Pharma/Regulatory

A JAKi in GCA: 2-year efficacy and safety results in a Phase 3 study Discover how continued treatment with a JAKi impacted disease remission and steroid use. Sponsored by AbbVie Medical Affairs + Health Impact. https://t.co/Tm8m43ZXBM https://t.co/RVvd7y354Y

Links:

Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
RT @ericdeinMD #RNL26 Haque TOGETHER-PsA -P3B study of IXE v IXE + Tirzepatide BMI >27 + 1 wt related co-morbidity -Endpts - ACR and >10% weight reduction -ACR50 improved 33.5% compared to 20% IXE alone (p<0.05) https://t.co/KCpqbg3fHs https://t.co/zktIkdumDk

Links:

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

Maui Potpourri (2.13.2026)

Jack Cush, MD

Dr. Jack Cush reviews the hot item takeaways from last week's RheumNow.Live 2026.

  1. Diet & Obesity Management in Rheumatology - Uzma Haque, MD
  2. Mitigating risk for Rheum patients undergoing orthopedic surgery - Susan Goodman, MD
  3. Paradoxical skin reactions – Joseph
Read Article
Incretins/GLP-1s are being investigated widely. @RWCSmtg #RWCS26 https://t.co/57JzRJfK8l
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
The hx and timeline of GLP1a development. @RWCSmtg #RWCS26 https://t.co/7tPgcRy4Ze
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
Dr. Willa Tsueh taking on hx of GLP-1 agonists. The first ones, Victoza and Tulicity go back to 2010. @RWCSmtg #RWCS26 https://t.co/cKiDCM5xw6
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
RT @ericdeinMD #RNL26 Dx Modification of OA @Tuhina_Neogi Challenge in drug develop: Models in young animal, not like human OA Trial enrollment in pts w late, establ OA- not early interv tx Many paths to OA - target mechanism to correct pt Slow progress of dx, $$ Endpt? Sx or

Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )

RT @ericdeinmd #RNL26 RA-ILD Jeff Sparks ILD pooled prevalence 0.11 Sparks: "prevalence is high but not so high that we don't screen everyone," means lots of subclinical ILD Subtypes: UIP 50-60%, fibrotic NSIP 30-40%, inflammatory Less common: LIP, DIP, RB-ILD, DAD

Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )

RT @gibson_RheumPAC Osteoarthritis affects 600 million people worldwide—yet we still have no approved disease-modifying therapies. A powerful opening to this talk on why OA drug development keeps missing the mark. https://t.co/wBUN3lux6X
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
ANA Pollution (2.06.2026 Dr. Jack Cush reviews the news, journal articles, and regulatory news from this past week on RheumNow. https://t.co/cfEjEr36Tb https://t.co/OJbE6P3k6p

Links:

Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
FDA vs. Amgen: At Odds Over Avacopan The FDA has requested that Amgen voluntarily withdraw avacopan (Tavneos), a treatment for anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic autoantibody (ANCA)-associated vasculitis, but the company said it has no plans to pull the drug from the market. https://t.co/v5AYm6r53W
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
ACR Applauds Recent Government Funding The American College of Rheumatology (ACR) praised the recent Congressional CY 26 funding package, highlighting its provisions to extend Medicare telehealth payment flexibilities, enhance transparency in pharmacy benefit management, and https://t.co/gr3X7RRGLN
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
Aortitis in Giant Cell Arteritis Treated with Tocilizumab The Tocilizumab in Giant Cell Arteritis Spanish Collaborative Group studied giant cell arteritis (GCA) with aortitis, comparing the efficacy of intravenous (IV) vs. subcutaneously (SC) tocilizumab (TCZ) - demonstrating https://t.co/yo7SDj5lgZ
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
DMARD Responses in Localized Scleroderma JAMA Dermatology has published the results of a juvenile localized scleroderma (JLS) trial showing that mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) and methotrexate (MTX) are equally effective in treating JLS, noting low flare rates and possibly better https://t.co/6bDtVoCgRj
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
NEJM: Aortitis Due to Large-Vessel Vasculitis 63yoM w/ Hx HTN c/o 3 mos of CP, palpitations, abdominal pain. ESR-104, CRP 85 mg/L. CT showed thickening of the thoracic & abdominal aorta. After 6wks Rx w/ AZA, HCQ, Pred, ESR/CRP still high and pt stared on SC TCZ w/ improvement. https://t.co/1TBreptAFr
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
FDA has announced "Breakthrough Designation" for 3 drugs + 1 test being developed: ** Biogen: litifilimab (targets dendritic cells) for cutaneous lupus ** Novartis: Ianalumab (BAFF blockade) for Sjogrens ** J&J: Nipocaiimab (FcRn) for Sjogrens ** Encarta: pocket Lyme test https://t.co/RMKg14rejq
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
Study shows half of FL autonomous nurse practitioners practicing outside their scope of practice. FL law allows autonomous NPs in primary care w/ 3K practice hrs. 194/328 NPs working in non-primary care: cosmetics, antiaging, IV hydration, vitamin infusions, hormonal Rx, https://t.co/WMksEb0Uyc
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
RheumNow Podcast square

