Skip to main content

Pharma/Regulatory

2025 Lancet review https://t.co/Qbwup6QxZK of Osteoarthritis did not mention/endorse Rx w/ platelet rich plasma (PRP) prompting several letters of protest. Read the authors response: Despite the popularity of PRP, there are few PBO controlled high quality studies to prove its https://t.co/7pCZV9CHfJ
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )

Subcutaneous Anifrolumab in SLE

Manzi et al. have published the results of the TULIP-SC trial that showed that weekly subcutaneous (SC) anifrolumab, when given to severe SLE patients, had comparable efficacy and safety to the approved intravenous (IV) anifrolumab. 

TULIP-SC was a

Read Article
J&J announced positive topline results from Phase 2b JASMINE study showing the efficacy of of nipocalimab, FcRn blocker that reduces AutoAbs & B cell activity. Study met its 24 wk primary endpoint (SRI-4 response) vs placebo. There were no new safety signals https://t.co/KMseKyGirt
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )

2026 Resolutions (1.9.2026)

Dr. Jack Cush reviews the news, announcements and journal articles from this past week on RheumNow.com. More on Variable bendability, a better way to treat RA, and a novel advance for GLP1a in PsA; and 2026 Resolutions!

Read Article
Plenty of evidence that toxic environmental exposures increase #RA risk. Full read, intelligent report from Stanhope et al showing how (healthy environmental) green space exposures are protective & capable of preventing RA!! Lifestyle is gigantically important in your https://t.co/LUWmHhUT7F
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
J&J announced positive topline results from Phase 2b JASMINE study showing the efficacy of of nipocalimab, FcRn blocker that reduces AutoAbs & B cell activity. Study met its 24 wk primary endpoint (SRI-4 response) vs placebo. There were no new safety signals https://t.co/87FZIogmkW
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )

GLP-1 Agonist plus IL-17 Inhibition in Obese Psoriatic Arthritis

Lilly announced the topline results from its phase 3b "TOGETHER PsA" trial, showing that the combination use of ixekizumab (Taltz) and tirzepatide (Zepbound) was superior to IXE alone, yielding both significant weight loss and ACR50 disease control in adults with active psoriatic arthritis (PsA

Read Article
58 newly Dx #PMR pts (on <8 wks steroids/GC) randomised 1:1 MTX 25 mg/wk or placebo, w/ 24-week GC-tapering protocol. @wk 52 GC-free remission achieved in 80% of MTX vs 46% of placebo pts (risk difference 34%, 1-sided 95% CI: 14%, 1-sided P = .0042) https://t.co/75SLx5LtqZ https://t.co/HtDAJe5VI2
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )

Subcutaneous Anifrolumab Effective in Lupus

ACR

A new study published in Arthritis & Rheumatology demonstrates that subcutaneous administration of anifrolumab provides efficacy comparable to intravenous administration, offering a promising alternative for at-home care of patients living with moderate-to-severe systemic lupus erythematosus

Read Article
Best of 2025: Contraception in SLE Pregnancy in SLE gets a lot of press in the rheumatology literature, and deservedly so, since pregnancy risks can be markedly increased. It was not that many years ago that women with SLE were counseled to avoid pregnancy. As recently as 2004, https://t.co/vBb0vyqod8
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
Sjogrens is a hot area in drug development: “Sjogren’s Syndrome Pipeline Insight 2025” report provides comprehensive insights about 20+ companies and 22+ pipeline drugs, including: nipocalimab VAY736 (ianalumab) HZN-1116 AMG 329 R-2487 https://t.co/sVbyPLi2Um https://t.co/2URpGUsMk9
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
Best of 2025: Glucocorticoids in SLE: how to start, how to follow, how to stop 70+ years after their debut, glucocorticoids remain a fast, powerful tool for SLE—but long-term toxicity comes at a high cost. Guidelines now favor GC “bridging therapy”: use briefly, taper fast. The https://t.co/RS0JQquv6j
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
Definitions for Interstitial Lung Disease: A Consensusfrom the Fleischner Society https://t.co/gEqmkdJLDh https://t.co/Q0TKznTWdV
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )

