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Lana Pine is the editor of HCPLive Rheumatology. She is an experienced editor and technical writer with a demonstrated history of working in the banking and publishing industries. In her free time, she enjoys cooking, yoga, listening to podcasts, and drawing. She can be reached via email at LPine@mjhlifesciences.com.

 month in review reflects ongoing efforts to address key challenges in rheumatic disease treatment, including the need for accessible therapies, cost-effective alternatives, and reliable clinical data to guide treatment decisions and optimize patient care.

Recent US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approvals of biosimilar versions of well-established monoclonal antibodies used to treat chronic autoimmune conditions highlight advancements in providing more accessible and affordable treatment options for patients, with biosimilars offering comparable efficacy and safety profiles to their reference products.

FDA Approves Biosimilar Ustekinumab-aekn for PsO, PsA

Alvotech and Teva announced the FDA approval of its ustekinumab (Stelara) biosimilar, ustekinumab-aekn (Selardsi), for the treatment of moderate to severe 

 in both adults and pediatric patients aged ≥ 6 years.

The biosimilar, a monoclonal antibody, binds to the cytokines interleukin (IL)-12 and IL-23, both of which are involved in treating immune-mediated diseases like PsO and PsA. It is expected to be marketed in the US on or after February 21, 2025.

Tocilizumab-aazg Officially Launches in the US for Chronic Autoimmune Diseases

The tocilizumab biosimilar, tocilizumab-aazg (Tyenne), became officially available in the US in April. The drug, which is Fresenius’ third FDA-approved biosimilar available in the US, is used for the treatment of chronic autoimmune diseases, including 

, systemic juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA), polyarticular juvenile idiopathic arthritis (PJIA), and giant cell arteritis.

First achieving FDA approval on March 5, 2024, it is the first focilizumab biosimilar with both intravenous and subcutaneous approved formulations.

Legislation Increases Awareness, Optimism

Increasing Legislative Changes May Mark Turning Point in US Biosimilar Adoption

As biosimilars are a market-based solution to help with the affordability of specialty drugs in the US—in particular adalimumab in the rheumatic space—there is a real opportunity for patients to be part of the savings.

Despite the many challenges, there is hope surrounding the commitment of biosimilar developers to offer cost-effective options, with efforts underway to circumvent pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) and increase patient access.

For example, in October 2023, the Department of Health and Human Services (HSS) Secretary Xavier Becerra released a statement regarding the approval of ustekinumab-auub, an interchangeable biosimilar, for the treatment of inflammatory diseases. Additionally, the introduction of the Inflation Reduction Act helped to encourage competition within the market by removing some of the barriers that were blocking biosimilars and generic drugs from entering the market.

Further, in 2021, US senators Michael Bennet and John Cornyn introduced the Increasing Access to Biosimilars Act, which aimed to increase the availability of biosimilar biological products under the Medicare program.

Efficacy of Biosimilars in Treating Rheumatic Disease

This month’s articles collectively showcase significant advancements in the field of rheumatology and autoimmune disease management through the development and evaluation of biosimilar medications and highlight their potential to enhance patient outcomes and treatment accessibility.

Proposed Golimumab Biosimilar AVT05 Meets Primary Endpoints in Moderate to Severe RA

Alvotech’s proposed golimumab biosimilar, AVT05, met its primary endpoints in a confirmatory clinical study evaluating the biosimilar for the treatment of moderate to severe RA.

Results were derived from a randomized, double-blind, 2-arm, multicenter confirmatory clinical study, AVT05-GL-C01, which evaluated the safety, efficacy, and immunogenicity between the proposed biosimilar and reference drug in patients with moderate to severe RA. The primary endpoint was the change from baseline to week 16 in Disease Activity Score-28 for Rheumatoid Arthritis with C-reactive protein (DAS28-CRP).

“We are delighted at passing yet another clinical milestone in our pipeline,” Robert Wessman, Chairman and CEO of Alvotech, said in a statement. “We intend to file marketing applications for AVT05 in major global markets this year, which adds to the continued diversification of our portfolio and further demonstrates the capabilities of our biosimilar-dedicated platform.”

Secukinumab and Sandoz Adalimumab Have Similar Outcomes When Treating r-axSpA

Separate trials for secukinumab and Sandoz adalimumab showed the treatments can improve symptoms of r-axSpA and both were linked to low rates of radiographic progression. Secukinumab and Sandoz adalimumab are both approved by the FDA to treat r-axSpA. However, the 2 treatments were never compared to see which one had a lower rate of radiographic progression.

