Ashraf Malhas, PhD,  —

A pilot study will investigate how Cosentyx (secukinumab), which has been approved for some autoimmune disorders, affects bone health in patients with ankylosing spondylitis (AS). The upcoming study — titled “The Effects of Secukinumab on Bone Health and Metabolism” — is currently recruiting and will look at the effects of Cosentyx…

The European Medicines Agency’s Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP) has recommended the approval of Hulio, a biosimilar to Humira, for the treatment of a number of chronic inflammatory diseases including ankylosing spondylitis. A final decision by the European Commission is expected in October. If approved, the agency would grant marketing authorization…

Women, compared to men, have a reduced response to certain ankylosing spondylitis treatments, a study has found. The study “Response to Tumor Necrosis Factor Inhibition in Male and Female Patients with Ankylosing Spondylitis: Data from a Swiss Cohort” was published in the Journal of Rheumatology. While ankylosing spondylitis has…

Ankylosing spondylitis patients receiving secukinumab should be monitored and switched to other options if they begin to develop digestive symptoms, a study suggests. Secukinumab (trade name Cosentyx) is a human anti-interleukin-17 monoclonal antibody that inhibits interleukin 17A, a molecule produced mainly by inflammatory cells of the immune system that promotes inflammation. The U.S. Food and Drug…

The risk of developing ankylosing spondylitis is significantly higher following past episodes of anterior uveitis, a type of eye inflammation, according to researchers. This finding emphasizes the importance of a multidisciplinary approach in the diagnosis and management of ankylosing spondylitis (AS). The study, “Recurrent anterior uveitis and subsequent incidence of ankylosing…

Ankylosing spondylitis (AS) patients must be screened for certain cancers due to their higher risk, a study from Taiwan warns. The study, “Ankylosing spondylitis and the risk of cancer,” appeared in the journal Oncology Letters. It aimed to assess whether AS is associated with an increased cancer risk.

A meta-analysis of studies on ankylosing spondylitis found a link between a mutation in the Mediterranean fever (MEFV) gene and AS. AS is a chronic inflammatory disease that is fairly common around the world. Its incidence ranges from 7.4-31.9 per 10,000 people, depending on the region. The main symptoms…