News

Bimekizumab Now Under Review in Europe for Axial Spondyloarthritis

The European Medicines Agency has agreed to review UCB’s applications seeking the approval of bimekizumab for adults with active axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA). Axial spondyloarthritis is a type of inflammatory arthritis affecting the joints of the spine, chest, and pelvis. Ankylosing spondylitis (AS) is a severe type of axSpA,…

TNF Inhibitor Side Effects Occur at Similar Rates in Rheumatic Diseases

Side effects to anti-TNF therapies are as common and similar among people with ankylosing spondylitis as they are among other rheumatic diseases, a new study indicates. The study, “Disease-specific ADRs of TNF-[alpha] inhibitors as reported by patients with inflammatory rheumatic diseases: a registry-based prospective multicenter cohort study,” was…

AS Led to Rare Ankle, Foot Bone Fusion for Man, 69: Case Study

Ankylosing spondylitis (AS) led to bone formation that resulted in the rare complete fusion of ankle and foot bones in a 69-year-old man, a case study reported. His AS was discovered only after hospitalization for kidney problems and an examination for gout. The researchers suggested the terminology “boot sign”…

Blood Levels of GM-CSF Rise With Disease Activity in AS Patients

High levels of the pro-inflammatory molecule GM-CSF were found in the bloodstream of people with active ankylosing spondylitis (AS) and strongly correlated with disease activity, a pilot study suggested. Despite helping to lower disease activity, anti-TNF therapies did not affect GM-SCF levels. As such, GM-SCF may represent a…

Study’s Machine-learning Algorithm Could Help Diagnose AS Sooner

A new algorithm based on artificial intelligence (AI) could help clinicians reach an earlier diagnosis of akylosing spondylitis (AS), a study found. Using only demographic and clinical data derived from standard blood tests, the method does not require more costly and less widely available imaging techniques, researchers say. The algorithm…

FDA Approves Higher Concentration of Hadlima, a Humira Biosimilar

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved a new, more highly concentrated formulation of Hadlima (adalimumab-bwwd), a biosimilar to AbbVie’s Humira (adalimumab), for the treatment of ankylosing spondylitis. As a biosimilar, Hadlima has similar properties, safety, and efficacy to an approved biological treatment, in this…