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Half a year has gone by since disgraced pharma executive Martin Shkreli was sentenced to seven years in federal prison for securities and wire fraud while heading San Diego-based Retrophin. As founder and CEO of another company (then known as Turing Pharmaceuticals), in late 2015 Shkreli bought the rights…

Risk factors of new spinal bone formation in patients with ankylosing spondylitis (AS) partially differ between men and women, according to a five-year Swedish study. The study, “A five-year prospective study of spinal radiographic progression and its predictors in men and women with ankylosing spondylitis,”…

The European Commission (EU) has granted marketing authorization for Hulio, a biosimilar to Humira, for the treatment of a number of chronic inflammatory diseases including ankylosing spondylitis. According to the EC’s decision, Hulio will be available in the 28 EU member countries and three European Economic Area member states —…

Depression is prevalent among patients with axial spondyloarthritis and correlates with more severe disease activity, according to a detailed review of literature. The study, “The prevalence of depression in axial spondyloarthritis and its association with disease activity: a systematic review and meta-analysis,” was published in the…

More than 700 medical experts, pharmaceutical executives, patient advocates, and others are expected to converge on Washington, D.C., next month for the 2018 NORD Rare Diseases & Orphan Products Breakthrough Summit. The Oct. 15-16 event, sponsored by the National Organization for Rare Diseases (NORD), takes place at the…

TNF-α inhibitors have the potential to prevent heart disease among patients with ankylosing spondylitis (AS) by improving blood flow in small blood vessels, researchers suggest. Their study, “Microvascular dysfunction in ankylosing spondylitis is associated with disease activity and is improved by anti-TNF treatment,” was published in the…

Poorer heart and lung function appears to be related to an increased risk of cardiovascular disease in people with ankylosing spondylitis, reported a study that suggested more aerobic exercises might be a way of improving patients’ cardiovascular fitness. The research, “Association between cardiorespiratory fitness and arterial stiffness in ankylosing…

Filgotinib, an investigational therapy for ankylosing spondylitis, was able to significantly reduce disease activity, according to recent Phase 2 study results announced by Gilead Sciences and Galapagos biotech companies. The TORTUGA trial reached its primary efficacy endpoint,…

Patients with ankylosing spondylitis have differences in the diversity of the fungi and bacterial populations that reside in the gut compared with healthy individuals, a study shows. The study, “Altered Bacteria-Fungi Inter-Kingdom Network in Gut of Ankylosing Spondylitis Patients,” was published in the journal bioRxiv. While the…

Anti-TNF therapy and other biologics — often used for the treatment of inflammatory arthritis — partially protect ankylosing spondylitis patients from heart disease, according to Australian researchers. Their study, “Biologics and cardiovascular events in inflammatory arthritis: a prospective national cohort study,” was published the journal Arthritis Research…