From practical clinical features to warnings and TGA decisions, 2024 had it all.
As 2024 comes to a close, it’s time to reflect on the Rheumatology Republic stories from the year that our readers loved the most.
Practical clinical features were a hit, along with news about research, CAR T therapy and clinical trials.
See the top 10 most read Rheumatology Republic stories for 2024 below:
1. Seven Aussie hospitals make global top 250: Our top read story for 2024 was out of the 2023 archive. It detailed the world’s top 250 hospitals, with Sydney’s Royal Prince Alfred the highest Australian hospital ranked, at number 66. Newsweek’s “World’s Top 250 hospitals” list spans 28 countries and ranks hospitals. Over 80,000 medical experts responded to an initial survey where they recommended hospitals in their own countries. The hospitals were then assigned a score and ranked according to results from patient surveys, hospital quality metrics and patient reported outcome measures. The top-ranked Australian hospitals were the Royal Prince Alfred Hospital (66), The Alfred (98), the Royal North Shore Hospital (150), the Royal Melbourne Hospital (188), the Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital (207), St Vincent’s Hospital Fitzroy (208) and Gold Coast University Hospital (224).
2. TGA approves first non-hormonal treatment for hot flushes: The TGA has approved Australia’s first non-hormonal treatment for moderate to severe menopausal hot flushes. The approval was welcomed by University of Sydney Obstetrics and Gynaecology Professor Rodney Baber, who is also a past president of the International Menopause Society.
3. Vale Dr Anna Dorai Raj: The Australian rheumatology community mourned the loss of Dr Anna Dorai Raj, who passed away in February after a short illness. Having studied medicine at the Andhra Medical College in India then completing her physicians’ training, Dr Dorai Raj undertook her rheumatology training in NSW and the ACT. Dr Dorai Raj was a member of the OPAL Rheumatology Network, and other research publications included research on ankylosing spondylitis, scleroderma and gout. She was also involved with student and peer education and was Clinical Senior Lecturer at the Australian National University Medical School.
4. Rheum drugs PBAC bonanza: The March 2024 PBAC outcomes were released on Friday, with good news for rheumatologists and their patients. It was a case of third time lucky for AstraZeneca’s Saphnelo, with anifrolumab for lupus patients getting the nod. The PBAC acknowledged that for some patients with severe refractory systemic lupus erythematosus and high disease activity, anifrolumab offered significant benefits over standard of care alone, and noted that its concerns raised with the previous resubmission – largely relating to evidence of efficacy – had been sufficiently addressed. Also successful was CSL Vifor’s Tavneos (avacopan), which was resubmitted for the treatment of severe active granulomatosis with polyangiitis (GPA) and severe active microscopic polyangiitis (MPA) when taken in combination with rituximab or cyclophosphamide.
5. It’s rheumatology’s time for 60-day prescribing: A new tranche of medicines was added to the list of medicines eligible for 60-day prescribing. This includes prednisolone, leflunomide, mycophenolate and tacrolimus. The 60-day prescription program allows patients to access higher quantity scripts on the PBS for certain medicines, provided that the patients are on stable therapy.
6. New clinical care standard for knee osteoarthritis: The understanding of knee osteoarthritis has evolved, say the writers of a new clinical care standard, and clinician language must evolve too – away from excruciating phrases like “bone on bone”, which make patients fearful of their best strategy: exercise. Knee osteoarthritis is estimated to affect more than 1.2 million Australians and almost a third of people over 75 years. The Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care has revised its 2017 standard to focus on four main messages: modify the language used with patients; rely on clinical diagnosis without imaging; promote non-surgical interventions, especially exercise; and use the right pain medications while avoiding untested therapies.
7. Top ARA honour for Dr Helen Cooley: Hobart rheumatologist Dr Helen Cooley has been awarded the 2024 Australian Rheumatology Association’s Distinguished Service Medal. She received the award at the Joint ARA and NZRA Annual Scientific Meeting in Christchurch in May. She told Rheumatology Republic she was “super surprised” about the award and had no idea she had even been nominated. She said she understood a consortium of colleagues from Hobart and Melbourne were behind the nomination.
8. EULAR 2024 highlights: Now in its 24th year, the EULAR European Congress of Rheumatology in Vienna attracted more than 18,000 delegates from more than 130 countries, including medical doctors, scientists, people with arthritis/rheumatism, health professionals and representatives of the global pharmaceutical industry. The EULAR 2024 Congress had an extensive program including more than 130 scientific sessions, two dedicated EULAR Recommendations Sessions and more than 1000 abstract presentations. These covered the most up-to-date rheumatology research, practice and recommendations. Symposia led by experts from around the world provided invaluable insights into the most recent developments and future advancements in diagnosing, treating, and managing rheumatic and musculoskeletal diseases.
9. New option for GCA on the cards: A trial of upadacitinib for giant cell arteritis resulted in almost half of the patients achieving sustained remission, according to findings presented in a press release. The phase III SELECT-GCA study was conducted in numerous centres, including several in Australia. A total of 46% of patients given 15mg upadacitinib plus a steroid taper achieved sustained remission, compared with 29% of patients given placebo and steroid taper. “This is positive news for patients with GCA,” said Associate Professor Anthony Sammel, who was involved with the trial at its Prince of Wales Hospital site in Sydney. “At the moment, the standard of care is tocilizumab with a 26-week prednisone taper. We now have a second agent which has been shown to have efficacy in a phase III trial. At this stage, in whom we use it and how we use it is still to be determined.”
10. Abatacept shortage strikes again: Abatacept shortages were anticipated from June 2024 onwards, the manufacturer BMS has announced today, mirroring similar difficulties related to supply chains during the covid pandemic in 2022. In August the TGA reported that pharmaceutical company Bristol-Myers Squibb Australia (BMS) had notified the regulator that the shortages of both abatacept subcutaneous presentations had resolved.
We wish all our readers happy and safe holidays, and we look forward to your company in 2025. As always feel free to reach out with any ideas for stories or comments to amanda@medicalrepublic.com.au