The new SURPASS study found patients with radiographic axial spondyloarthritis (r-axSpA) treated with secukinumab (IL-17A inhibitor) and the biosimilar Sandoz adalimumab (SDZ-ADL; TNF inhibitor) had no significant differences in the effectiveness of the treatment.

IFX-dyyb Boosts Rheumatoid Arthritis Outcomes in 6 Months

A recent study evaluating IFX-dyyb, an infliximab biosimilar, in patients with RA revealed promising outcomes, with notable improvements in disease activity and patient-reported outcomes observed over 6 months, particularly among those switching from non-IFX biologic/ts disease-modifying antirheumatic drug (b/tsDMARD) or b/tsDMARD-naïve patients. These improvements stayed the same for patients switching from IFX-REF/IFX biosimilar.

“The present study provides data that are reflective of situations in clinical practice, where patients may switch to a biosimilar from the originator or from other biologic DMARDs or tsDMARDs,” wrote investigators, led by Joshua F. Baker, MD, MSCE, from the University of Pennsylvania. “Our findings suggest that outcomes at 6 months with IFX-dyyb treatment in the real-world setting are comparable with efficacy outcomes in clinical trials.”

Articles

The biosimilars month in review reflects ongoing efforts to address key challenges in rheumatic disease treatment.

News

news page, resources on the topics of disease- and specialty-specific medical news and expert insight can be found. Content includes articles, interviews, videos, podcasts, and breaking news on health care research, treatment, and drug development.

Clinical

clinical page is a resource for content on every specialty, disease, and topic available on our medical news site.

Biosimilars

Biosimilars Month in Review: April 2024

Connor Iapoce is an associate editor for 

 and joined the MJH Life Sciences team in April 2021. He graduated from The College of New Jersey with a degree in Journalism and Professional Writing. He enjoys listening to records, going to concerts, and playing with his cat Squish. You can reach him at 

 focuses on the latest in digital technology use, the connection between visual impairment and mental health, and cross-specialty public health interest in eye care.

This review showcases the nearly “expert-level” performance of ChatGPT-4, a large language model (LLM) in an ophthalmology examination, the low use of digital technology among older adults with vision issues, and adults with strabismus being more likely to experience anxiety and depression. In addition, the review breaks down the risk of suicidal tendencies linked to visual impairment, the COVID-19 vaccine's impact on uveitis recurrence, and the geographic distribution of pediatric eye care specialists across the United States.

GPT-4 Nears 'Expert-Level' Performance in Ophthalmology Examination

State-of-the-art large language models (LLMs), including ChatGPT-4, are nearing expert-level clinical knowledge and reasoning in ophthalmology, based on a head-to-head cross-sectional analysis.

GPT-4 exhibited a pass-worthy performance on the mock ophthalmological examination, performing well against expert ophthalmologists and specialty trainees, but top-performing doctors remained superior in the knowledge examination.

“The models could follow clear algorithms already in use, and we’ve found GPT-4 is as good as expert clinicians at processing eye symptoms and signs to answer more complicated questions,” lead study author Arun J. Thirunavukarasu, MB BChir, explained in a statement.

Older Adults with Vision Issues Report Lower Digital Technology Use

Recent cross-sectional research identified an unbalanced divide in the use and knowledge of digital health technology between older adults with and without vision impairment in the United States. Those without vision impairment showed a reduced likelihood of digital technology access, indicating the importance of education and proper technology use, to increase the equitable use of telemedicine.

“Approximately 30% of Americans 71 years or older have vision impairment, and as the US population continues to age, it is crucial to identify trends in use patterns among older adults with disabilities that could further prevent them from engaging with telehealth,” investigators wrote.

Adults with Strabismus More Likely to Experience Mental Health Conditions

Adults with strabismus were more likely to experience mental health conditions than those without eye misalignment, across a diverse and nationwide cohort in the US. Those with strabismus were 2 to 3 times more likely to exhibit mental health conditions, including anxiety and depression.

“Clinicians caring for patients with strabismus should be aware of the prevalence of mental health conditions–especially among individuals from historically marginalized and socioeconomically disadvantaged backgrounds,” investigators wrote.

