14/08/2025
1. Ivarmacitinib — New JAK1 pill for AS
Researchers tested a new medication called ivarmacitinib that targets inflammation at the genetic “switchboard” of immune cells. In just three months, nearly half the people taking it felt better, compared to about a third on sugar pills. Side effects were generally mild, and benefits lasted at least six months.
🔗 https://spondylitis.org/research-new/ivarmacitinib-a-potential-new-jak1-inhibitor-for-as/
2. Upadacitinib — Fast pain relief
A real-world study found that people with AS or related spine inflammation felt less back and night pain within days of starting upadacitinib. By three months, more than a third reached “low disease activity,” meaning their symptoms were much more manageable.
🔗 https://www.rheumatologyadvisor.com/reports/upa-reduces-pain-in-axspa/
3. Bimekizumab — Lasting results over years
Long-term studies show that the biologic drug bimekizumab can keep AS symptoms under control for years, with more than half of patients reporting major improvement and most showing no new spine damage.
🔗 https://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/axial-spondyloarthritis-ankylosing-spondylitis-eular-2025-2025a10002jk
4. UK’s updated AS treatment guidelines
The UK’s rheumatology experts updated their playbook for treating AS, adding newer biologics and targeted drugs, and advising careful use for people who also have gut inflammation.
🔗 https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12107049/
5. Seniprutug — Russia’s homegrown AS drug
Russia approved a locally developed medicine for AS called seniprutug. Trials there suggest it works and is safe, and it’s set to be available in dozens of regions.
🔗 https://gxpnews.net/en/2025/04/the-worlds-first-drug-for-ankylosing-spondylitis-soon-to-be-delivered-to-45-regions-of-the-russian-federation/
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6. New blood test for earlier diagnosis
A test that detects a protein called 14-3-3η could help spot AS sooner, even in people without the usual HLA-B27 gene marker, when combined with other lab results.
🔗 https://spondylitis.org/research-new/a-new-blood-test-for-axial-spondyloarthritis-the-anti-14-3-3eta-multiplex-test/
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7. HLA-B27 makes certain immune cells more aggressive
Scientists discovered that the HLA-B27 gene can push some aging immune cells into “attack mode,” potentially making inflammation worse. Blocking a specific receptor may calm this effect.
🔗 https://arthritis-research.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s13075-025-03585-w
8. Theories on how HLA-B27 causes AS
Three main ideas are still under investigation:
– The gene makes “look-alike” proteins that trick the immune system
– Its proteins misfold, stressing cells
– It forms unusual shapes that signal immune attack
Gut bacteria and eye inflammation may be linked too.
🔗 https://www.nature.com/articles/s41584-024-01074-5
9. Treating AS like an allergy?
Some researchers wonder if AS could be calmed by “retraining” the immune system or changing gut bacteria—similar to allergy shots—so it stops overreacting.
🔗 https://rheumlab.org/exploring-root-causes-and-developing-new-treatments-for-ankylosing-spondylitis/
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10. Team-based care for AS
Doctors are pushing for closer teamwork between spine specialists, heart doctors, and imaging experts, since AS can also affect the heart and other organs.
🔗 https://esmed.org/MRA/mra/article/view/6537
11. AI to read spine X-rays
A new computer program can grade spine damage from X-rays automatically. It’s not ready for clinics yet, but could one day save doctors time and make tracking AS more precise.
🔗 https://arxiv.org/abs/2308.05123
Manually grading structural changes with the modified Stoke Ankylosing Spondylitis Spinal Score (mSASSS) on spinal X-ray imaging is costly and time-consuming due to bone shape complexity and image quality variations. In this study, we address this challenge by prototyping a 2-step auto-grading pipel...