Best of 2025: ERS/EULAR guidelines for CTD-related interstitial lung disease

The European Respiratory Society (ERS) and European Alliance of Associations for Rheumatology (EULAR) have published clinical practice guidelines for the evaluation and management of connective tissue diseases (CTD) associated interstitial lung disease (ILD) in two simultaneous publications in

Read Article
Novartis announced top line results of its ianalumab (VAY736;B cell inhibitor) in primary Sjögren’s dz. 2 RCTs, NEPTUNUS-1 and NEPTUNUS-2, met met primary endpoints w/ statistically significant improvements in disease activity in Sjögren’s patients. https://t.co/cIBhF3YJh3 https://t.co/RpZGe0Sa0K
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
GC dose and tapering may influence serious infection risk in patients with GCA. Discover the key safety outcomes observed during a year of JAKi therapy in a Phase 3 trial. Sponsored by AbbVie Medical Affairs +Health Impact. https://t.co/xIC7Vqx659 https://t.co/6n3XfXeeg2
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
Best of 2025: Dermatomyositis Reviewed Researchers from the University of Pennsylvania have published an open-access review of dermatomyositis (DM) - its manifestations, hallmark cutaneous features, etiopathogenesis and treatment options. https://t.co/0vDvqIcj6U https://t.co/ogPjPI5gJa
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
Rapid rituximab infusions are safe & efficient. Metanalysis of 7 RCTs, 538 pts w/ autoimmune/rheumatic dz, showed infusions(RTX 1000 mg) of 90-120 min (w/ premedication) had low risk (3-15%) of mild (Grades 1, 2) infusion Rxns; only 6 Grade 3 Rxns https://t.co/uVKuhhc80F https://t.co/9EhyBpSaAE
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )

Best of 2025: Targeting Obesity in Rheumatic Disease Patients

Sattar et al. has published an informative overview of the effect of obesity on rheumatic and musculoskeletal diseases (RMDs). They estimate that nearly 70% of RMD patients are overweight or obese.

Read Article
NEW ONLINE ACR POSTER: 2-year efficacy and safety outcomes with a JAKi in patients with GCA. Click to see the latest results from a Phase 3 trial presented at ACR 2025, sponsored by AbbVie Medical Affairs + Health Impact. https://t.co/Tm8m43ZXBM https://t.co/GWLPR5y3d2
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
2025 ACR Guideline for the Treatment of SLE The ACR has released its 2025 Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE) treatment guidelines and consensus-based good practice statements, applicable to children and adults with SLE. https://t.co/2NFwTllLZa https://t.co/S7Cwzbgnde
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
Nerandomilast FDA Approved for Progressive Pulmonary Fibrosis The FDA has approved nerandomilast (Jascayd), a PDE4b inhibitor, to treat adults with progressive pulmonary fibrosis (PPF). Nerandomilast was approved to treat idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IFP) in October 2025. https://t.co/KacbtcMn5G
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
Is the term polymyositis obsolete?.. now being replaced by dermatomyositis, necrotizing myopathy, inclusion body myositis, antisynthetase syndrome & overlap myositis. Full read overview of inflammatory myositis & new treatments from Joint Bone & Spine https://t.co/X46sptp1Ax https://t.co/M80026Z3Ur
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )

Best of 2025: Glossary for Giant Cell Arteritis

Dejaco and colleagues have published a glossary of terms often used in conjunction with giant cell arteritis. The glossary of definitions for 23 signs and symptoms of GCA was developed through a consensus process involving international experts.

Read Article
Nerandomilast FDA Approved for Progressive Pulmonary Fibrosis The FDA has approved nerandomilast (Jascayd), a PDE4b inhibitor, to treat adults with progressive pulmonary fibrosis (PPF). Nerandomilast was approved to treat idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IFP) in October 2025. https://t.co/G2SS0qJTfl
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
×