Visual Impairment Associated with Heightened Risk of Suicidal Tendencies

A systematic review and meta-analysis identified a notable association between visual impairment and a raised risk of suicidal ideation, suicidal behavior, and suicide death. Across more than 30 studies, and involving nearly 6 million people, the study showed the association was particularly pronounced among adolescents reporting vision issues.

“This finding emphasizes the importance of eye health to overall mental well-being. It is recommended that clinicians remain attentive to the elevated risk and be ready to implement suitable suicide prevention measures when required, especially when dealing with adolescents,” investigators wrote.

COVID-19 Vaccination May Raise Risk of Uveitis Recurrence

A new cohort study supported an association between COVID-19 vaccination and uveitis, a rare inflammatory eye condition, with both vaccine type and post-vaccination period mediating the risk. The incidence of uveitis was 8.6% and 16.8% during the 3-month and 1-year periods after COVID-19 vaccinations, suggesting more than half of these incidences occurred soon after the immunization.

“The results emphasize the importance of vigilance and monitoring for uveitis in the context of vaccinations, including COVID-19 vaccinations, particularly in individuals with a history of uveitis,” investigators wrote.

Geographic Disparities Persist in Access to Pediatric Eye Care in US

A look into geographic disparities in pediatric eye care access revealed substantial overlap between the distribution of pediatric optometrists and pediatric ophthalmologists across the US in 2023.

The percentage of countries without pediatric ophthalmologists (90.2%) remained unchanged since 2022, but 93.5% of counties lacked pediatric optometrists in 2023. Distribution data showed nearly twice the number of pediatric ophthalmologists than pediatric optometrists in the US, influenced by demographic factors, such as socioeconomic status.

This month's review focuses on digital technology use in ophthalmology, the association between vision impairment and mental health, and public health impacts in eye care.

Ophthalmology

Ophthalmology page, resources on the topics of medical news and expert insight into ophthalmic disease can be found. Content includes articles, interviews, videos, podcasts, and breaking news on eye disease research, treatment, and drug development.

Age-Related Macular Degeneration

age-related macular degeneration condition center page is a comprehensive resource for clinical news and insights on retina disease. This page consists of interviews, articles, podcasts, and videos on the research, treatment and development of therapies for patients with AMD.

Diabetic Macular Edema

The HCPLive diabetic macular edema page is a comprehensive resource for clinical news and insights on DME. This page consists of interviews, articles, podcasts, and videos on the research, treatment and development of therapies for the leading cause of blindness, and more.

Ophthalmology Month in Review: April 2024

Tim Smith joined the MJH Life Sciences team as an assistant editor for HCPLive in August 2022. He graduated from UC Berkeley with a degree in political science, working in multimedia journalism as a staff writer prior to joining MJH. In his spare time, he enjoys reading, watching TV, listening to podcasts, and rock climbing. You can contact him at 

Around 32% of Americans report believing that a tan enhances one's appearance and health, according to a recent national survey, in addition to similar views on other sun protection myths than may promote behaviors which increase rates of 

The findings also indicated that about 14% of adults under 35 viewed sunscreen usage each day as being more detrimental to one’s skin than direct sun exposure. These findings and others were the results of a national survey conducted by the Orlando Health Cancer Institute.

“There is no such thing as a healthy tan, as it’s really just a visual manifestation of damage to the skin,” said Rajesh Nair, MD, an Orlando Health Cancer Institute oncology surgeon, said in a statement. “But we’re fighting against a perceived positive image and health benefits of something that actually has a totally opposite reality, which is that suntanned skin represents an increased risk of a deadly disease.”

The research was carried out by Ipsos and facilitated by the Orlando Health Cancer Institute, with the survey being conducted online in the US in the timeframe between March 22 - March 24, 2024. Orlando Health is a prominent healthcare organization which is based out of Orlando, Florida, organizing the survey due to its commitment to the advancement of health knowledge and public health awareness.

This survey of US adults aged 18 years and older polled 1,021 such adults, forming a nationally representative sample. The population sample had a margin of error of plus or minus 3.3 percentage points and a 95% confidence level (CI).

The investigators found that in the results of this nationally-representative survey, there was an observable tendency of younger adults to embrace what were determined to be misconceptions about protection against sun exposure. This was noted as potentially diverting these individuals from established methods of skin cancer prevention.

“We have really hectic and busy lives, and we're trying to find information to guide us on healthy choices and decision-making to the best of our ability,” Nair expressed in his statement. “But the overwhelming number of people and organizations claiming to have the right answers makes it really hard to know what to believe.”

