WASHINGTON — Alaska Native and American Indian populations demonstrate notably higher prevalences of ANCA-associated vasculitis vs. white patients, according to data presented at ACR Convergence 2024. “Our objective was to determine the prevalence and clinical characteristics of vasculitis in Alaska Native and American Indian peoples of Alaska,” Ben Henderson, a student at the University of Washington School of Medicine, told attendees. The research presented is part of a larger study called Arthritis and Autoimmune Disease Epidemiology and Impact in the Alaska Native ..read more

WASHINGTON — Healio speaks with Micaela F. Bayard, MD, about AI and its integration into clinical practice for rheumatologists. According to Bayard, rheumatologist at Mount Sinai and assistant professor of rheumatology at The Icahn School of Medicine, there were many discussions surrounding AI at ACR Convergence 2024, including how AI can personalize medicine. “AI really has the possibility to really impact on so many ends: diagnosis, treatment and future treatments,” she said ..read more

WASHINGTON — In this video, Micaela F. Bayard, MD, discusses the shift at major conferences to include patients voices and perspectives. Bayard, rheumatologist at Mount Sinai and assistant professor of rheumatology at The Icahn School of Medicine, highlighted ways this was achieved at ACR Convergence 2024. “The discussion about this really happened in the setting of, how do we diversify and create representative clinical trials,” she said ..read more

WASHINGTON — Patients with autoimmune rheumatic diseases who withhold methotrexate for 2 weeks after receiving the recombinant herpes zoster vaccine demonstrate improved humoral response, according to data presented at ACR Convergence 2024. “We already know that methotrexate reduces immune response to many vaccines against some different pathogens,” Ana Cristina Medeiros-Ribeiro, MD, of the University of Sao Paulo, in Brazil, told attendees. “We also know that temporary methotrexate discontinuation for a short time after vaccination may enhance vaccine response ..read more

The FDA has granted rare pediatric disease designation to a type IA prodrug of dexamethasone that targets CD206+ macrophages for the treatment of systemic juvenile idiopathic arthritis flares, according to a press release from PIF Partners. The proprietary investigational therapeutic, currently known as 101-PGC-005 or ‘005 (PIF Partners), is undergoing phase 3 clinical trials across nine centers in India for the treatment of autoimmune rheumatic diseases induced by COVID-19. Under the rare pediatric disease designation, PIF Partners is eligible to receive a priority review voucher upon ..read more

WASHINGTON —Micaela F. Bayard, MD, spoke with Healio about the management of steroids and how this topic was covered at ACR Convergence 2024. According to Bayard, a rheumatologist at Mount Sinai and assistant professor of rheumatology at The Icahn School of Medicine, the discussion surrounding steroids and rheumatoid arthritis centered on the damage patients sustain from their use. This is something well known by rheumatologists and why treatment focuses on a targeted approach to symptoms, flares and remission. “The important discussions that happened were how do we really start to ..read more

WASHINGTON — In this video, Micaela F. Bayard, MD, highlights a conversation on the evolution of biosimilars from ACR Convergence 2024. “This is a newer space for rheumatologists to navigate,” said Bayard, rheumatologist at Mount Sinai and assistant professor of rheumatology at The Icahn School of Medicine. “It’s bringing up some really important conversations ..read more

WASHINGTON — The novel CD40L inhibitor dapirolizumab pegol bested placebo in multiple systemic lupus erythematosus outcomes, including disease activity and steroid tapering, at 48 weeks, according to data presented at ACR Convergence 2024. “Dapirolizumab pegol, or DZP, has broad immunomodulatory effects,” Megan Clowse, MD, MPH, of the division of rheumatology and immunology at Duke University, told attendees. “It reduces B- and T-cell activation and downregulates interferon pathways.” Clowse presented findings of the phase 3 PHOENYCS GO trial, 48-week, randomized ..read more

Johnson & Johnson has submitted two supplemental biologics license applications to the FDA for Tremfya for the treatment of plaque psoriasis and juvenile psoriatic arthritis in children, the company announced in a press release. The submissions outline that Tremfya (guselkumab, Johnson & Johnson), an interleukin-23 inhibitor, would treat moderate to severe plaque psoriasis in children aged at least 6 years and active juvenile psoriatic arthritis in children aged at least 5 years. “There is a critical gap in the treatment of children and adolescents with these skin and joint ..read more

WASHINGTON — In this video, Jeffrey A. Sparks, MD, MMSc, spotlights a study evaluating the impact of remote monitoring of rheumatoid arthritis. The data were presented at ACR Convergence 2024. “I think it opens a whole new avenue about how to monitor and manage our patients, particularly as the work of rheumatology becomes limited,” Sparks, an associate professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School and an associate program director of the Rheumatology Fellowship, director of Immuno-Oncology and Autoimmunity and director of the Joint Biology Consortium Human Biosamples Core ..read more