Top in rheumatology: COVID-19 vaccine boosters, Sandoz's appeal for Enbrel biosimilar

During a recent event hosted by the Rheumatology Research Foundation, Jeffrey R. Curtis, MD, MS, MPH, said that COVID-19 vaccine boosters could potentially become common among immunocompromised patients.

Curtis, who is chair of the American College of Rheumatology COVID-19 Vaccine Clinical Guidance Task Force, also said that certain rheumatic drugs may have the potential to reduce the effectiveness of the COVID-19 vaccine, including rituximab (Rituxan, Genentech) and mycophenolate. A review of his presentation was the top story in rheumatology last week.

In other news, the U.S. Supreme Court has denied a petition from Novartis’ Sandoz that requested the court review an earlier appeals court ruling that has blocked its etanercept biosimilar from entering the U.S. market on the grounds of patent infringement.

Read these and more top stories in rheumatology below:

COVID-19 vaccine boosters ‘likely’ needed for immunosuppressed population

Patients who are immunosuppressed will “likely” need regular COVID-19 vaccine boosters in the future, according to Curtis. Read more.

Supreme Court declines to hear Sandoz's appeal for Enbrel biosimilar, upholds Amgen patent

The U.S. Supreme Court has denied a petition from Sandoz to review an earlier U.S. appeals court ruling in favor of Amgen’s etanercept against etanercept-szzs, effectively blocking the biosimilar from entering the U.S. market. Read more.

Widespread unaddressed arthritis pain prompts physicians to 'rethink the conversation'

Findings from the Live Yes! INSIGHTS survey from the Arthritis Foundation showed that out of some 40,000 patient responses, 100% reported experiencing some kind of pain within the last 7 days. Read more.

Missing link: Lingering questions at the intersection of COVID-19 and autoimmunity

While there are few certainties when it comes to COVID-19, an indisputable body of data shows that individuals who acquire the virus produce a significant number of autoantibodies. Read more.

Increased systemic inflammation linked to symptomatic COVID-19

Although the seroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2 in patients with immune-mediated inflammatory diseases is comparable to the general population, increased systemic inflammation among these patients is linked to symptomatic COVID-19, according to researchers. Read more.