Quiz Talk (5.22.2026)

A startling new statistic reveals that only 18% of U.S. physicians now work in MD-owned practices—down from a majority just a few years ago—marking a seismic shift toward corporate and hospital employment. Jack Cush, host of the Rheumnow Podcast, expresses concern over this trend, noting that while corporate gigs offer better pay and benefits, they often demand high-volume, six-to-eight-minute visits that commodify patient care. Amid this backdrop, the episode dives into several key clinical updates: a Japanese study shows rituximab may be a powerful option for refractory neuropsychiatric lupus, with 16 of 17 patients showing significant improvement; a promising phase 2 trial of IMVT-1402 (a monoclonal antibody targeting FCRN) reports strong ACR20, 50, and 70 responses in refractory RA patients; and a major head-to-head trial finds bimikizumab (an IL-17 inhibitor) significantly outperforms risankizumab (an IL-23 inhibitor) in achieving ACR50 at week 16. The episode also debunks myths—like the supposed danger of NSAIDs in early pregnancy, which a large study found to be safe—and raises red flags about Avacapan, a drug linked to 20 deaths in Japan due to a rare, fatal bile duct syndrome. Finally, Cush emphasizes the critical importance of clinical exams over lab tests for monitoring disease activity, advocating for tools like the GAS score to track patient progress reliably.