Rheumnow Podcast

Gout Journal Club will examine two influential publications: 1. "Treat-to-Target Urate-Lowering Treatment and Cardiovascular Outcomes in Patients with Gout" (Cipolletta et al., JAMA Internal Medicine, 2026) and 2. "Target Serum Urate Achievement and Chronic Kidney Disease Progression in Patients With Gout and Kidney Disease"(Wang et al., JAMA Internal Medicine, 2025). Together, these studies provide new evidence supporting treat-to-target urate-lowering strategies and their potential impact on cardiovascular and renal outcomes. Panelists: Abhishek Abhishek, MD, PhD, MBBS, FRCP Zeqin Wen, MD Jie Wei, PhD Jack Cush, MD (moderator) Beyond reviewing the evidence, our expert panel will tackle the practical questions rheumatologists face every day.

In August, Dr. Christina Charles-Schoeman and Dr. Manish Jain will return with a new episode exploring the latest clinical data on RA treatment after TNFi failure. Before that episode drops, revisit their 2025 conversation on disease control, real-world data, and guidelines that inform clinical decision-making after TNFi failure. Sponsored by AbbVie Medical Affairs + Health Impact.

Dr. Jack Cush lectures on giving a great presentation; based on 40 years of lecturing in Rheumatology.

Dr. Jack Cush reviews the news and journal articles from RheumNow.com. Updates on tofacitinib, CAR-T therapy and AI.

The Derm on RheumNow podcast is a collection of Citations and Content curated for dermatologists – addressing Psoriasis, PsA, CLE, vasculitis, HS, other CTD skin disorders. dermatology drugs, biiologics, JAKs - their use, efficacy and side effects.

Features Dr. Jack Cush, Editor at RheumNow.com.

Show Notes:
- Breckenridge Pharmaceutical received FDA approval for their generic version of tofacitinib on 6/4/26. 5 mg and 10 mg tablets are now available in the U.S. market, for both adult and pediatric use. Tofacitinib Tablets are manufactured in Martorelles, Spain. https://t.co/oAh0KQSFgs

- TB Infection or reactivation is Psoriasis or Psoriatic Arthritis pts taking IL-23 inhibitors is rare, rare. Literature review showed 34 studies of IL-23i in PsO had no new TB, but 1 case of LTBI reactivation. In 8 IL-23i PsA studies there were NO new TB or LTBI reactivations https://t.co/NFIap7DSOr  

- BE BOLD: Bimekizumab Beats Risankizumab (LB0001) –H2H trial bimekizumab vs risankizumab in PsA for 24 weeks. At week 16; BKZ better than RZB,  p=0.0058). This advantage was maintained out to week 24 (55% vs 44%; p 0.0001).

- RA-BRIDGE and RA-BRANCH: FDA mandated study of the risk of venous thromboembolic events (VTE) taking baricitinib (BARI) or TNF inhibitors. The incidence rate was 0.79/100 PY for BARI combined versus 0.51/100 PY for TNFi. The hazard ratio was 1.606 (95% CI 0.969–2.660), with the upper CI exceeding the pre-specified NI margin of 1.8.  Baricitinib (neither dose) was associated with a higher risk of MACE (HR 1.06), all-cause mortality (HR 0.97), arterial thromboembolism (HR 1.27), or opportunistic infections (HR 1.25).  

- Probiotics in Psoriatic Arthritis. (POS0290)    66 PsA patients randomized to receive either placebo or probiotic containing lactobacillus and bifidobacterium strains for 12 weeks.  This trial proves no significant effect with oral probiotic supplementation in PsA. 

- CLE and smoking. Smoking reduces efficacy of antimalarials & worsens dz activity & damage. Advocate for smoking cessation! @Rheumnow #EULAR2026 https://t.co/pEWLJAkBAJ

- Risk of Psoriasis is increased 19% by long-term exposure to Particulate Matter (PM2.5 & PM10; adjHR 1.19), while short-term exposure increases risk of psoriasis exacerbation (adjusted OR 1.03). Stronger in younger, urban, lower SES, ever-smokers, & comorbid allergies https://t.co/pd6S13RG1B