Pharma/Regulatory

A Phase 3 Trial of a JAKi in Patients With Giant Cell Arteritis Coinvestigator Dr. Andrea Rubbert-Roth discusses the results of this Phase 3 trial of a JAKi in GCA. Sponsored by AbbVie Medical Affairs + Health Impact. https://t.co/71kOeaVXzv https://t.co/p9uJwn0nOI

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CAR-T and cellular depletion therapies gone wild! Currently there are over 85 different therapeutic candidates aiming to reset the immune system in >380 clinical trials. Review article looks at indications, targets, modalities & outlook. https://t.co/yleR4B48IY https://t.co/tuCTOu5sxa

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Vitiligo affects up to 2% of people globally; more in blacks & hispanics than whites & more common in women > men. The prevalence has increased over time. Oral corticosteroids are most frequently prescribed, followed by other immunosuppressive drugs https://t.co/wNh6z3lKg1 https://t.co/hQo9sNn4kg

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Biologics in Pregnancy Patients With Autoimmune Disease

Jack Cush, MD

A large cohort, claims data study shows that among pregnant women receiving biologic therapies for autoimmune conditions, 72% continued their biologics pregnancy, more so among inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) patients than those with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), psoriasis (PsO) or psoriatic

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Emulation trials in SLE: Real or Fake? Recently a landmark paper was published in A&R studying the results of an emulation trial. My colleagues and I were able to write an editorial on this paper and describe emulation trials. https://t.co/0ulYG5xz0J https://t.co/y2jo2SSH83

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Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
FDA approved the chikungunya virus vaccine (Ixchiq) in 11/23, but recently announced caution and pause use while it investigates Postmarketing Safety Reports of 17 SAE (cardiac & neurologic) & 2 deaths. 6 SAE in the USA, elderly w/ chronic med conditions. ~80K doses of Ixchiq https://t.co/RED8Xab0Ir
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
FDA approved the chikungunya virus vaccine (Ixchiq) in 11/23, but recently announced caution and pause use while it investigates Postmarketing Safety Reports of 17 SAE (cardiac & neurologic) & 2 deaths. 6 SAE in the USA, elderly w/ chronic med conditions. ~80K doses of Ixchiq https://t.co/XadqMEmSuD
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
CDC: U.S. Overdose Deaths Decrease Almost 27% in 2024, dropping from 110,037 deaths (2023) to ~80,391(2024). Despite these improvements, overdose remains the leading cause of death for Americans aged 18 to 44. https://t.co/UXTaOPf3P7 https://t.co/1NQUfoZ1eK

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Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
Is the nosology of CPPD outdated? Pseudogout to chondrocalcinosis? In 2011 EULAR taskforce rec the preferred term "calcium pyrophosphate deposition dz". G-CAN aims to update & standardised terminology for CPPD, requiring change to ICD-10 & adoption by societies https://t.co/mdqwDQN1po
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
#2 most downloaded paper in 2024 on Journal of Clinical Medicine was “IgA Vasculitis (Henoch–Schönlein Purpura): An Update on Treatment” - Steroids are 1st line Rx, esp in adults w/ severe IgAV; other Rx include calcineurin inhibitors, MMF, RTX , https://t.co/F5jogxkoGr

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Telitacicept, recombinant fusion protein targeting BLyS & APRIL, studied in 41 Chinese SLE pts (added to standard Rx) showed mean improvements in SLEDAI-2K (10.0 to 6.25 @12 wks & 4.2 @24 wks;p<.001), daily prednisone (21 mg to 9.8mg) & proteinuria (2.8 gr to 1.3 gr/day) https://t.co/xtPMSZBoWg
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
Is the nosology of CPPD outdated? Pseudogout to chondrocalcinosis? In 2011 EULAR taskforce rec the preferred term "calcium pyrophosphate deposition dz". G-CAN aims to update & standardised terminology for CPPD, requiring change to ICD-10 & adoption by societies https://t.co/wTdc0Tosc6
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
Emulation trials in SLE: Real or Fake? Recently a landmark paper was published in A&R studying the results of an emulation trial. My colleagues and I were able to write an editorial on this paper and describe emulation trials. https://t.co/0ulYG5xz0J https://t.co/8oj8UDV9Dd

