NK Cells Without a CAR: AB-101 Is Neither CAR-T nor CAR-NK
Much of the meeting came for the next CAR T readout. AB-101 drew attention for a different reason. It depletes B cells by a completely different route.
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Day 2 Report from EULAR 2026
Day two at EULAR 2026 was jammed with sessions on advances in immune checkpoint inhhbitors (and irAEs), Lupus, Scleroderma, RA and IgG4 related disease. Here are a few of my favorites from Day 2
https://t.co/6KwtkMNLAf https://t.co/Toh4HNZFN5
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
Abstr LB0003
Off-the-shelf allogeneic NK cell therapy + rituximab in refractory RA, Sjögren disease, and systemic sclerosis. 31 patients. Outpatient administered.
RA at 6 months: 71% ACR50, mean CDAI change −36.8. SSc: 100% rCRISS25 response. SjD: 86% ClinESSDAI responders. https://t.co/60046jgYia
Antoni Chan MD (Prof) @synovialjoints( View Tweet )
Interesting data on the effect of AB-101 + RTX on refractory RA, SSc and SjD.
Curious about long term results and potential position in tx strategies
LB0006 @RheumNow #EULAR2026 https://t.co/opbh8yGmwO
Links:
sheila @RHEUMarampa( View Tweet )
CAR-T without the CAR-T risks?
AB-101, an off-the-shelf NK cell therapy + RTX, delivered in refractory RA, Sjögren, and SSc (n=31): RA ACR50 71%, SSc mRSS -9.5, SjD ClinESS DAI -8.6 at 6 mo. Outpatient delivery without CAR-T associated AEs? @RheumNow #EULAR2026 LB0003 https://t.co/xi6ZdLwHcN
Jiha Lee @JihaRheum( View Tweet )
Improving Understanding in SSc
2026 EULAR Press Release
Systemic sclerosis is a rare connective tissue disorder characterised by autoimmune features with vascular manifestations, causing fibrosis of the skin and internal organs. EULAR is focused on systemic sclerosis as the rheumatic disease with the highest morbidity and mortality. New data
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5 years since Patient ID001: Progress on CAR-T Therapy in RMD
Five years on, are we closer to licensing of the first CAR-T therapy in rheumatic and musculoskeletal diseases (RMD)?
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#CAR_T cell therapy in #SSc
Promising results from the Breakfree-1 study
(Zola-cel) on safety and preliminary efficacy on pFVC in 26 patients
More data is needed
#HOT session Pr Oliver Distler
#EULAR2026 @RheumNow https://t.co/ZS1LnBLMu5
Links:
Nelly ZIADE 🍀 @Nellziade( View Tweet )
Looking forward to CAR T cell therapy trials in #SSc
Phase 2 and 3 studies presented at
#HOT session by Pr Oliver Distler
#CAR_T
#EULAR2026 @RheumNow https://t.co/bmXZpF2wKg
Links:
Nelly ZIADE 🍀 @Nellziade( View Tweet )
Many drugs in the pipeline for #Systemic_Sclerosis
In particular, stay tuned for:
🔺Nerandomilast (PDE4i) in ILD
🔺CAR T cells (obviously): big RCT trials planned
🔺Bispecific T cell engagers: Teclistamab
#HOT session Pr Oliver Distler
#EULAR2026 @RheumNow https://t.co/I7HQtfwuW0
Links:
Nelly ZIADE 🍀 @Nellziade( View Tweet )
Digital Platforms and AI
2026 EULAR Press Release
EULAR works with the network of national organisations of People with Arthritis/Rheumatism in Europe (PARE) to ensure the voices of people with RMD are heard and have influence – creating powerful alliances that make a real difference. Artificial intelligence is another potential ally in that
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#EULAR2026 OP028 In 16 patients with AID (SSc,IIM, RA, IgG4,SjD, Grave’s), CD3xBCMA BiTE, Teclistamab was effective in 15/16. Duration of GC & DMARD-free was 11 mths. 2/16 need retreatment. All had low IgG and needed IVIG. Need long-term safety data & comparative study @RheumNow https://t.co/97MUPnXRua
Md Yuzaiful Md Yusof @Yuz6Yusof( View Tweet )
❎HIGH Type 1 #interferon
=
Worse #scleroderma
In both
#limited #lcSSc
&
#diffuse #dcSSc
Leeds cohort
?biomarker
#EULAR2026 @RheumNow ABST#POS1092
ABST#POS0395 https://t.co/cRrBIpLgP9
Links:
Janet Pope @Janetbirdope( View Tweet )
#EULAR2026 OP077 Another promising CAR-T in autoimmunity. In a Phase II study, Rap-Cel autologous CD19 CAR-T (shorter infusion time ~2d & low dose) vs traditional CAR-T showed drug-free improvement in N=6 #IIM & N=6 #SSc patients. Safety similar to other CAR-Ts @RheumNow https://t.co/byNn5X8JGh
Links:
