Treating To Target Post Methotrexate

Course Description

This CME/CE-accredited CME Snapshot™ series of educational videos has been created for rheumatologists and other clinicians involved in treating patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). During each 15-minute activity, two expert rheumatologists focus on a specific aspect of long-term RA management, including practical advice on implementing international treat-to-target guidelines as well as the mechanistic profiles and clinical evidence for therapies designed to inhibit signaling via interleukin-6 (IL-6) or members of the Janus kinase (JAK) family of enzymes. Some of the modules also include 3D-animated elements to illustrate the relationships between the heterogeneous pathophysiologic mechanisms underlying RA and certain targeted biologic or synthetic disease-modifying treatment options.

Target Audience

This activity has been designed to meet the educational needs of rheumatologists and other clinicians involved in the ongoing management of patients with RA.

Educational Objectives

Upon completion of this activity, participants will be better able to do the following:

• Discuss the clinical profiles and published evidence for current and emerging targeted inhibitors of key  proinflammatory factors involved in RA pathogenesis
• Tailor treatment regimens based on ongoing disease activity and other manifestations, therapeutic responses, and current recommendations for biologic and targeted synthetic DMARDs

Faculty

Leonard H. Calabrese, DO
Professor of Medicine
Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine, Case Western Reserve University
Vice Chair, Department of Rheumatic and Immunologic Diseases
R.J. Fasenmyer Chair of Clinical Immunology
Cleveland Clinic Foundation
Cleveland, Ohio

John R.P. Tesser, MD
Rheumatologist, Arizona Arthritis and Rheumatology Associates, PC
Adjunct Clinical Associate Professor, College of Health Sciences
Adjunct Assistant Professor, Division of Clinical Education
Arizona College of Osteopathic Medicine
Midwestern University
Phoenix, Arizona

Disclosure of Conflicts of Interest

It is the policy of the Elsevier Office of Continuing Medical Education that all faculty, instructors, and planners disclose any real or apparent conflicts of interest relating to the topics of this educational activity.

The faculty reported the following financial relationships or relationships to products or devices they or their spouses/life partners have with commercial interests related to the content of this CME activity:

Leonard H. Calabrese, DO: Consultant/Advisor: AbbVie Inc.; Crescendo Bioscience, Inc.; Genentech, Inc.; Gilead Sciences, Inc.; Horizon Pharma plc; Janssen Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Medimmune, LLC; Pfizer Inc.; UCB Inc. Speakers' Bureau: AbbVie, Inc.; Crescendo Bioscience, Inc.; Genentech, Inc.; Horizon Pharma plc; Janssen Pharmaceuticals, Inc.; Medimmune, LLC, UCB, Inc.

John R.P. Tesser, MD: Consultant/Advisor: Eli Lilly & Co.; Pfizer, Inc.; Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc.; Sanofi-Genzyme. Speakers' Bureau: AbbVie Inc.; Eli Lilly and Company; Genentech, Inc.; Pfizer Inc.; Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc.; Sanofi-Genzyme. Research Grant: AbbVie Inc.; Eli Lilly and Company; Genentech, Inc.; Gilead Sciences, Inc.; Pfizer Inc.; Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc.; Sanofi-Genzyme. Employment (Spouse): Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

Non-faculty

Rose O’Connor, PhD; Jim Kappler, PhD; Sandy Breslow; Alison Kemp; Marilu Kelly, MSN, RN, CNE; and Bernard M. Abrams, MD, hereby state that neither they nor their spouses/life partners have any financial relationships to products or devices with any commercial interest related to the content of this activity of any amount during the past 12 months. 

Financial Support

This activity has been supported by independent educational grants from Gilead Sciences, Inc., and Sanofi Genzyme and Regeneron Pharmaceuticals.

CME Credit (Physicians) 

This activity has been planned and implemented in accordance with the accreditation requirements and policies of the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) through the joint providership of the Elsevier Office of Continuing Medical Education and Integritas Communications.  The Elsevier Office of Continuing Medical Education is accredited by the ACCME to provide continuing medical education for physicians.

The Elsevier Office of Continuing Medical Education designates this enduring activity for a maximum of 0.25 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

CNE CREDIT (Nurses)

This continuing nursing education activity, provided by Elsevier, awards 0.25 contact hours for nurses. Elsevier is accredited with distinction as a provider of continuing nursing education by the American Nurses Credentialing Center’s Commission on Accreditation. Elsevier is provider approved by the Florida Board of Nursing, Provider #50-4681, and the California Board of Registered Nursing, Provider #CEP 3257.

This activity has been planned and implemented in accordance with the accreditation requirements and policies of the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) through the joint providership of EOCME, Elsevier, and Integritas Communications.

CME Inquiries/Special Needs

For all CME inquiries or special needs, please contact elsevierCME@elsevier.com.

For all CNE inquiries or special needs, please contact p.harvey@elsevier.com.

Disclosure of Unlabeled Use

This educational activity may contain discussion of published and/or investigational uses of agents that are not indicated by the FDA. The Elsevier Office of Continuing Medical Education, Integritas Communications, Gilead Sciences, Inc., and Sanofi Genzyme and Regeneron Pharmaceuticals do not recommend the use of any agent outside of the labeled indications. 

Disclaimer

Participants have an implied responsibility to use the newly acquired information to enhance patient outcomes and their own professional development. The information presented in this activity is not meant to serve as a guideline for patient management. Any procedures, medications, or other courses of diagnosis or treatment discussed or suggested in this activity should not be used by clinicians without evaluation of their patient’s conditions and possible contraindications on dangers in use, review of any applicable manufacturer’s product information, and comparison with recommendations of other authorities.

Course Instructions

In order to claim credit, participants must complete the following:

1. Read the educational objectives, accreditation information, and faculty disclosures at the beginning of this activity.
2. Complete the Pre-Activity Questions.
3. Read or review the activity content.
4. Complete the Post-Activity Test Questions and Evaluation.
5. Physicians who achieves a grade of 100% or better on the Post-Activity Test and who completes the Evaluation will receive a CME Certificate.
6. Nurses who attain a grade of 100% on the post-activity test question and who complete the evaluation before the expiration date will receive a certificate of completion for 0.25 contact hours. There is no partial credit will be awarded for this activity. 
7. All other participant who achieves a grade of 100% or better on the Post-Activity Test Questions and who completes the Evaluation will receive a Certificate of Participation.