Rheumatology Roundup
EULAR 2024 JAK/TYK Daily Topic Podcasts
