Three clinical trials are evaluating subcutaneous sirukumab for safety and efficacy in treating rheumatoid arthritis. And a study found no significant difference in persistence and remission for TNF-α monotherapy when compared with TNF-α plus conventional DMARD combination therapy for treating psoriatic arthritis…
In Europe, an etanercept biosimilar is getting closer to being approved to treat RA and more, and in the U.S., an application for an adalimumab biosimilar has been submitted for FDA approval. Also, an analysis of methotrexate use in the U.S. shows that therapy may actually be underused for RA…
Despite the relative novelty of the human microbiome as an area of study, a substantial body of evidence has accumulated addressing its potential involvement in the pathogenesis of rheumatic disease. This review article explores the available data in animal and human studies, focusing on the role of the intestinal microbiome in rheumatoid arthritis (RA), psoriatic arthritis (PsA) and the spondyloarthritidies (SpA)…
In clinical trials, ixekizumab and adalimumab proved safe and effective in treating adults with active psoriatic arthritis. Also, the combination therapy of certolizumab pegol plus methotrexate was more effective than placebo for treating severe RA…
In a recent study, the use of anifrolumab in SLE patients was shown to be safe and effective, enabling some patients to decrease their oral steroids. Also, secukinumab has been approved in Europe to treat ankylosing spondylitis and psoriatic arthritis…
NEW YORK (Reuters Health)—Apremilast is effective in patients with difficult to treat psoriasis of the scalp and nails, according to long-term results of two phase 3 trials. Investigators had previously reported 16-week data from the Efficacy and Safety Trial Evaluating the Effects of Apremilast in Psoriasis (ESTEEM) 1 and 2 trials. The new report includes…
NEW YORK (Reuters Health)—Obese patients with psoriasis or psoriatic arthritis are apt to experience significant symptomatic relief following bariatric surgery, according to a new chart review. Specifically, the study found that more than half of the patients with psoriasis or psoriatic arthritis reported improvements in their disease following surgery. Dr. Soumya Reddy, assistant professor of…
In a global Phase 3 trial, subcutaneous secukinumab proved safe and effective in patients with psoriatic arthritis. Also, a version of aspartyl-alanyl diketopiperazine, a biologic for knee OA, has entered Phase 3 trials…
A Phase 3 study found secukinumab may be an effective alternative to anti-TNF therapies for treating psoriatic arthritis, suggesting interleukin 17A may play a role in the disease…
NEW YORK (Reuters Health)—Psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis are associated with an increased risk of migraine, according to new research from Denmark. “The main finding of our study was a psoriasis severity-dependent increased risk of new-onset migraine, and patients with severe skin psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis appeared to have the highest risk,” Dr. Alexander Egeberg from…