In addition to the survey’s findings that 32% of survey respondents believed in a tan positively impacting health and 14% of those under 35 believed daily sunscreen to be more detrimental than direct sun exposure, the investigators also reported that around a quarter of respondents (23%) were found to have believed that remaining hydrated with water had the potential to prevent sunburns.

Nair noted the lack of data indicating any type of sun protection from simply staying hydrated. He added that the protective attributes of sunscreens far outweigh the known risks, noting that if concerns about chemicals remain then individuals have the option to use mineral sunscreens such as zinc oxide and have proven to be safe.

The navigation of reliable data and potential misinformation in today’s world is an activity that is well-known and increasingly difficult to many. Such challenges were exemplified by Brianna Starr, an American 29 years of age, who noted that social media trends frequently influence peoples’ overall perceptions of health advice.

The opinions of Starr had generally shifted towards ensuring adequate protection of her skin from sun exposure following her sister’s surprising diagnosis of melanoma at the young age of 19. This diagnosis was noted as having led to Starr’s adoption of rigorous sunscreen practices and generally advocacy of frequent screenings for skin cancer through the help of health experts.

Given reports of COVID-19 pandemic lockdowns and their association with 

, as well as reports from Europe of an estimated 111,464 years of life, melanoma prevention strategies are a practice many are considering more and more necessary within the current healthcare landscape.

Survey finds young adults more likely to believe myths about sun protection and skin cancer prevention. Orlando Health. May 1, 2024. https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/1042452. Date accessed: May 2, 2024.

Smith T. Melanoma Screening Delays During Lockdowns Linked to Deaths, Significant Economic Cost. HCPLive. February 28, 2024. https://www.hcplive.com/view/melanoma-screening-delays-during-lockdowns-linked-to-deaths-significant-economic-cost. May 2, 2024.

These survey results indicate that young adults tended to embrace misconceptions regarding sun protection and positive views of tanning.

Dermatology

The HCPLive dermatology page is a resource for medical news and expert insights on skin disease. This page features expert-led coverage, articles, videos and research on the therapies and development of treatments for dermatologic conditions, and more.

Young Adults More Likely to Believe Myths Related to Tanning, Sun Protection, Skin Cancer

have a high reliance on opioids a year before and after their rheumatic disease diagnosis, according to a new study.

“These findings suggest that patients are still experiencing pain, and the peak in opioid use leading up to diagnosis suggests that this pain may be due to these diseases,” wrote investigators, led by Anna Sheahan, PhD, from UCB Pharma.

However, opioids are not recommended to treat rheumatic diseases. Rather, the United States treatment guidelines recommend conventional synthetic and biologic disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (csDMARDS/bDMARDs) to ease the pain.

Although people might think opioids will make them feel better, they may do the opposite. Opioid use among patients with AS is linked to worse patient-reported outcomes, such as depression, Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Index, and Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Functional Index. For patients with RA, opioid use is associated with reduced efficacy of csDMARDS and greater safety concerns. As a result, patients with RA who use opioids can delay the start of appropriate treatment.

Not only that, but opioid use is associated with heightened mortality rates, elevated healthcare expenses, increased dependency on family support, and diminished productivity.

Investigators conducted a retrospective cohort study aiming to describe patient’s opioid usage in the year before and following a new diagnosis of AS (n = 5769), PsA (n = 10,880), and RA (n = 91,722), compared to controls without these diseases.

 They leveraged US IBM MarketScan Commercial Claims and Encounters (CCAE) and Medicaid data to create 3 cohorts: incident cases of AS, PsA, or RA (2010 – 2017). Each patient was matched with 3 comparators who did not have incident disease based on birth year, sex, calendar year of index, region, and insurance plan type.

The team evaluated opioid use and appropriate treatment exposure according to US guideline recommendations in the 12-month baseline and follow-up periods using descriptive analyses. They assessed opioid use by frequency (total and quarterly) and cumulative duration (chronic and long-term). Long-term opioid use was defined as ≥ 1 opioid claim in ≥ 3 quarters, and chronic opioid use was considered a cumulative supply of ≥ 90 days in the studied period.

In the analysis, investigators also considered the comorbidities of depression, anxiety, fatigue, and fibromyalgia.

