ACTIVITY PURPOSE
Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a debilitating, inflammatory condition that has significant ramifications on a patient’s quality of life, risk for disability, morbidity, and mortality. The range of disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs) has shifted and expanded dramatically for RA over the last 20 years, facilitating the use of a treat-to-target approach. With multiple classes of biologic and targeted therapies now approved for RA and more biosimilars coming to market as patents expire on older biologic agents, therapy decisions are rapidly becoming more complex, and physicians may be struggling to keep up.
As the availability of these novel agents complicates treatment decisions for RA, physicians need to properly evaluate treat-to-target strategies for their patients and therapy selection that should be made in concert with patients, after reviewing their treatment history, route of administration, and lifestyle preferences. In addition, rheumatologists and clinicians who treat or diagnose RA need to enhance their understanding of the latest treatments and best practices to manage their patient populations effectively. Physicians need to take an active approach to apply the current evidence in practice with their RA patients and alleviate the burden the patient faces.
INTENDED AUDIENCE
This activity is intended for rheumatologists, internal medicine specialists, nurses, and other allied health care professionals, as well as patients and caregivers interested in treatment advances for rheumatoid arthritis (RA).
LEARNING OBJECTIVES
Upon completion of this activity, participants will be able to:
- Assess characteristics of patients with RA that may be predictive of poor response to biologic treatment and assess opportunities with novel therapies
- Evaluate clinical efficacy, safety, and tolerability of biologic and small molecule drugs for the treatment of RA
- Implement treat-to-target strategies for refractory patients considerate of disease activity, treatment response, and other patient-specific factors
METHOD OF PARTICIPATION
This activity will take approximately 60 minutes to complete. To receive credit, participants are required to complete the pretest, view the online activity, and complete the posttest and evaluation. To receive credit, 80% must be achieved on the posttest. A certificate will be immediately available. There is no fee to participate in the activity or for the generation of the certificate.
For questions, contact Michelle Forcier at mforcier@achlcme.org
FACULTY DISCLOSURES
The Academy for Continued Healthcare Learning (ACHL) requires that the faculty participating in a CME activity disclose all affiliations or other financial relationships (1) with the manufacturers of any commercial product(s) and/or provider(s) of commercial services discussed in an educational presentation and (2) with any commercial supporters of the activity. All conflicts of interest have been resolved prior to this CME activity.
The following financial relationships have been provided:
Kevin Winthrop, MD, MPH (Chair)
Sources of Funding for Research: Bristol Myers Squibb and Pfizer Inc.
Consulting Agreements: Abbvie, Galapagos, Gilead Sciences, Inc., GlaxoSmithKline, Lilly, Pfizer Inc., Roche, UCB
Philip Mease, MD, MACR (Faculty)
Sources of Funding for Research: Abbvie, Amgen, Bristol Myers Squibb, Galapagos, Gilead Sciences, Inc., Janssen, Lilly, Novartis, Pfizer Inc., Sun Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd., UCB
Consulting Agreements: Abbvie, Amgen, Bristol Myers Squibb, Boehringer Ingelheim, Galapagos, Gilead Sciences, Inc., GlaxoSmithKline, Janssen, Lilly, Novartis, Pfizer Inc., Sun Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd., UCB
Speakers' Bureau: Abbvie, Amgen, Bristol Myers Squibb, Genentech, Janssen, Lilly, Novartis, Pfizer Inc., UCB
William F.C. Rigby, MD (Faculty)
Site-Specific Principal Investigator: Abbvie, Bristol Myers Squibb, Gilead Sciences, Inc., Pfizer Inc.
Consulting Agreements (Occasional): Abbvie, Bristol Myers Squibb, Gilead Sciences, Inc., Pfizer Inc.
Discussion of Off-Label, Investigational, or Experimental Drug/Device Use:
Baricitinib, filgotinib, upadacitinib as well as JAK inhibitors under investigation for RA
Patient Ambassador Disclosures
Kelly O'Neill and Shannon Young, EdD have no financial relationships.
ACCREDITATION AND CREDIT DESIGNATION
The Academy for Continued Healthcare Learning is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) to provide continuing medical education for physicians.
The Academy for Continued Healthcare Learning designates this enduring material for a maximum of 1.0 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.
(NOTE: Nurse practitioners may participate in this educational activity and earn a certificate of completing as AANP accepts AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™ through its reciprocity agreements.)
STAFF DISCLOSURE
ACHL staff members and others involved with the planning, development, and review of the content for this activity have no relevant affiliations or financial relationships to disclose.
SPONSOR INFORMATION
Sponsored by the Academy for Continued Healthcare Learning (ACHL).
DISCLAIMER
The content for this activity was developed independently of the commercial supporter. All materials are included with permission. The opinions expressed are those of the faculty and are not to be construed as those of the publisher or grantor.
This educational activity was planned and produced in accordance with the ACCME Accreditation Criteria, Policies, and Standards for Commercial Support. Recommendations involving clinical medicine in a continuing medical education (CME/CE) activity must be based on evidence that is accepted within the profession of medicine as adequate justification for their indications and contraindications in the care of patients. All scientific research referred to, reported, or used in CME/CE in support or justification of a patient care recommendation must conform to the generally accepted standards of experimental design, data collection, and analysis.
SUPPORTER INFORMATION
Supported by an educational grant from Actelion Pharmaceuticals US, Inc., a Janssen Pharmaceutical Company of Johnson & Johnson
