Pharma/Regulatory

Sausage062.jpg

The Wider Implications of Dactylitis

Jack Cush, MD

Dactylitis, AKA the "sausage digit", is a hallmark of psoriatic arthritis (PsA), but as Possemato and colleagues point out, it is fundamentally a clinical sign, and not a diagnosis. This review article discusses the wider implications of dactylitis in rheumatology and medicine underscores the

Read Article
An AI model trained from routine electronic health record data of 3.7 million individuals predicted cancer 1 year before clinical onset, no less promoted accuracy in detection, staging, treatment response, and prognosis https://t.co/ORrpJ2vIcR https://t.co/ymJWRAYOSw

Links:

Eric Topol @EricTopol( View Tweet )
RHEUMS! FINAL GOUT SURVEY ON NEW THERAPIES>> Which biologic is FDA-approved for gout? Answer here>> https://t.co/MWSnCZEDdR

Links:

Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )

Nerandomilast (Jascayd) has been approved in the European Union for adults with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) and progressive pulmonary fibrosis (PPF). The drug was approved for IPF & PPF by the FDA for US use in late 2025 https://t.co/scOuVb3aYy https://t.co/EcmpRhyWgu

Links:

Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
RheumNow Podcast square

Chikungunya Club Meeting (7.24.2026)

Jack Cush, MD

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

Read Article
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
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
Fatigue, FM, fibromyalgia

Fibromyalgia: Diagnosis and Management

Jack Cush, MD

Fibromyalgia (FM) affects 4–6% of the U.S. population, with nearly a 2 fold female predominance. Nociplastic pain underlies the pathophysiology of FM. CNS hypersensitization to both painful and non-painful stimuli occurs with little or no tissue pathology. Framing FM as a disorder of CNS

Read Article
RheumNow Podcast square

Seronegative RA Disease Activity (7.17.2026)

Jack Cush, MD

Dr. Jack Cush reviews the news, journal articles and Gout features from this past week on RheumNow.com.

Read Article
Four Things About Allopurinol Hypersensitivity Syndrome Dr. Robert Terkeltaub discusses allopurinol hypersensitivity syndrome in gout patients. https://t.co/5seiyfVLW1 https://t.co/0A1Rtk9hzS

Links:

Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
In 2010 Colchicine fell under patent protection and price increased 16 fold, & out-of-pocket price increased 4.4-fold, colchicine use decreased 27%, while allopurinol, steroid & gout visits (ER, Rheum) increased. https://t.co/xyOxsnoM5z https://t.co/yoXehV0mPa

Links:

Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
FDA Delays Gout Drug NASP with Complete Response Letter On June 26, 2026, SOBI received a Complete Response Letter (CRL) from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) that will delay a decision on NASP, pending the company's answer to questions regarding the drugs https://t.co/NmPbWmYd0p
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
uric.acid.test

Saliva and Uric Acid Testing

Jack Cush, MD

A recent report from China reaffirms the potential utility of salivary uric acid (UA) testing  delivers smartphone-guided, enzyme-free gout screening at home for pennies per test.

Read Article
Atyp.Fx_.jpg

Do we need Better Strategies to Prevent Osteoporotic Fractures?

Jack Cush, MD

In a recent JAMA Viewpoints article, Dr. Susan Ott addresses several controversies in preventing osteoporosis (OP) related fractures.

Read Article
NEJM Retracts Pivotal ADVOCATE Trial of FDA-Approved Avacopan The New England Journal of Medicine (NEJM) retracted the pivotal study supporting FDA's approval of avacopan (Tavneos) for severe forms of anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic autoantibody (ANCA)-associated vasculitis. https://t.co/GOVyk5poNq
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
FDA2.jpg

FDA Delays Gout Drug NASP with Complete Response Letter

Jack Cush, MD

At the end of June, Sobi was awaiting an FDA decision on its Biologics License Application (BLA) for NASP (nanoencapsulated sirolimus plus pegadricase) for the treatment of adult patients with uncontrolled gout. On June 26, 2026, SOBI received a Complete Response Letter from the U.S. FDA that

