Aggressively Pursuing Remission in RA: Where Will Emerging Therapies Fit into the Treatment Armamentarium?

Publication

Based on an educational symposium presented by

Daniel Aletaha, MD
Associate Professor, Division of Rheumatology
Medical University of Vienna
Vienna, Austria

Paul Emery, MD
Arthritis Research UK Professor of Rheumatology
Head of Section, Musculoskeletal Disease
Leeds Institute of Molecular Medicine, University of Leeds
President, European League Against Rheumatism
Leeds, United Kingdom

Josef S. Smolen, MD
Professor of Internal Medicine and Chairman
Department of Rheumatology, Vienna General Hospital
Medical University of Vienna
Vienna, Austria

Intended Learners

This activity is designed for rheumatologists and related healthcare professionals who treat patients with rheumatoid arthritis.

Learning Objectives

After completing this activity, participants should be able to:

Outline changes to rheumatoid arthritis (RA) disease classification and remission criteria to develop appropriate therapeutic strategies for the aggressive pursuit of remission and management of comorbidities
Interpret emerging data on the controllable factors that impact patient adherence to therapy
Describe current data regarding safety issues associated with biologic therapies, such as risks of serious infections and adverse effects
Compare and contrast the safety, efficacy, and clinical profiles of newer and emerging options for RA management
Overcome hesitation to switch biologic therapy in patients receiving an inadequate response

Activity Overview

To be eligible for documentation of credit, participants must read all monograph content, complete the 10-question online post-test with a score of 70% or better, and complete the evaluation form. After successful completion of the post-test and evaluation form online at www.naccme.com, participants may immediately print their documentation of credit.

Release Date: December 16, 2011
Expiration Date: December 16, 2012
Estimated time to complete: 1.25 hours

There is no fee associated with this activity.
This publication is available in print and online at www.naccme.com.
For questions regarding this educational activity, please call 609-371-1137.

Participants who have successfully completed the live version of this activity are not eligible to receive credit for this enduring material.

Accreditation

In support of improving patient care, North American Center for Continuing Medical Education, LLC (NACCME) is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME), the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE), and the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) to provide continuing education for the healthcare team.

CME

NACCME designates this enduring material for a maximum of 1.25 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™.
Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

Independent Clinical Reviewer: Mandana Hashefi, MD, FACR, Medical Faculty Associates, Division of Rheumatology, George Washington University, Washington, DC

Medical writer Deborah Neveleff contributed to the writing and editing of this newsletter.

Hardware/Software Requirements

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Planning Committee

The planning committee comprises Daniel Aletaha, MD, Paul Emery, MD, Mandana Hashefi, MD, Josef S. Smolen, MD; Stephen Chavez, Mary Johnson, Deborah Neveleff, Randy Robbin, John Savage, and Jessica Steuerman, NACCME.

Financial Disclosure and Conflicts of Interest

According to the disclosure policy of NACCME, faculty, editors, managers, and other individuals who are in a position to control content are required to disclose any relevant financial relationships with relevant commercial companies related to this activity. All relevant conflicts of interest that are identified are reviewed for potential conflicts of interest. If a conflict is identified, it is the responsibility of NACCME to initiate a mechanism to resolve the conflict(s). The existence of these interests or relationships is not viewed as implying bias or decreasing the value of the presentation.

All educational materials are reviewed for fair balance, scientific objectivity of studies reported, and levels of evidence.

Dr. Aletaha: Grant/Research support—Bristol-Myers Squibb Co, Schering-Plough, UCB, Inc, F. Hoffman-La Roche Ltd; Consultant—Pfizer, Inc, Merck Sharp and Dohme, F. Hoffman-La Roche Ltd, UCB, Inc, Abbott Laboratories
Dr. Emery: Scientific advisor—Merck Sharp and Dohme, Pfizer, Inc, Abbott Laboratories, Bristol-Myers Squibb Co, F. Hoffman-La Roche Ltd
Dr. Smolen: Grant/Research support—Abbott Laboratories, F. Hoffman-La Roche Ltd, UCB, Inc, Pfizer, Inc, Merck & Co, Inc, Bristol-Myers Squibb Co; Scientific Advisor—Amgen, Abbott Laboratories, MedImmune, LLC, Roche, UCB, Inc, Bristol-Myers Squibb Co, Pfizer, Inc, Merck & Co, Inc, Centocor Ortho Biotech, Inc
Dr. Hashefi has disclosed no relevant financial relationships with any commercial interests.

Mr. Chavez, Ms. Johnson, Ms. Neveleff, Mr. Robbin, Mr. Savage, and Ms. Steuerman have disclosed no relevant financial relationships with any commercial interest.

NACCME requires faculty to inform participants whenever off-label/unapproved uses of drugs and/or devices are discussed in their presentations.

The faculty has disclosed that the following off-label/unapproved drugs and/or devices will be discussed: The investigational use of sarilumab, ALD518, sirukumab, LY2127399, atacicept, briobacept, belimumab, secukinumab, MDX-1100, mavrilimumab, sifalimumab, tofacitinib, and oral fostamatinib disodium.

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Copyright © 2011 by North American Center for Continuing Medical Education, LLC. All rights reserved. No part of this accredited continuing education activity may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, without first obtaining permission from North American Center for Continuing Medical Education.

Grant Support

Supported by an educational grant from MedImmune, LLC