Do You Zoster Vaccinate? (6.19.2026)
Dr. Jack Cush reviews the news, journal reports and best ways to review EULAR 2026.
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From BiTE to TriTE: Progress of T-cell Engagers in RMDs
The EULAR 2026 Congress in London showcased growing interest in T-cell engagers as a novel strategy to achieve deep B-cell depletion and drug-free remission in refractory rheumatic and musculoskeletal diseases (RMDs). Bispecific T-cell engagers (BiTE) aim to overcome limitations of
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EULAR 2026 Rheumatology RoundUp
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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Exploring Idiopathic Myopathies
#EULAR2026: Idiopathic inflammatory myopathies (IIM) are a diverse group of autoimmune diseases with significant morbidity. While EULAR/ACR classification criteria were established in 2017, updated real-world data and better tools to assess https://t.co/CbUWodWT7z
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
5 years since Patient ID001: Progress on CAR-T Therapy in RMD
Five years on, are we closer to licensing of the first CAR-T therapy in rheumatic and musculoskeletal diseases (RMD)?
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Exploring Idiopathic Myopathies
2026 EULAR Press Release
Idiopathic inflammatory myopathies (IIM) are a heterogenous group of autoimmune conditions with substantial morbidity. EULAR in collaboration with the American College of Rheumatology (ACR) introduced classification criteria for the major subgroups in 2017,1 but there is a need for contemporary
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‘Strong’ treatment predictions in inflammatory myositis
Presented at EULAR 2026 London, Brepocitinib dual TYK2/JAK1 inhibitor with successful Phase 3 VALOR trial demonstrating significant improvement in skin and muscle symptoms in dermatomyositis (DM).
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Digital Platforms and AI
2026 EULAR Press Release
EULAR works with the network of national organisations of People with Arthritis/Rheumatism in Europe (PARE) to ensure the voices of people with RMD are heard and have influence – creating powerful alliances that make a real difference. Artificial intelligence is another potential ally in that
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#EULAR2026 OP0170 Progress of CAR-T in myositis? Phase 1 of rese-cel autologous CD19 CAR-T (advantage: humanised, 4-1BB Co-stimulatory Domain to enhance cells expansion) showed no safety signals and early efficacy in 4 IIM subtypes. Both anti-synthetase pts relapsed @RheumNow https://t.co/QisldedCti
Md Yuzaiful Md Yusof @Yuz6Yusof( View Tweet )
#EULAR2026 OP028 In 16 patients with AID (SSc,IIM, RA, IgG4,SjD, Grave’s), CD3xBCMA BiTE, Teclistamab was effective in 15/16. Duration of GC & DMARD-free was 11 mths. 2/16 need retreatment. All had low IgG and needed IVIG. Need long-term safety data & comparative study @RheumNow https://t.co/97MUPnXRua
Md Yuzaiful Md Yusof @Yuz6Yusof( View Tweet )
#EULAR2026 OP076 Of 50 patients treated with autologous CAR-T, 12% relapsed; median 13 mths. More frequent in #IIM vs #SLE or #SSc. These relapses were significant. Switching to BCMA-CAR or BCMA-TCE restored response. Should BCMA instead of CD19 be targeted initially?@RheumNow https://t.co/lgdsJQm3xY
Links:
Md Yuzaiful Md Yusof @Yuz6Yusof( View Tweet )
A Practical Approach to Myositis-Specific Antibodies https://t.co/14qow6zhsD
Rheumatology update @aabdogafar( View Tweet )
Follow the Money (4.23.2026)
Dr. Jack Cush follows the money and all the news that fits the Rheumatology Gab for this past week.
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Prescribing Lessons (4.17.2026)
Dr. Jack Cush reviews the news and journal articles from this past week on RheumNow.com.
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Asia-Pacific Lupus study of Mucocutaneous activity (MC-A) in 4102 SLE pts. 36% had MC-A (rash 1055; alopecia 731; m ulcers 352); 15% persistently. MC-A assoc w/ W, smoking, +serologies, vasculitis, myositis, serositis, nephritis, NP-SLE https://t.co/XeBc4DJon9 https://t.co/n2wAq2OIGt
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
Top Four and More (4.10.2026)
Dr. Jack Cush reviews the news and journal reports from RheumNow.com this week - including his top four favorite subjects.
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Hopkins Myositis study of 637 dermatomyositis pts - FLARES were assoc w/ DM Dz activity; manifest as rash (76%), motor weakness (58%), Pulm (19%), arthritis (12%). O
nly 2–5% of Flare pts had cancer Dx w/in 6–24-mos https://t.co/AKC9oIKAS7 https://t.co/26q8FfkUfl
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
Among neuro-ophthalmic complications of Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors, myasthenia gravis (often with concomitant myositis) is most common irAE, followed by optic neuropathy (often as optic neuritis) https://t.co/7pxqSKY3M1 https://t.co/bisbShFHIc
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
Predictors of Calcinosis Cutis in Systemic Sclerosis
Calcinosis cutis (CaC) is a common and disabling non-lethal manifestations in systemic sclerosis (SSc). This study used SSc patients from the EUSTAR database to clinically characterize patients and identify risk factors for CaC development.
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5 Retrospective cohorts of PM/DM pts showed IIM (myositis) had signif higher risks of IIM patients HTN w/ pregnancy (OR 2.73), & C-section (OR 2.03). Also more preterm birth (3.7), SGA/IUGR (1.9) https://t.co/w6qymR0I2w https://t.co/ovtwdleRfE
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
What’s New PsA? (4.3.2026)
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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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.
https://t.co/YNxrVTIubb https://t.co/uFY3kMOvui
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
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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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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Pilot phase I open-label trial of the PPARγ agonist pioglitazone (ACTOS; 45 mg/d) in 13 pts w/ inclusion body myositis (IBM) showed promise. After 32 weeks, no clinical improvement but proteomic muscle metabalomics & PPARGC1A expression improved. https://t.co/MtiTnwRfaE https://t.co/jUthouMSnP
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
Therapeutic Updates
Autoimmune Myositis: The Role of the Laboratory in Diagnosis and Phenotyping
Sponsored by Labcorp
Hear from rheumatologist Stanley J. Naides MD, FACP, FACR, as he details the clinical features of autoimmune myositis, the associated phenotypes and autoantibodies, plus the methodologies and testing options to support a myositis diagnosis.
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Recent Blogs
At first, it seemed similar to many other such sessions – a circle of folding chairs, a group of colleagues whose visages exuded understanding and acceptance – but this was special. I started the meeting…. “Hi, my name is Artie.”
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At first, it seemed similar to many other such sessions – a circle of folding chairs, a group of colleagues whose visages exuded understanding and acceptance – but this was special. I started the meeting…. “Hi, my name is Artie.”
Read Post
Winning is everything – in football and in medicine. Rheumatologists have achieved many successes but still struggle to win against a handful of rheumatic foes. This retrospective examines past wins and losses and helps us to look ahead to a new season.
Podcasts
EULAR 2026 Daily Podcast Day 1a
