In a systematic literature review, researchers found that rheumatoid arthritis patients taking etanercept were less likely to discontinue their treatment than patients using any of five other tumor necrosis factor inhibitors…
NEW YORK (Reuters)—Novartis AG, Merck & Co Inc. and Allergan Plc. were among companies that raised U.S. prices on more than 100 prescription medicines on Jan. 4, bringing the tally to 445 drugs that will cost more in 2020, according to data analyzed by healthcare research firm 3 Axis Advisors. That is above the average…
NEW YORK (Reuters Health)—The risk of malignancy in patients with systemic necrotizing vasculitis varies according to the treatment received, according to an analysis of five randomized controlled trials. Previous studies reported an increased risk of malignancy in patients with systemic necrotizing vasculitis, and a more recent study from the European Vasculitis Study Group, based on…
(Reuters Health)—U.S. insurers and providers spent more than $800 billion in 2017 on administration, or nearly $2,500 per person—more than four times the per-capita administrative costs in Canada’s single-payer system, a new study finds. Over one-third of all healthcare costs in the U.S. were due to insurance company overhead and provider time spent on billing,…
In the new year, ACR advocacy staff will be working to advance bills to reform step therapy, prior authorization and more in state legislatures across the country.
NEW YORK (Reuters Health)—New European League Against Rheumatism/American College of Rheumatology (EULAR/ACR) classification criteria can be used to identify patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) in an unselected group of patients hospitalized for pericardial effusion, new findings show.1 “Overall, in patients with pericardial effusion and positive ANA, the diagnosis of SLE could be ruled out…
(Reuters Health)—Young adults who have had knee injuries are much more likely than uninjured peers to develop knee osteoarthritis (OA) by middle age, especially if they have broken bones or torn connective tissue, a recent study suggests. Cruciate ligament injuries were associated with a 19.6% greater risk of knee osteoarthritis, the study found. Meniscal tears…
In a phase 3 study, ixekizumab proved safe and effective for improving the signs and symptoms of non-radiographic axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA) in combination with conventional background medications, such as NSAIDs…