Overall, patients with an incident disease had a greater prevalence of opioid claims opioids than the comparators. Prevalence ratios for chronic opioid use in the follow-up were greater for patients with AS (3.82; 95% confidence interval [CI], 3.51 – 4.15), PsA (2.41; 95% CI, 2.25 – 2.58), and RA (3.22; 95% CI, 3.15 – 3.28), compared to comparators.

The prevalence ratios for long-term opioid use in the follow-up were also greater for AS (3.51; 95% CI, 3.25 – 3.79), PsA (2.25; 95% CI, 2.11 – 2.40), and RA (2.99; 95% CI, 2.94 – 3.05) than comparators.

A sub-analysis found opioid use in the follow-up was similar in females and males for AS and RA, but for PsA, females were more likely to receive opioids than males (40.4% vs 32.1%)

Investigators found 36.4% of patients with AS, 29.5% with PsA, and 44.4% with RA did not have any claim for guideline-appropriate therapy in follow-up. For those with Medicaid—which included 337 patients with AS, 530 with PsA, and 7369 with RA—30.6% of patients with AS, 36.6% with PsA, and 65.4% with RA did not have any claim for guideline-appropriate therapy in follow-up.

The results suggest patients with AS, PsA, or PsA have a high reliance on opioids around the time of diagnosis, and many people were not on appropriate treatment as defined by professional post-diagnosis guidelines.

“These findings indicate that opioid use for management of pain associated with AS, PsA, or RA is highly prevalent in the US and continues after diagnosis,” investigators concluded. “Reliance on opioids for pain management has been associated with substantial societal costs such as diversion, overdose, and addiction. Opioids are not recommended for chronic use, nor as treatment for inflammatory arthritides.”

Sheahan A, Anjohrin S, Suruki R, Stark JL, Sloan VS. Opioid use surrounding diagnosis and follow-up in patients with ankylosing spondylitis, psoriatic arthritis, and rheumatoid arthritis: Results from US claims databases. 

. Published online April 25, 2024. doi:10.1007/s10067-024-06945-0

Beaulieu E, DiGennaro C, Stringfellow E, et al. Economic Evaluation in Opioid Modeling: Systematic Review. 

. 2021;24(2):158-173. doi:10.1016/j.jval.2020.07.013

Patients often rely on opioids a year before and a year after a diagnosis of ankylosing spondylitis, psoriatic arthritis, or rheumatoid arthritis.

Psoriatic Arthritis

On the HCPLive psoriatic arthritis page, resources on the topics of medical news and expert insight into PsA can be found. Content includes articles, interviews, videos, podcasts, and breaking news on arthritis, and more.

Patients with new AS, PSA, RA Diagnosis Have High Reliance on Opioids

Abigail Brooks is an assistant editor for 

She joined MJH Life Sciences in August 2023 shortly after graduating from Monmouth University where she earned her BA in Communication with a concentration in Public Relations/Journalism and later an MA in Interactive Digital Media. She enjoys traveling, running, and reading books. She can be reached at abrooks@mjhlifesciences.com.

Findings from a recent study are providing insight into the potential protective effect of metformin and statins for reducing hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) risk among patients with chronic 

 using statins who failed HCV interferon-based therapy had a lower risk of developing HCC.

The most common type of primary liver cancer, HCC occurs most frequently in people with chronic liver diseases, including cirrhosis caused by HCV infection.

 Although direct-acting antivirals (DAAs) can cure more than 95% of HCV cases, some patients do not respond to treatment and remain susceptible to health risks posed by their infection.

“Although the chemopreventive effects of metformin in patients with diabetes and statins in patients with hyperlipidemia reduce the risk of HCC in patients with CHC, which has been proven after achieving SVR, the impact on HCC risk reduction remains unclear in patients with CHC who have failed antiviral therapy,” Pei-Chien Tsai, of the department of internal medicine at Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital in Taiwan, and colleagues wrote.

To investigate the effects of metformin and statins on HCC risk, investigators collected data from the Taiwanese Chronic Hepatitis C Cohort (T-COACH) for patients ≥ 20 years of age who were diagnosed with chronic HCV through liver histology or by testing positive for anti-HCV or HCV RNA for > 6 months and had undergone antiviral interferon-based therapy for ≥ 4 weeks. The final analysis included 2779 patients.

Investigators classified patients as having diabetes if they had a history of diabetes on treatment with oral hypoglycemic agents with or without insulin, fasting glucose ≥ 126 mg/dL, or 2-hr plasma glucose ≥ 200 mg/dL. Patients who had taken metformin for ≥ 84 days were considered metformin users.