ANA Pollution (2.06.2026)

Jack Cush, MD

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

Read Article
FDA sent a complete response letter to AstraZeneca on their application (BLA) for anifrolumabs (Saphnelo) subcutaneous use in SLE. Despite a positive TULIP-SC trial & EU approval of SC-anifrolumab, FDA & sponsor still have to work things out. CRL reasons are unknown https://t.co/3dNwEyolrj
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
patient.safety.jpg

FDA vs. Amgen: At Odds Over Avacopan

MedPage Today

The FDA has requested that Amgen voluntarily withdraw avacopan (Tavneos), a treatment for anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic autoantibody (ANCA)-associated vasculitis, but the company said it has no plans to pull the drug from the market.

Originally developed by ChemoCentryx, the oral

Read Article
Funding.money.research

ACR Applauds Recent Government Funding

ACR

The American College of Rheumatology (ACR) today applauded the recent passage of the Congressional CY 26 funding package that includes several important provisions, including extending Medicare telehealth payment flexibilities, improving transparency in pharmacy benefit management (PBM)

Read Article
RA,polyarticular,black,rheumatoid

ALTO: Long-Term Abatacept Outcomes in At-Risk RA

Jack Cush, MD

Lancet Rheumatology has published the ALTO results - long term outcomes of the APIPPRA trial, demonstrating that treatment with abatacept (ABA) in at risk patients can delay progression to rheumatoid arthritis (RA) for up to 4 years.

Read Article
Retractions in Rheumatology Retractions in rheumatology are rising. An analysis of Retraction Watch data found 381 retracted articles (1989–2024), driven by misconduct or data errors. 68.5% originated in Asia, over half from China (50.7%). https://t.co/I6WmceNi2m https://t.co/6z0jHPaiaR

Links:

Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
DMARD Responses in Localized Scleroderma JAMA Dermatology has published the results of a juvenile localized scleroderma (JLS) trial showing that mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) and methotrexate (MTX) are equally effective in treating JLS, noting low flare rates and possibly better https://t.co/NIR0ejs1RL
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
Potential New Rheumatology Drugs for 2026. These have had successful phase III RCTs and will need to be reviewed by regulators: ** deucravacitinib (Sotyktu) Tyk2 inhib for PsA ** Icotrokinra (Icotyde) oral IL-23i for psoriasis ** brepocitinib TYK2/JAK1 inhibitor for https://t.co/CQmfjIDMp3
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )

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

Rx Updates (filtered for Topic)

Therapeutic Updates

The Impact of Obesity on Psoriatic Arthritis

Sponsored by Lilly Medical Affairs
Lilly February RX Update Revised Image
Image alt text: A person indoors raises one arm in a flexed pose while holding the elbow with the opposite hand. Is obesity common in your patients with PsA? Learn more about the intersection of disease pathogenesis between PsA and obesity and how weight intervention can affect PsA outcomes.
Read Post
×