Day 3 Recap EULAR 2026

The Rheumnow Podcast's Day 3 recap from EULAR 2026 in London delivers a sharp, candid critique of the conference's research output, with host Jack Kush bluntly calling the day 'pretty weak'—not for lack of educational content, but for a dearth of novel, high-impact science. Despite the criticism, the panel highlights several standout studies: a Mayo Clinic analysis using existing CT scans to reveal widespread muscle wasting (sarcopenia) in rheumatoid arthritis patients, which could reshape how we measure treatment success beyond joint scores; a small but intriguing Indian trial showing that starting axial spondyloarthritis treatment with infliximab before switching to tofacitinib leads to faster remission, a strategy justified by cost in low-resource settings; and real-world evidence from the ASTER study confirming anifrolumab’s effectiveness across multiple organ systems in lupus, especially skin, joints, and blood. The discussion also turns to the urgent, life-saving potential of emipalumab in macrophage activation syndrome associated with Still’s disease—where rapid response can mean survival—though the panel warns of underutilization and the need for better treatment sequencing. A final lightning round debunks a small RCT on probiotics in psoriatic arthritis, reinforcing that natural supplements shouldn’t replace evidence-based therapy, while also challenging the marketing-driven labeling of JAK inhibitors as 'mild' drugs.