Participants were considered to have hyperlipidemia if they had a history of hyperlipidemia and used medication. Diagnosed hyperlipidemia statin users were defined as patients with a hyperlipidemia diagnosis who had taken statins for ≥ 84 days.

New-onset HCC was defined as HCC occurring in patients 1.5 years after the end of antiviral treatment, with follow-up continuing until HCC occurrence, death, liver transplantation, or the end of the study period on December 31, 2019.

Among the entire study population, the mean age was 56.1 years, 52.7% of patients were female, and 63.1% were infected with HCV genotype 1. Additionally, 22.3% of patients had diabetes and 21.8% had hyperlipidemia. Among the patients with diabetes, 53.5% were metformin users. Among patients with hyperlipidemia, 82.5% were statin users.

Overall, 238 (8.6%) patients died before the development of HCC and 480 (17.3%) developed new-onset HCC during a total of 18,668 person-years of follow-up. The annual incidence of HCC was 257.1 cases per 10,000 person-years.

Investigators noted HCC risk was significantly greater among metformin non-users than in metformin users (adjusted sub-distribution hazard ratio [aSHR], 1.59; 95% CI, 1.07-2.36; 

 = .022) and in patients without diabetes (aSHR, 1.51; 95% CI, 1.12-2.04; 

 = .007). However, there was no difference in HCC risk between metformin users and patients without diabetes (aSHR, 1.05; 95% CI, 0.76-1.44; 

Additionally, investigators pointed out patients with hyperlipidemia using statins had a significantly lower HCC risk than patients without hyperlipidemia (3.8% vs 12.5%; aSHR, 0.50; P <.001), but there was no difference compared to patients who were statin non-users.

Of note, the unfavorable effect of non-metformin use on HCC risk was primarily observed among patients without cirrhosis. However, the favorable effect of statins for reduced risk of HCC was present in patients with and without cirrhosis.

Investigators were careful to outline several potential limitations to these findings, pertaining mainly to the lack of consideration for specific details about metformin and statin use, no differentiation between the effects of lipophilic and hydrophilic statins, potential influence of other oral hypoglycemic agents, and inability to account for differences in interferon preparations.

“Our research offers significant insights in the era of DAAs for a small subset of patients who do not achieve SVR with DAAs, are non-compliant with treatment, or have contraindications to DAAs,” investigators concluded.1 “Additionally, this study on the chemopreventive effects of metformin and statins on HCC risk could serve as a benchmark for future research on the long-term risk of HCC among HCV patients and other patients with active liver diseases.”

Tsai PC, Huang CF, Yeh ML, et al. Metformin and statins reduce hepatocellular carcinoma risk in chronic hepatitis C patients with failed antiviral therapy. Clin Mol Hepatol. doi:https://doi.org/10.3350/cmh.2024.0038

Mayo Clinic. Liver Cancer. Diseases & Conditions. April 28, 2023. Accessed May 2, 2024. 

https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/hepatocellular-carcinoma/cdc-20354552

World Health Organization. Hepatitis C. Newsroom. April 9, 2024. Accessed May 2, 2024. 

https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/hepatitis-c

Findings suggest metformin and statins have a potective effect against HCC in patients with HCV who fail antiviral therapy.

Hepatitis C

Hepatitis C page, resources on the topics of medical news and expert insight into HCV can be found. Content includes articles, interviews, videos, podcasts, and breaking news on hepatitis C virus research, treatment, and drug development.

Hepatology

Metformin, Statins May Reduce Hepatocellular Carcinoma Risk After HCV Treatment Failure

Videos

Key opinion leaders in cardiology share insights on reducing LDL cholesterol to manage cardiovascular disease risk, educating patients not reaching goals, and implementing real-world clinical strategies for maintaining lower LDL levels.

Peer Exchange

HCPLive® Peer Exchange panel discussions feature authoritative insights, opinions, and perspectives on important issues facing today's care professionals.

Video Series

Stricter LDL-C Targets: Explaining Goalpost Changes to Patients 

Erin Michos, MD, delivers a comprehensive review of lipid management and its influence on cardiovascular disease, emphasizing recent studies that underscore the need for improved treatment strategies for high-risk patients. 

Overview of Low-Density Lipoprotein Cholesterol Management 

This sleep month in review features positive pipeline updates and treatments for improved sleep quality.

