Controlling drug costs, optimal infliximab dosage, new treatment guidelines and more in today's rheumatology news update

Quiz: What is the best state to live in if you have rheumatoid arthritis? In this installment of our monthly rheumatoid arthritis quiz, we focus comorbidities associated with rheumatoid arthritis, adverse drug reactions and the best place to get care in the country. Learn more in this quiz. (©ASantosg,AdobeStock)

Treatment Guidelines for Ankylosing Spondylitis and Non-Radiographic Axial Spondyloarthritis. Updated treatment recommendations have been issued for ankylosing spondylitis and non-radiographic axial spondyloarthritis. There are 86 recommendations. In this slideshow, we highlight those categorized as "strongly recommended." (©Khunatorn, AdobeStock)

Optimal Infliximab Concentrations for Spondyloarthritis in Doubt? Review shows inconsistencies in infliximab concentrations for patients with spondyloarthritis. More research is needed to determin optimal dosages to achieve a clinical response in spondyloarthritis. (©Eleonimages,AdobeStock.com)

ACR’s Recommendations for Controlling Drug Costs, Improving Outcomes. Affordability is a leading cause of drug abandonment among rheumatology patients. Back in April, the American College of Rheumatology issued a series of position statements designed to control drug costs while improving patient outcomes. (©John9595,AdobeStock.com)

Incorporating the Pharmacist into the Rheumatology Practice. Better treatment outcomes have been documented in studies when physicians and pharmacists work together. But it can be challenging, especially with changes in policies and procedures. In this article, Lisa Schwartz, PharmD., outlines the pros of teaming up. (©Contrastwerkstatt,AdobeStock)

Study Shows Benefits of Triple Therapy for RA.Triple therapy and methotrexate‐based biologic disease‐modifying antirheumatic drug (DMARD) combinations were superior to methotrexate alone for both American College of Rheumatology (ACR50) response and remission in patients with rheumatoid arthritis, say researchers writing in Arthritis Research & Therapy last month. (©AdobeStock_Shidlovski)

Potential New Lupus Treatment Passes Hurdle. Anifrolumab, a potential new for lupus, just successfully completed a phase three clinical trial in which patients demonstrated reduced disease activity by significant margins, according to a statement issued by the drug’s maker AstraZeneca.  (©ArtemidaPsy,Shutterstock.com)

FDA Approves Ixekizumab for Ankylosing Spondylitis. Lilly has announced that it received FDA approval for Taltz (ixekizumab) for the treatment of active ankylosing spondylitis (radiographic axial spondyloarthritis). (©AdobeStock_Artemidapsy)