Clinical Issues in Rheumatoid Arthritis

Program Overview

This digital CME program, titled “Clinical Issues in Rheumatoid Arthritis: Debates and Discussions on the Evolving Role of JAK Inhibitors,” has been created from the proceedings of a live symposium held during the American College of Rheumatology’s (ACR) 2019 State-of-the-Art (SOTA) Clinical Symposium. In this activity, an expert panel of rheumatologists discuss and debate the latest insights regarding Janus kinase (JAK) activation in RA immunopathology, recent clinical trial data on the efficacy and safety of current and emerging JAK inhibitors, and the evolving roles of this disease-modifying antirheumatic drug (DMARD) class in day-to-day clinical practice.

Target Audience

The educational design of this activity addresses the needs of clinical rheumatologists and specialist nurse practitioners (NPs), physician assistants (PAs), and nurses who manage patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA).

Statement of Need

Advances in our understanding of the immunopathologic mechanisms underlying RA have led to the development of DMARDs that effectively target relevant pathways. For instance, members of the JAK family play a pivotal role in transducing extracellular cytokine signaling, thereby contributing to such processes as cellular proliferation, homeostasis, and host defense against infections.¹ In RA, certain JAK-mediated signaling pathways are dysfunctionally active, leading to enhanced transcription of various proinflammatory genes and aberrant immune responses.² The goal of this Clinical Issues™ activity is to support participants in translating the latest evidence regarding the use of JAK inhibitors to clinical practice; thereby, providing improved care for their patients with RA.

References

1. Winthrop KL. The emerging safety profile of JAK inhibitors in rheumatic disease. Nat Rev Rheumatol. 2017;13(4):234-243.
2. Malemud C. The role of the JAK/STAT signal pathway in rheumatoid arthritis. Ther Adv Musculoskelet Dis. 2018;10(5-6):117-127.

Educational Objectives

After completing this activity, the participant should be better able to:

• Describe the roles of JAK/signal transducer and activator of transcription (STAT) signaling in immune responses and homeostasis, including contributions to the immunopathogenesis of RA
• Discuss the clinical profiles of current and emerging JAK inhibitors, including implications of enzyme specificity and evidence for efficacy and safety in RA
• Integrate JAK inhibitors into RA-treatment algorithms based on guideline recommendations, current clinical trial data, and patient preferences

Faculty

Joel Kremer, MD, FACP, MACR (Moderator)
Pfaff Family Professor of Medicine, Albany Medical College
Director of Research, The Center for Rheumatology
Founder, Corrona, LLC
Albany, New York

Roy Fleischmann, MD, MACR
Co-Medical Director, Metroplex Clinical Research Center
Clinical Professor of Medicine
University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center
Dallas, Texas

Maria Greenwald, MD, FACR
Rheumatologist
Co-Director
Desert Medical Advances
Palm Desert, California

Physician Accreditation Statement

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 Global Education Group (Global) and Integritas Communications. Global is accredited by the ACCME to provide continuing medical education for physicians.

This CME/CE activity complies with all requirements of the federal Physician Payment Sunshine Act. If a reportable event is associated with this activity, the accredited provider managing the program will provide the appropriate physician data to the Open Payments database.

Physician Credit Designation

Global Education Group designates this live activity for a maximum of 1.5 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

Disclosure of Conflicts of Interest

Global requires instructors, planners, managers, and other individuals and their spouses/life partners who are in a position to control the content of this activity to disclose any real or apparent conflict of interest they may have as related to the content of this activity. All identified conflicts of interest are thoroughly vetted by Global for fair balance, scientific objectivity of studies mentioned in the materials or used as the basis for content, and appropriateness of patient care recommendations.

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:

Roy Fleischmann, MD, MACR: Consultant/Independent Contractor: AbbVie Inc., Bristol-Myers Squibb Company, Eli Lilly and Company, Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation, Pfizer Inc.; Grant/Research Support: AbbVie Inc., Eli Lilly and Company, Gilead Sciences, Inc., Pfizer Inc. 

Maria Greenwald, MD, FACR: Grant/Research Support: AbbVie Inc., Bristol-Myers Squibb Company, Eli Lilly and Company, Gilead Sciences, Inc., Novartis, Pfizer Inc.

Joel Kremer, MD, FACP, MACR: Consultant/Independent Contractor: AbbVie Inc., Bristol-Myers Squibb Company, Eli Lilly and Company, Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation, Pfizer Inc.; Grant/Research Support: AbbVie Inc., Eli Lilly and Company, Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation, Pfizer Inc.; Stock Shareholder: Corrona

The planners and managers 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:

Lindsay Borvansky: Nothing to disclose
Andrea Funk: Nothing to disclose
Ashley Cann: Nothing to disclose
Celeste Collazo, MD: Nothing to disclose
Jim Kappler, PhD: Nothing to disclose

Disclosure of Unlabeled Use

This educational activity may contain discussion of published and/or investigational uses of agents that are not indicated by the US Food and Drug Administration. Global and Integritas Communications do not recommend the use of any agent outside of the labeled indications.

The opinions expressed in the educational activity are those of the faculty and do not necessarily represent the views of any organization associated with this activity. Please refer to the official prescribing information for each product for discussion of approved indications, contraindications, and warnings.

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 in this activity should not be used by clinicians without evaluation of patient conditions and possible contraindications on dangers in use, review of any applicable manufacturer’s product information, and comparison with recommendations of other authorities.

Fee Information & Refund/Cancellation Policy

There is no fee for this educational activity.

Instructions to Receive Credit

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 Preactivity Questions.
3. Read or review the activity content.
4. Complete the Postactivity Test Questions and Evaluation.
5. Physicians must achieve a grade of 70% on the Postactivity Test Questions and complete the Evaluation to receive a CME Certificate.
6. All other participants who achieve a grade of 70% on the Postactivity Test Questions and who complete the Evaluation will receive a Certificate of Participation.

Global Contact Information

For information about the accreditation of this program, please contact Global at 303-395-1782 or cme@globaleducationgroup.com.