Sleep

On the HCPLive sleep page, resources on the topics of medical news and expert insight into sleep medicine can be found. Content includes articles, interviews, videos, podcasts, and breaking news on sleep apnea, insomnia, narcolepsy, and more.

Sleep Month in Review: April 2024

Urinary cytokines GDF-15, IL-6, and EGF significantly strengthened the predictability of IgAN prognosis and may be viable biomarker candidates for disease progression.

Nephrology

The HCPLive nephrology page is a resource for medical news and expert insights on kidney disease. This page features expert-led coverage, articles, videos and research on the therapies and development of treatments in nephrology, and more.

IgA Nephropathy

The HCPLive Berger disease page is a resource for medical news and expert insights on IgA nephropathy. This page features expert-led coverage, articles, videos and research on the therapies and development of treatments in Berger disease, and more.

Urinary Inflammatory Biomarkers Show Prognostic Value for IgA Nephropathy

Patrick Campbell is the managing editor of HCPLive. Formerly the editorial lead of Endocrinology Network, Practical Cardiology, and Rheumatology Network, Patrick has spent years spearheading coverage surrounding cardiometabolic health and rheumatic disease for MJH Life Sciences. He now helps to lead coverage in each of these respective areas for HCPLive. Before joining MJH Life Sciences in 2019, he spent time as a beat reporter with the Pocono Record in Stroudsburg, PA, and Star News Group in Manasquan, NJ. He also touts experience in multimedia, having spent time as a multimedia specialist with NJ Advance Media and multimedia coordinator at the Pocono Record. Follow him on Twitter @RealPatCampbell or reach him via email at PCampbell@mjhlifesciences.com.

An analysis of NHANES found aspirin's benefits in primary prevention may hinge on lipoprotein(a) (Lp(a)) levels, halving ASCVD mortality risk with Lp(a) ≥50 mg/dL.

Dyslipidemia

Atherosclerotic Cardiovascular Disease

Benefit of Aspirin Could Depend on Lipoprotein(a) Levels, Study Finds

FDA approves label update for voclosporin (Lupkynis) in lupus nephritis, reflecting long-term AURORA data and new kidney function monitoring guidance.

Lupus

Rheumatology

Rheumatology condition center page is a comprehensive resource for clinical news and insights on rheumatologic disease. This page consists of interviews, articles, podcasts, and videos on the research, treatment and development of therapies for arthritis, gout, nr-AxSpA, and more.

FDA News

FDA Approves Voclosporin Label Update in Lupus Nephritis to Reflect Long-Term Data

An analysis of the NIH's All of Us program finds no increased ILD risk with methotrexate in dermatomyositis. 

No Link Found Between Methotrexate and Increased Risk of Interstitial Lung Disease in Dermatomyositis

Implementation of an artificial intelligence-enabled ECG reduced the risk of all-cause mortality within 90 days among hospitalized patients.

Cardiology

Cardiology condition center page is a comprehensive resource for clinical news and insights on cardiovascular and cardiometabolic diseases. This page consists of interviews, articles, podcasts, and videos on the research, treatment and development of therapies for heart disease and cardiovascular events, as well as associated diabetes, renal failure, and more...

Structural Heart Disease

AI-Enabled Electrocardiogram Alert Intervention Reduces All-Cause Mortality

The current approval is based on the VOLTAIRE-HCLF clinical trial, which examined the bioavailability of high-concentration (100 mg/mL) and low-concentration (50 mg/mL) formulations of adalimumab-adbm. 

FDA Approves High-Concentrate, Citrate-Free Formulation of Biosimilar Adalimumab-adbm

In this review of dermatology news in April, we highlighted several major stories on such topics as cutaneous reactions to COVID-19, topical versus oral minoxidil, and FDA news.

Plaque Psoriasis

The HCPLive plaque psoriasis page is a resource for medical news and expert insights on psoriasis. This page features expert-led coverage, articles, videos and research on the therapies and development of treatments for psoriatic disease, and more.

Latest News

Biosimilars Month in Review: April 2024

Ophthalmology Month in Review: April 2024

Young Adults More Likely to Believe Myths Related to Tanning, Sun Protection, Skin Cancer

Patients with new AS, PSA, RA Diagnosis Have High Reliance on Opioids

Metformin, Statins May Reduce Hepatocellular Carcinoma Risk After HCV Treatment Failure