Dr. Jack Cush reviews the regulatory approvals, announcements, guidelines and interesting journal articles from the past week on RheumNow.com. When not to use muscle relaxants, how frequent is loneliness in RA/PsA/SpA, and when to refer patients with Still’s disease.

1. UCB & Biogen report positive topline results of Phase 3 RCT of Dapirolizumab Pegol (anti-CD40L) in #SLE & will launch a 2nd Ph 3 RCT in 2024. Phase 3 PHOENYCS GO study was 48 wks of DAP vs PBO in mod-severe SLE w/ BILAG improvement by wk 48 https://buff.ly/3ZFkIdR
2. Genentech announced top line results of the REGENCY Phase III study of obinutuzumab (Gazyva) in lupus nephritis. 271 LN (class III or IV; +/- V) taking MMF & steroids were given placebo or OBIN for 76 wks. OBIN was superior @ complete renal resp at 76 wks… https://t.co/Um9du7fgxE
3. Lupus nephritis & CKD considerations: – Non-immune factors: obesity, HTN, Na- or protein-diets, NIDDM, pregnancy, mephrotoxic meds, smoking can add to CKD – use inhibitors renin–angiotensin & SGLT2 inhibitor w/ proteinuria & low GFR https://buff.ly/3XKbhau
4. INVIGORATE-2 Study – IV Secukinumab in Active Psoriatic Arthritis reports that intravenous (IV) secukinumab (SEC) is both effective and safe in patients with active psoriatic arthritis (PsA), demonstrating improvements on par with subcutaneous SEC.… https://t.co/I1TVGIHByN
5. Bimekizumab FDA Approved for Psoriatic Arthritis, Non-radiographic Axial Spondyloarthritis and Ankylosing Spondylitis  
6. In utero exposure to upadacitinib review w/ 128 maternal exposures & known outcomes; 80 from RCTs & 48 Postmarketing Pregs. From RCTs – 54-46% live births, 24-38% spont. abortions, 21-15% elective Ab, 1-2% ectopics from RCTs & Postmarketing. No evidence of teratogenicity… https://t.co/M1MEnCyD2k
7. TUDOR study looked at the incidence of PsA by serially following primary care psoriasis pts. At 1 year, 14/511 developed PsA (incidence 2.74 per 100 p-yrs) and at 2 years 7/444 developed PsA (1.58/100 p-yrs). Combined incidence @2 yrs – 2.2 per 100 p-yrs https://t.co/pbHBWt0pXn
8. Korean Epidemiologic (claims data) study shows the prevalence of Psoriatic arthritis has increased between 2008 and 2020. Prevalence was 6/1000 in 2008 & 19/1000 in 2020. PsA incidence also incr from 3.35 to 5.01/1000 in the same era https://t.co/d20zETK2q2
9. Analysis of 5 Nordic registries & 29,478 RA & 10,919 PsA pts initiating 1st bDMARD,s (& 362,087 pop controls). Incident ILD was higher in RA (HR 9.7) & PsA (4.4). but MTX co-use (vs non-use) did not incr ILD in RA (HR 0.9; 0.7, 1.2) or PsA (HR 1.0) https://t.co/xY8COh85Bw
10. Danish cross-sectional survey 12 713 Inflam arthritis (RA, PsA, SpA) pts & found lonliness in one-third (RA 32%; 36% in PsA & SpA) and highest in SpA w/ depression (66%). Loneliness was correlated w/ disease activity. https://buff.ly/3zt6t1c
11. Limited Efficacy of Muscle Relaxants for Chronic Pain
12. Stratified Cancer Screening in Dermatomyositis    
13. EULAR/PReS Still’s Disease Management Recommendations  
14. Register for in Dallas. Great Rheums deserve a phenomenal meeting like this
15. Register for RheumNow Live Feb 8 & 9^th 2025 here  “Great Rheums go to Phenomenal Meetings like this”!

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