Exclusive: ACR Convergence 2024| Focus Rheums

An official publication of the ACR and the ARP serving rheumatologists and rheumatology professionals

Mycophenolate Sodium Effective for Chronic Noninfectious Pediatric Uveitis

Reuters Staff  |  

NEW YORK (Reuters Health)—Mycophenolate sodium (MPS) is effective for treating children with chronic noninfectious uveitis, researchers from Germany report. “Mycophenolate sodium could be used as a preferred steroid-sparing agent in children with chronic noninfectious intermediate uveitis,” Dr. Deshka Doycheva, from the University of Tuebingen, Germany, told Reuters Health by email. MPS is an enteric-coated formulation…

One-Year Data Shows Apremilast Effective in Severe Scalp, Nail Psoriasis

Reuters Staff  |  

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…

Idiopathic Lung Fibrosis—Check for ANCA

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New research recommends that doctors test the sera of patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis for anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies (ANCA), as well as closely monitor this population for signs of lung vasculitis…

2015 ACR Guideline for the Treatment of Rheumatoid Arthritis

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“Treat to target regardless of disease activity level” tops the list of recommendations for both early and established RA in the 2015 Guideline for the Treatment of Rheumatoid Arthritis. The guideline addresses six major topics, including DMARDs, glucocorticoids and biologics, and includes 74 recommendations. These recommendations are not prescriptive, and the treatment decisions should be made by physicians and patients together…

Five Charged in $600 million California Healthcare Fraud Scheme

Dan Whitcomb  |  

LOS ANGELES (Reuters)—The former chief financial officer of a California hospital and four other people have been charged in a series of health care kickback schemes that generated nearly $600 million in fraudulent billings for spinal surgeries, prosecutors said on Tuesday. All five defendants have agreed to cooperate in a wide-ranging federal investigation into the…

Pulse-Echo Ultrasound Useful for Osteoporosis Screening

Will Boggs, MD  |  

NEW YORK (Reuters Health)—Pulse-echo ultrasound is a useful method for point-of-care osteoporosis screening, researchers from Finland report. “To effectively increase diagnostic coverage, this kind of device should be in every primary or occupational healthcare unit,” Dr. Janne P. Karjalainen from the University of Eastern Finland in Kuopio tells Reuters Health by email. Currently, osteoporosis is…

Amgen Files for U.S. Approval of Biosimilar

Bill Berkrot  |  

(Reuters)—Amgen Inc. on Wednesday said it filed with U.S. health regulators seeking approval to sell its first biosimilar drug, which would be a less expensive alternative to AbbVie’s Humira (adalimumab), the world’s top-selling prescription medicine. Amgen said its drug, ABP 501, has demonstrated clinical equivalence and comparable safety to Humira in late stage clinical trials…

Docs & Patients Should Remember to Use Generics

Kathryn Doyle  |  

(Reuters Health)—Prescribing generic medicines instead of brand name drugs whenever possible cuts costs, improves patient adherence and improves health outcomes, according to a new recommendation from the American College of Physicians. “Generic medications are cheaper and patients are more likely to get those prescriptions filled,” says Dr. Amir Qaseem of the American College of Physicians,…

Pfizer to Buy Allergan in $160 Billion Deal

Ransdell Pierson & Bill Berkrot  |  

NEW YORK (Reuters)—Pfizer Inc. on Monday said it would buy Botox maker Allergan Plc. in a deal worth $160 billion to slash its U.S. tax bill, rekindling a fierce political debate over the financial maneuver. The acquisition, which would shift Pfizer’s headquarters to Ireland, would be the biggest-ever tax inversion. The news prompted Democratic presidential…