Md Yuzaiful Md Yusof @Yuz6Yusof( View Tweet )
#EULAR2026 OP076 Of 50 patients treated with autologous CAR-T, 12% relapsed; median 13 mths. More frequent in #IIM vs #SLE or #SSc. These relapses were significant. Switching to BCMA-CAR or BCMA-TCE restored response. Should BCMA instead of CD19 be targeted initially?@RheumNow https://t.co/lgdsJQm3xY
Links:
Md Yuzaiful Md Yusof @Yuz6Yusof( View Tweet )
CAR-T Cell Therapies in Refractory RMD
EULAR 2026 Press Release
Current therapies for rheumatoid arthritis rely on sustained immunosuppression rather than restoration of immune tolerance, with off-drug remission remaining rare. Recent anecdotal reports suggest that CD19-directed chimeric antigen receptor T (CAR-T) cell therapy may be an
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Retrospective Intl SSc study of MD & PT telangiectasia counts (TC) (0, 1–6, 7–15 or > 15) of face, forearms & hands. High TC correlated w/ PAH (AUC 0.824–0.875) & digital ulcers. Moderate agreement betw MD & Pt for face & forearms TC (kappa 0.648 & 0.605, p< 0.001) https://t.co/k7tVeJFeCi
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
Adverse drug events (ADEs) studied in autoimmune rheum Dz (ARDs). In 10,578 ARD pts 30% had 1+ ADE, highest in SSc (36%). Polypharmacy (57.3% minor, 39.4% major) contrib to increasing ADEs. ADEs were more from Sx Rx (antacids, Tylenol, psychotropics) than DMARDs. https://t.co/BOAfU1DyIN
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
Retrospective Intl SSc study of MD & PT telangiectasia counts (TC) (0, 1–6, 7–15 or > 15) of face, forearms & hands. High TC correlated w/ PAH (AUC 0.824–0.875) & digital ulcers. Moderate agreement betw MD & Pt for face & forearms TC (kappa 0.648 & 0.605, p< 0.001) https://t.co/jtHgVABFiA
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
Early GI Involvement Predictive of Scleroderma Outcomes
Rheumatology has published a cohort study showing that earlyGI symptoms and overall symptom burden predict both GI progression and mortality in Systemic Sclerosis (SSc).
Infectious Rheumatology (5.15.2026)
Dr. Jack Cush discusses his favorite journal articles from the past week on RheumNow.com.
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Top Four and More (4.10.2026)
Dr. Jack Cush reviews the news and journal reports from RheumNow.com this week - including his top four favorite subjects.
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Predictors of Calcinosis Cutis in Systemic Sclerosis
Calcinosis cutis (CaC) is a common and disabling non-lethal manifestation in systemic sclerosis (SSc). This study used SSc patients from the EUSTAR database to clinically characterize patients and identify risk factors for https://t.co/uXbcCa04Lv
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
Itch is common in Scleroderma (SSc) and not related to Dz duration. Study of 2173 Pts (~20K itch assessments), 87 F; mean age 55 yrs; 40% w/ diffuse SSc. Itch (moderate 4/10) seen in ~35% at all times https://t.co/QnT8d0xA5Z https://t.co/yEgB6ImDTi
Links:
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
Predictors of Calcinosis Cutis in Systemic Sclerosis
Calcinosis cutis (CaC) is a common and disabling non-lethal manifestations in systemic sclerosis (SSc). This study used SSc patients from the EUSTAR database to clinically characterize patients and identify risk factors for CaC development.
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At first, it seemed similar to many other such sessions – a circle of folding chairs, a group of colleagues whose visages exuded understanding and acceptance – but this was special. I started the meeting…. “Hi, my name is Artie.”
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How best do we communicate CV risk associated with RA to other members of the treating team, most particularly the primary care physicians? After some experimentation, I have come up with an approach that seems to work and which does not take up much time.
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Will the results of two recent large scleroderma lung studies finally inform us on how to manage interstitial lung disease in systemic sclerosis?
Podcasts
EULAR 2026 Daily Podcast Day 2c
EULAR 2021 - Day2a00:38:00
