Pharma/Regulatory

JAK Janus

Equal Safety of JAK Inhibitors and TNF Inhibitors

Jack Cush, MD

JAMA has published a systematic review and meta-analysis of head-to-head studies showing there was no meaningful difference in safety events observed when taking either JAK inhibitor (JAKi) vs TNF antagonist (TNFi) therapies for the treatment of immune-

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Target trial emulation looked at CV (MACE) events in 18,120 propensity score–matched adults with gout starting allopurinol who were given NSAIDs or colchicine for prophylaxis. MACE & CV death were signif. higher w/ NSAIDs vs Colchicine (HRs of 1.56 and 2.50), respectively. https://t.co/0T8slmPBng
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STOP-RA: Hydroxychloroquine Fails in ACPA+ Arthralgia

Jack Cush, MD

Deane et al has published the results of the STOP-RA trial, demonstrating that 12 months of hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) did not prevent the development of clinical RA at 36 months. 

The fate of Individuals elevated anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide (anti-CCP) antibodies and

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What are the Pros and Cons of autologous CAR T cell therapy? Summary slide from Georg Schett who also mentioned the exciting in vivo CAR approach using nanoparticules in myeloma, something to stay tuned for @RheumNow #APLAR25 https://t.co/kWjrx6N9Dv

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Aurelie Najm @AurelieRheumo( View Tweet )
Different B cells depletion strategies in SARDs highlighted by Georg Schett From low and short lived depletion achieved w/ drugs to sustained deep tissular depletion with CAR T cells leading to potential immune reset @RheumNow #APLAR25 https://t.co/t35lrzEomF

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Aurelie Najm @AurelieRheumo( View Tweet )
Paradigm shift in CTD PAH -Early triple therapy in patients with intermediate and high risk -Sotatercept, a blocker of activin-Smad2/3 signaling have increased survival importantly Data presented by Dr Khanna @RheumNow #APLAR25 https://t.co/Z4yA6DwtOb

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Aurelie Najm @AurelieRheumo( View Tweet )
TNR: Future Treatment of ILD This Tuesday Night Rheumatology webinar reviewed ACR and EULAR guidelines on interstitial lung disease, with a focus on ‘where are we now and where are we going?’ in regards to treatment strategies and emerging therapies in ILD care. https://t.co/F1fJhWgR5O
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AbbVie's US patent protection for Rinvoq (upadacitinib) will run till April 2037. SEC filing shows AbbVie has reached an agreement with generic manufacturers challenging Rinvoq patents. UPA is their 2nd leading product with nearly $3.75 billion worldwide sales in 1st 1/2 of

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RheumNow Podcast – Ro, Ro, Ro52 (9.12.2025)

Jack Cush, MD

Dr. Jack Cush reviews the news and journal reports from the past week on RheumNow.com. Are there benefits to diet or vegan diets? What's the effect of menopause on CTD?  Ro52 makes a big entrance with all our ILD coverage this month.

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Japanese retrospective real world study shows antifibrotic use assoc w/ better survival in Pulm Fibrosis-ILD for 1st 3 yrs & improved survival in progressive pulm. fibrosis (PPF) “despite management” (PPF subset prev Rx non-antifibrotic therapy) https://t.co/caiIuhg7j8 https://t.co/N0ST73TMoR

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3 yr study of FDA Adverse Event Reporting on anifrolumab shows following AEs- URIs, herpes zoster, infusion reactions, and potential new risks like dyspnea and pyrexia, not in the label. https://t.co/vP2YWGT2vR https://t.co/BruGBtXEBu

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MTX.box

SMART study - Single vs. Split Dose Methotrexate in RA

Jack Cush, MD

Split dose weekly, oral methotrexate (MTX) was shown to be superior to single dose MTX in treating active rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients.

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AI can Dx & predict HCQ retinopathy (HR). An International, Multi-center study used retrospective data from 409 pts (171 HR+, 238 HR-) & tested on 8251 SD-OCT scans. AI Dx 100% & predicted 98.7% mean 221 D before Dx. Sensitivity 100%; specificity 98%, PPV 94%; NPV 100% https://t.co/USABVO8Ss5
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Study of 111 TAKayasu arteritis pts Rx w/ 74 MMF+MTX vs 37 CYC/AZA. Response rates at 28 & 52 weeks were 58.1% and 55.4% in the MMF+MTX group, respectively, higher than 32.4% at both time points in the CYC/AZA group. https://t.co/wqlOLH0VEA https://t.co/nbLvcyYkbn

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Long-term data from the 48-wk phase 2 SLEek study of upadacitinib +/- a BTK inhibitor elsubrutinib, in SLE pts, showed both arms effective (little added from BTK), @ 1yr, 127 pts maintained efficacy, GC dose and flare rates https://t.co/FbTHCGZ4pQ https://t.co/cATXVHsiXV

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Systemic Sclerosis–Associated ILD Watch Alicia Hinze, MD, share personalized strategies for managing Systemic Sclerosis–Associated ILD. Sponsored By: Boehringer Ingelheim https://t.co/Mxg9P50m7C #ILD #Scleroderma https://t.co/Cmupl7Dgwl

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Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
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ERS/EULAR guidelines for CTD-related interstitial lung disease

Jack Cush, MD

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

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Prof Takeuchi on DMARDs treatment and regional disparities For similar dose, serum concentration of the polyglutamate (active) form of MTX is much higher in Japanese than US patients And also high levels achieved much quicker in Japanese than US patients This is strong https://t.co/ikp63wWifj

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Aurelie Najm @AurelieRheumo( View Tweet )
Ellen Gravallese update on RA pathogenesis Her take on RA interception studies “While drug repurposing has not proven capable of preventing transition from Pre RA to RA, we need to better understand disease mechanisms to offer other interventions” @RheumNow #APLAR25 @APLAR_org https://t.co/d39ihVvWyA

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Aurelie Najm @AurelieRheumo( View Tweet )
ACR Concerns on the Scientific Integrity at the CDC On behalf of the American College of Rheumatology (ACR), we express deep concern over recent developments at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) that appear to undermine the agency’s longstanding commitment to https://t.co/P2J7eZN07W
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Retrospective Korean study of #RA & ILD pts (n 151) - ILD duration & UIP pattern significantly affected prognosis. 62% were non-smokers, DAS28=4.9, UIP in 60%. @4 years, ILD progressed in 58%; mortality=21%. MTX did not affect progression or mortality. https://t.co/1XNcWsAuea https://t.co/QLod6uj2Dj

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Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
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Multimorbidity predicts flares in rheumatoid arthritis

Jack Cush, MD

A study from Olmstead county and the Mayo Clinic shows that multimorbidity  and social factors predict higher rheumatoid arthritis (RA) flares and lower remission rates.

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September to Remember (9.5.2025)

Jack Cush, MD

Dr. Jack Cush reviews the news and journal reports from RheumNow. This week - unemployment, diagnosing Sjogren's and a lot of ILD.

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Connective tissue disease associated with interstitial lung disease (CTD-ILD) market is estimated to be $5.9 Billion USD in 2024 and is projected to grow to 9.3 billion, driven by increase in autoimmune Dz, adoption of biologics, ongoing clinical anti-fibrotic trials https://t.co/UqshQgNOau
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ILD Begins (8.29.2025) Dr. Jack Cush reviews the news and journal reports from https://t.co/V10S4oVFsv. This week news on vaccines, safety of acetaminophen and more. https://t.co/YlOK3X4hkW https://t.co/9cgcDn0xab

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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
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