In July, the FDA approved the use of Octagam 10%, an intravenous immunoglobulin solution, to treat dermatomyositis in adults after an international study demonstrated the treatment’s safety and efficacy.
ACR Commends CMS Decision to Withdraw Most Favored Nation Payment Model for Part B Drugs
ATLANTA—The American College of Rheumatology (ACR) today applauded the U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services’ (CMS) decision to withdraw a proposed rule to implement the “Most Favored Nation” (MFN) payment model for Part B drugs. Leaders felt the policy would have dramatically disrupted patient access to critical therapies needed to manage rheumatic diseases and…
FDA’s Arthritis Advisory Committee Narrowly Endorses Avacopan Approval
On May 6, the U.S. Food & Drug Administration’s (FDA’s) Arthritis Advisory Committee narrowly voted in support of avacopan, a C5a receptor inhibitor, for the treatment of adult patients with anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (ANCA) associated vasculitis. Although the panelists were excited about the possibility of a steroid-sparing therapy, some raised questions about whether results from…
Colchicine: An Ancient Drug with Modern Uses
Discovered more than 3,000 years ago, colchicine is one of the oldest drugs still in use today. Like most old remedies, colchicine is a chemical substance found in many plants, most notably in colchicum autumnale, known as wild saffron or autumn crocus. It was mentioned in the oldest Egyptian medical text, Ebers Papyrus (circa 1550…
Therapeutic Drug Monitoring May Offer Little Benefit to Patient Remission Rates During Infliximab Induction Therapy
Although rheumatologists prescribe tumor necrosis factor inhibitors (TNFi’s) to treat several rheumatic diseases, they recognize immunogenicity influences the efficacy and safety of TNFi’s. Example: The formation of anti-drug antibodies can affect infusion reactions and cause low-serum drug levels and therapeutic failure. The induction phase is a period of high incidence of immunogenicity, and observational data…
Efficacy of Tocilizumab Monotherapy After Ultra-Short Glucocorticoid Administration in GCA
In a small study, patients with GCA maintained remission after receiving three days of treatment with methylprednisolone followed by tocilizumab.
Janus Kinase Inhibitors Promising for Difficult-to-Treat RA
In a study, Janus kinase inhibitors proved effective for patients with difficult-to-treat rheumatoid arthritis (RA).
AbbVie, Lilly Face New Delays in FDA Approval for Expanded Use of Janus Kinase Inhibitors
(Reuters)—AbbVie Inc. and ELi Lilly & Co. are facing fresh delays in the approval of their respective rheumatoid arthritis (RA) drugs for treating the chronic skin disease eczema as the U.S. health regulator assesses the new class of treatment over safety concerns. The treatment, called Janus kinase inhibitors (jakinibs), blocks inflammation-causing enzymes known as Janus…
CDC Advisers Consider Boosters for Immune-Compromised Americans
CHICAGO (Reuters)—Advisers to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control & Prevention will consider evidence suggesting that a booster dose of COVID-19 vaccines could increase protection among people with compromised immune systems. Data presented ahead of the July 22 meeting noted that people with compromised immune systems have a reduced antibody response following the recommended primary…
Executive Order Targets Prescription Drugs & Health Insurance to Promote Competition
On July 9, U.S. President Joe Biden issued an Executive Order designed to promote competition in the U.S. economy. The order includes 72 initiatives related to various aspects of the economy, including prescription drugs and health insurance.1 For prescription drugs, Americans pay more than 2.5 times as much for the same prescription drugs as patients…
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