Skip to main content

Pharma/Regulatory

Combination therapy in PsA . Regulatory and reimbursement issues may inhibit such strategies (and potential adverse event concerns) but anecdotal evidence would suggest a role in difficult to treat cases. @RheumNow #RNL2025 https://t.co/IIoUiJyP95
Richard Conway @RichardPAConway( View Tweet )
Dannish study of 1 million infants, exposed vs unexposed to systemic glucocorticoids shows prenatal GC exposure assoc w/ higher risk of autism (RR 1.5), intellectual disability (1.3), ADHD (1.3), mood/anxiety (1.3). Same risk for 290K mothers w/ autoimmune/inflamm Dz… https://t.co/bXL3YqCIYZ https://t.co/psNVENXRPs
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
How did Rheumatology go from being the happiest specialist to now being 5th from the bottom at 65%? Top heavy happiness seems to be influenced by income? what do you think? Allergy 94% Pathology 88% Dermatology 87% .... Rheum 67% Internal med 66%... https://t.co/YTKMElL868 https://t.co/RnsIVYWBFo
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )

Pain Management in Rheumatoid Arthritis

BMC has published a full read literture review of pharmacological pain management in rheumatoid arthritis, pointing out that the best evidence for pain control comes from the use of DMARDs and treat-to-target strategies.  In contrast, there is widespread use of analgesics in RA,

Read Article

BSR Guideline on Management of Sjögren disease

The British Society for Rheumatology has published its guideline for the management of adult and juvenile onset Sjogren's disease. 

This guideline is an update to the 2017 guideline and is based on medical literature review focused on 19 clinical questions. While most of the

Read Article
ACR Applauds Second Round of Medicare Drug Price Negotiations The ACR applauded the announcement of additional drugs subject to pricing negotiations with the CMS. This second round includes nintedanib (Ofev) and apremilast (Otezla), which are used to treat common and rare… https://t.co/z1LkpWMXqg https://t.co/hqjkqTqJxw
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )

AGA Guideline: Prevention and Treatment of Hepatitis B Virus Reactivation in At-Risk Individuals

The American Gastroenterology Association has published its revised clinical practice guidelines for the prevention and treatment of hepatitis B virus (HBV) reactivation in at-risk patients, particularly those with immune-mediated disease, receiving immunomodulatory therapy and steroids.

Read Article
Febuxostat (ULORIC) is discontinued by the manufacturer in the USA. This week an FDA update on drug shortages list announced Uloric has been discontinued. Takeda sited dropping sales, generic competition, and CV safety concerns in the last decade. GENERIC febuxostat should still… https://t.co/QcUNCUFfvJ https://t.co/oBdwkcN177
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
Head-to-Head Clinical Trials https://t.co/tt8uLuLiV2 https://t.co/BvWxCGGN5V
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
post hoc analysis of 4 registration trials of pegloticase, show rates of MACE and Thromboembolic Events were Infrequent (<1.5%; 35.4 events/1000 PY), similar to general gout population (31.7 events/1000 person-years) https://t.co/v6ZqtL4yB2 https://t.co/NA0j20Oew2
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )

Weak Data (1.24.2025)

Dr. Jack Cush reviews the news and journal reports from RheumNow.com, and features Dr. Charity Dean, the Keynote speaker at RheumNow Live 2025, and why she is an inspiration.

Read Article

Getting to Remission - Without Biologics

Analysis of data from two early rheumatoid arthritis (ERA) cohorts shows remission in RA is primarily seen in those who do not require biologic DMARDs (bDMARDs), while those needing bDMARDs are less apt to achieve remission.

Read Article
Systematic review of 14 studies using administrative/med. records data on >130 million people & 1 million dementia cases, finds the risk of Alzheimers/Dementia reduced w/ Antimicrobials, vaccines & NSAID antiinflammatories (but incr w/ DM drugs, vitamins, antipsychotics)… https://t.co/p79s5Pw4k2 https://t.co/9DO1WO2NuG
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )

Do Rheumatologists Follow 2020 ACR Guidelines on Gout?

Schlessinger and colleagues report that US Rheumatologists generally adhere to and agree with the 2020 American College of Rheumatology (ACR) Guideline for the Management of Gout, although knowledge gaps and practice variance exists.

A total of 201 US

Read Article

Functional Precision Medicine in Rheumatoid Arthritis

Novel research from the Medical University of Vienna demonstrates the plausible utility of functional precision medicine using immunophenotyping of blood cells with rheumatoid arthritis, to help guide treatment selection.

Read Article
ACR: Congress Fails to Reform PBMs, Mitigate Medicare Cuts Save The ACR praised the limited extension of Medicare telehealth coverage but criticized Congress for not passing measures to increase transparency in PBM practices, address insurer issues, or prevent upcoming Medicare… https://t.co/pJ5f6LvELe https://t.co/jT3UJAx5It
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )

Lung Involvement in Still's Disease

A multicentre registry observational study assessed lung involvement in a cohort of Still’s disease patients, affirming pleuritis as most common and that parenchymal lung inflammatory disease is very uncommon in both children and adults.

A total of 90 Still's patients with lung

Read Article

ACR: Congress Fails to Reform PBMs, Mitigate Medicare Cuts

ACR

The American College of Rheumatology (ACR) commended the limited extension of key Medicare telehealth coverage provisions but also expressed disappointment that Members of Congress have failed to pass measures to bring transparency to pharmacy benefit manager (PBM) practices, address flawed

Read Article
U.S. overdose deaths far outpace other countries. In 2023 US drug overdoses >100,000 for 3rd year — a >50% jump since 2019. 2022 rate=324/1 million. High rates attributed to fentanyl, polysubstance use, counterfeit pills, variance in state policies on harm reduction… https://t.co/IYpytkEgpt https://t.co/HrrU9SCJT1
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
Just published, a new review of Axial spondyloarthritis from Baraliakos, et al in Lancet! https://t.co/0pIFM1Q2jO https://t.co/iGQ3ES7Nie
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )

Fallen Angels (1.17.2025)

Dr. Jack Cush reviews the news and journal reports from the past week on RheumNow.com; and pays homage to colleagues who passed away in 2024.

Read Article

BACHELOR Trial - Baricitinib in Early Polymyalgia Rheumatica

Lancet reports a French study demonstrating the efficacy of baricitinib in patients with polymyalgia rheumatica (PMR).

Read Article

Dazukibart Effective in Adults with Dermatomyositis

Lancet reports that the use of dazukibart, a selective monoclonal antibody against interferon B (IFNβ), was clinically effective in reducing disease activity in adults with active dermatomyositis (DM).

Read Article

Eltrombopag, a Potential New Treatment for ITP

A pilot trial has shown a thrombopoietin receptor agonist, eltrombopag (Promacta), to be effective in connective tissue disease-related (CTD),  refractory immune thrombocytopenia (ITP).

Read Article
U.S. overdose deaths far outpace other countries. In 2023 US drug overdoses >100,000 for 3rd year — a >50% jump since 2019. 2022 rate=324/1 million. High rates attributed to fentanyl, polysubstance use, counterfeit pills, variance in state policies on harm reduction… https://t.co/oHtiMytdtR https://t.co/DLFPYEkdRC
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
×