Based on research showing improved signs and symptoms of systemic sclerosis in patients taking cilnidipine vs. placebo, the FDA granted orphan drug designation for the agent.
Nipocalimab Receives Breakthrough Therapy Status for Sjögren’s Disease
Nipocalimab, an investigational monoclonal antibody that blocks FcRn and reduces levels of circulating immunoglobulin G (IgG) antibodies, has received the FDA’s breakthrough therapy designation for the treatment of Sjögren’s disease.
FDA Approves Suzetrigine (VX-548), a Non-Opioid Analgesic
Based on research in post-surgery patients, the FDA approved suzetrigine, a non-opioid analgesic, for the treatment moderate to severe, acute pain in adults.
FDA Approves Oral Solution of Colchicine to Prevent Gout Flare
The FDA approved an oral solution of colchicine for the prevention of gout flare in adults. Its dosage can be easily adjusted on the basis of patient needs.
Trends in the Use of DMARDs for Patients with JIA
Yalamanchili et al. describe how trends in disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drug (DMARD) use have evolved for insured, U.S. patients with juvenile idiopathic arthritis. Overall, the study found that from 2000 to 2022 in this patient population the use of biologic and targeted synthetic DMARDs rose, while the use of conventional synthetic DMARDs declined.
Semaglutatide for Patients with Knee Osteoarthritis?
Based on decades of data from dietary and other lifestyle interventions, doctors have long known that significant weight loss can be an effective treatment for people who are overweight and have knee osteoarthritis (OA). One meta-analysis showed that OA pain, function and stiffness scores improved by 2% for every 1% in lost weight.1 But the…
New Study Probes Risks Related to Acetaminophen Use
A new study questions whether acetaminophen is a risk-free pain reliever for patients aged 65 and older, including those with osteoarthritis (OA). Although acetaminophen is often touted as an alternative to non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), such as ibuprofen, a population-based cohort study found it carried an increased risk of peptic ulcers, bleeding and other side…
Cannabis for Pain Management in Rheumatology
‘Cannabis has a long history of being used for pain management,’ says Physician Editor Bharat Kumar, MD, MME, FACP, FAAAAI, RhMSUS. ‘What does it mean for rheumatology patients moving forward? Read our article for one answer to this question.’ As cannabis becomes more widely legalized, both in the U.S. and internationally, its use for pain…
Potential Biologic Drug Treatment for IgG4-RD Identified
Inebilizumab reduces the risk of immunoglobulin G4-related disease (IgG4-RD) flares and increases the likelihood of flare-free, complete remission at one year, a recent study shows.1 The randomized, doubleblind, placebo-controlled MITIGATE trial showed that inebilizumab reduced the risk of IgG4-RD symptoms by 87%, compared with placebo. About IgG4-RD IgG4-RD is chronic, rare condition that has, so…
Deucravacitinib Promising for PsA
Results from two studies found that deucravacitinib improved the signs and symptoms of patients with psoriatic arthritis who were biologic disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drug naive and those previously treated with a tumor necrosis factor α inhibitor.