Read Article
NEJM.Magnify

NEJM Retracts Pivotal ADVOCATE Trial of FDA-Approved Avacopan

MedPage Today

The New England Journal of Medicine (NEJM) retracted the pivotal study supporting FDA's approval of avacopan (Tavneos) for severe forms of anti-neutrophil

Read Article
A federal judge has blocked the Department of Education new rule restricting graduate school loans for NPs and PAs. DEA plan does not qualify NP & PA degrees as "professional", & loans were to be limited to $20,500 annually ($100K lifetime) https://t.co/5eIcFgbbx6 https://t.co/xuik5TWjVU

Links:

Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
lung.ILD.MD

DMARD Efficacy in RA-ILD

Jack Cush, MD

A network meta-analysis in the Journal of Autoimmunity reviews the pharmacologic options for rheumatoid arthritis–associated interstitial lung disease (RA-ILD). RA-ILD guidelines were recently presented by ERS/EULAR, but these were mainly conditional, low-certainty recommendations.

Read Article
RT @aurelierheumo A long release version of xanthine oxidase inhibitor in gout -442 pts 36 wks -HR091506 vs febuxostat -SUA <300 μmol/L: 63.8% vs 40.7% (Δ +22.9%, p<0.0001) -higher SUA reduction vs baseline -Similar overall TEAEs (~90%) A molecule to keep an eye on! #LB0008

Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )

Canada.maple.leaf

ICYMI: 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

Read Article
uricacid.jpg

ICYMI: Worldwide Trends in Hyperuricemia

Jack Cush, MD

A Lancet Rheumatology systematic review shows the prevalence of hyperuricaemia has risen markedly over the past two decades in both men and women, owing to population growth, aging, and increasing age-specific rates

Read Article
guidelines.jpg (keep)

ICYMI: 2025 Update: EULAR Recommendations on Rheumatoid Arthritis Management

Jack Cush, MD

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.

Read Article
Sjogren_syndrome_salivary%20bx%282%29.jpg

ICYMI: B Cells at the Brink in Sjögren Disease

Jack Cush, MD

A recent issue of Arthritis & Rheumatology reviews current understanding of the immunopathogenesis of Sjögren disease (SjD) and how that has influenced the quest for drug development for this most systemic autoimmune disorder.

Read Article
RheumNow Podcast square

Generic Tofacitinib (6.26.2026)

Jack Cush, MD

Dr. Jack Cush reviews the news and journal articles from RheumNow.com. Updates on tofacitinib, CAR-T therapy and AI.

Read Article
guidelines.recommendations.jpg

2026 Guidelines for the Treatment of Axial Spondyloarthritis

ACR

New and updated clinical guidelines released today provide comprehensive, evidence-based recommendations for the management of axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA) for both adults and children. The effort includes an update to the 2019 ACR/SAA/SPARTAN treatment guidelines focusing on adults,

Read Article

Recent Blogs

Choice Overload (and the Way Out)

Jack Cush, MD
paint,choice,overload,color
I recently overheard a very good practicing rheumatologist complain, “why do I need yet another drug for psoriatic arthritis? I have more treatment choices than I have actual PsA patients who need a new or better drug”.
Read Post

Best of 2022: Methotrexate in PsA

Philip Mease, MD
Methotrexate
Until the publication of the SEAM trial, evidence in the medical literature for the efficacy of the most commonly used drug for psoriatic arthritis worldwide, methotrexate, has been lukewarm at best. Yet we all employ it commonly, either as monotherapy or in combination with biologic or targeted synthetic DMARD treatment. It is inexpensive and widely available, and only modestly toxic.
Read Post

A Domain-Based Approach to the GRAPPA Psoriatic Arthritis Treatment Recommendations

Laura Coates
heel enthesitis spur calcaneal

With their publication in June 2022 (1), the 3rd iteration of the Group for Assessment of Psoriasis and Psoriatic Arthritis (GRAPPA) Treatment recommendations for Psoriatic Arthritis (PsA) may have set a record or sorts.

Read Post
How well do you know this week's rheumatology news?
Take the rheumIQ quiz
Take the RheumIQ Quiz

×