Rheumatoid Arthritis: New Targeted Treatments

Course Description

Statement of Need

When any new treatment becomes available, clinicians want to know how it benefits their specific patients and how they can integrate it into their current clinical practices. Because the tumor necrosis factor (TNF) inhibitors have been so successful in treating RA, many clinicians are interested in how the newer agents fit into a treatment plan that includes anti-TNF agents. For example:

• How many TNF inhibitors should be tried before considering an agent with a different mechanism of action?
• How does a physician decide between abatacept and rituximab in patients who have not responded to a TNF inhibitor?
• Are there situations in which abatacept or rituximab might be preferred to a TNF inhibitor?

Target Audience

The activity is intended for rheumatologists, rheumatology fellows and health care providers who treat patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and other autoimmune diseases.

Objectives

Weill Cornell CME activities are intended to lead to better patient care.

After participating in this activity, the participant should be able to:

• Describe the major immunologic mechanisms that both lead to rheumatoid arthritis and are potential targets for treatment
• Choose the most effective, responsive and most practical disease activity measures to assure the best outcome
• Recognize the modern and effective treatment options for RA and when to employ them
• Choose the best treatment plan for patients with RA
• Arrange newly approved targeted therapies into their proper place in the RA armamentarium

Accreditation

Weill Medical College of Cornell University is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education to sponsor continuing medical education for physicians.

Weill Medical College of Cornell University designates this educational activity for a maximum of 2.0 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™.  Physicians should only claim credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

Method of Physician Participation

Participants will view presentations and slides online and complete a post-test and evaluation.

Estimated Time to Complete the Educational Activity

This activity will take approximately 2 hours to complete.

Evaluation

The CME Evaluation Form may be completed online.  Participants have the ability to print out CME certificates upon completion of the activity.

Faculty Disclosure

It is the policy of Weill Medical College of Cornell University to adhere to ACCME Essential Areas, Policies, and Standards for Commercial Support in order to ensure fair balance, independence, objectivity, and scientific rigor in all its sponsored programs.  All faculty participating in sponsored programs are expected to disclose to the audience any potential, apparent, or real conflict of interest related to their contribution to the activity, and any discussions of off-label or investigational uses of any commercial products, or devices not yet approved in the United States.

Larry W. Moreland, MD

• Presentation will not include the discussion of commercial products or services but has significant financial interest or relationship with the manufacturers of products or services:
  • Research Support from Abbott, Amgen, Bristol Myers Squibb, Centocor and Genentech
  • Consultant for Bristol Myers Squibb and Genentech
  • Speakers Bureau of Bristol Myers Squibb
  • Honoraria from Bristol Myers Squibb and Genentech
• Presentation will not include discussion of off label or investigational use of products or treatments

Stephen A. Paget, MD

• Presentation will include the discussion of commercial products or services and has significant financial interest or relationship with the manufacturers of products or services:
  • Consultant for Abbott, Genentech and Pfizer
• Presentation will not include discussion of off label or investigational use of products or treatments

Josef S. Smolen, MD

• Presentation will include the discussion of commercial products or services and has significant financial interest or relationship with the manufacturers of products or services:
  
  • Research Support from Centocor
  • Consultant for Abbott, Aventis, Bristol Myers Squibb, Centocor, Roche, Schering Plough, UCB and Wyeth
  • Advisory Board Member of Roche
• Presentation will not include discussion of off label or investigational use of products or treatments

Cornelia M. Weyand, MD, PhD

• Presentation will not include the discussion of commercial products or services but has significant financial interest or relationship with the manufacturers of the products or services:
  • Consultant for Genentech
• Presentation will not include discussion of off label or investigational use of products or treatments

System Requirement

In order to view this program, you will need either Internet Explorer, version 5.5 or newer or Netscape, version 6.0 or newer.

Program Faculty

Stephen A. Paget, MD, FACP, FACR
Physician-in-Chief and Chairman
Division of Rheumatology
Hospital for Special Surgery
The Joseph P. Routh Professor of Medicine
Weill Medical College of Cornell University
New York, New York

Cornelia M. Weyand, MD, PhD
David C. Lowance Professor of Medicine
Co-Director of the Lowance Center
Emory University School of Medicine
Atlanta, Georgia

Josef S. Smolen, MD
Professor of Rheumatology
2nd Department of Medicine
University of Vienna
Vienna, Austria

Larry W. Moreland, MD
Anna Lois Waters Professor of Medicine
Associate Dean for Clinical Research
University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Medicine
Birmingham, Alabama

Independent Clinical Reviewer

Linda A. Russell, MD
Assistant Attending Physician
Division of Rheumatology
Hospital for Special Surgery

The Program

This course includes the following sections:

• Introduction | Video
• Immunopathologic Aspects of RA: Who is the Conductor and Who Plays the Immunologic Instruments? | Video
• What Is the Place of Recently Approved B-Cell-Targeted and T-Cell-Targeted Therapies in the Treatment of RA? Lessons from Global Clinical Trials | Video
• Disease Modifiers: Making the Right Therapeutic Choices for Our Patients | Video
• Guiding Optimal Therapy With the Use of Disease Activity and Functional Instruments: Lessons From the Clinical Laboratory | Video
• Panel Discussion and Closing Remarks | Video

Program Format

This program is available online in video format.

Fee

This program is offered at no cost.

Availability

Release Date: September 6, 2007
Start Date: September 6, 2007
Termination Date: September 5, 2008

Hospital for Special Surgery is an affiliate of NewYork-Presbyterian Healthcare System and Weill Medical College of Cornell University.

Hospital for Special Surgery and Weill Medical College of Cornell University gratefully acknowledge the generous support in the form of an unrestricted educational grant from Genentech, Inc. and Biogen Idec.