Psoriatic Arthritis

The FDA has approved AbbVie’s risankizumab-rzaa for the treatment of adults with active psoriatic arthritis, expanding its initial indication from plaque psoriasis only.

Psoriatic arthritis patients treated with Bimzelx showed a greater improvement from baseline than those treated with placebo in a phase 3 trial, UCB announced in a company press release.

Approximately 61% of patients with rheumatoid arthritis or psoriatic arthritis who use methotrexate report side effects following weekly dosing, including fatigue and nausea, according to data published in Rheumatology and Therapy.

Later diagnosis of psoriatic arthritis can considerably alter disease trajectory, but the disease’s subtle presentation poses a challenge to clinicians diagnosing it, according to Christopher Ritchlin, MD, MPH, professor and chief of allergy, immunology and rheumatology and director of the clinical immunology research unit at University of Rochester Medical Center.

Though sometimes complex, treat-to-target strategies for psoriatic arthritis can lead to lower symptom states, better physical functionality and less structural damage to joints, according to Philip Mease, MD, a clinical professor at the University of Washington School of Medicine and Director of rheumatology research at the Swedish Medical Center in Seattle.

Patients with rheumatoid arthritis, but not psoriatic arthritis or ulcerative colitis, are at a greater risk for severe or critical COVID-19 versus those with COVID-19 alone, according to data published in The Journal of Rheumatology.

In October, Boehringer Ingelheim’s adalimumab-adbm secured a landmark FDA approval as the first interchangeable biosimilar to AbbVie’s blockbuster drug, Humira — but, as rivals scramble for second place, will the designation be worth the price?

Dactylitis indicates a more severe disease phenotype independently linked to increased disease burden, with greater bone erosion, in early DMARD-naïve psoriatic arthritis, according to data published in the Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases.

The FDA has approved secukinumab for the treatment of active psoriatic arthritis in patients aged 2 years and older, and for active enthesitis-related arthritis in those aged 4 years and older.

The rheumatology community is looking for ways to protect immunocompromised patients amidst low COVID-19 vaccination rates and poor vaccine response among vulnerable individuals. It was the top story in rheumatology this week.