Links:

Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
Single-centre retrospective study, 27 children with refractory juvenile dermatomyositis (jDM) Rx with baricitinib (F/U of 25 mos)-- 77% (21/27) improved skin rashes (62% complete resolution) & Dz activity improved (6 vs 0.8, p<0.01) 70% (19/27) achieved inactive disease https://t.co/rRlhoY9O4q
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
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Vitamin D Headlines (5.9.2025)

Jack Cush, MD

Dr. Jack Cush reviews the news, journal reports and lupus highlights from the past week on RheumNow.com. Triple positivity, the gut and CRPS, and hope for better outcomes with Vitamin D therapy. 

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Glucocorticoids in SLE: how to start, how to follow, how to stop More than 70 years after their first use in rheumatology by Philip Hench, glucocorticoids (GCs) continue to be one of the main weapons to fight systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). No other available medication https://t.co/H6N0N3BhhU
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
Keys to Mastery (5.2.2025) Dr. Jack Cush reviews the news, articles and drug approvals from the past week on RheumNow.This podcast marks the beginning of our Lupus Campaign called "Lupus Unlocked: Keys to Mastery". This month's campaign on Lupus is sponsored by Aurinia. https://t.co/ke0XaJJJX5
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
GLP-1 agonists effective in Rxing MASH - metabolic dysfunction-assoc steatohepatitis (AKA NAFLD, NASH). DBRPCT w/ 1100 pts (mean BMI 34-35). A good perspective article from Sensible Medicine. https://t.co/NeaX5qcnPA https://t.co/loRPcwv8B9 https://t.co/ul8ko9cU4K

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Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
FDA has approved nipocalimab (Imaavytm), a FcRn for use in generalized myasthenia gravis (gMG). It is approved for using in gMG patents who are anti-AChR and anti-MuSK antibody positive adults and pediatric gMG patients aged 12 and older. https://t.co/fYCWuTZ6Uz https://t.co/aSfydBS9xh

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Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
Contraception in SLE Pregnancy in SLE receives significant attention in rheumatology due to increased risks. Historically, women with SLE were advised against pregnancy. As of 2004, the maternal mortality rate was 20 times higher than the general population. Although recent https://t.co/89df0TKtF5
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
Complex Evolution of RA Management and Outcomes FIRST is a Japanese longitudinal, real-world registry of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) management, and over the last 20 years has shown significantly improved outcomes, yet significant challenges and unmet needs remain. https://t.co/TwDIf5MJqF
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
FDA has approved nipocalimab (Imaavytm), a FcRn for use in generalized myasthenia gravis (gMG). It is approved for using in gMG patents who are anti-AChR and anti-MuSK antibody positive adults and pediatric gMG patients aged 12 and older. https://t.co/CaSwCnCK8V https://t.co/A2COjk2hzY

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Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
EULAR Guidelines on Reproductive Health Rheumatology patients considering or actually having babies can safely take most of the medications currently used to treat their conditions, according to an updated guideline from the European Alliance of Associations for Rheumatology https://t.co/121I7Yb8Ki
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
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Keys to Mastery (5.2.2025)

Jack Cush, MD

Dr. Jack Cush reviews the news, articles and drug approvals from the past week on RheumNow.com. This podcast marks the beginning of our Lupus Campaign called "Lupus Unlocked: Keys to Mastery". This month's campaign on Lupus is sponsored by Aurinia.

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FDA Approves Rinvoq for Giant Cell Arteritis Based on the results of the SELECT-GCA study, the US FDA has approved upadacitinib (Rinvoq or UPA) for the treatment of adults with giant cell arteritis (GCA), also known as temporal arteritis. This is the 9th FDA approved indication https://t.co/gPTwnR2VLw
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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