Jointly sponsored by the American Academy of CME, Inc. and Princeton CME

Target Audience

This activity is designed for rheumatologists and physicians who manage patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA).

Learning Objectives

After completing this activity, participants should be able to:

• Assess the potential benefits of early diagnosis and aggressive management of rheumatoid arthritis (RA), including the prospect of achieving remission
• Develop methods for properly evaluating remission in RA, while altering management approaches based on therapeutic response

Credit Eligibility

To be eligible for documentation of credit, all participants must participate in the full educational activity, complete the 10-question post-test with a score of 70% or better, and complete the evaluation form. Participants who successfully complete the post-test and evaluation form online may immediately print their documentation of credit.

Participants who have attended the CORE regional live meetings are not eligible to receive credit for this enduring material.

Release date: November 13, 2007; Expiration date: November 13, 2008

Estimated time to complete: 45 minutes

There is no fee associated with this activity.

Lecture Components

The presentation slides, post-test, and evaluation form are available as a click through via the menu at the top of each page of this educational activity.

CME Accreditation

This activity has been planned and implemented in accordance with the Essential Areas and policies of the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) through the joint sponsorship of the American Academy of CME, Inc and Princeton CME. The American Academy of CME, Inc is accredited by the ACCME to provide continuing medical education for physicians.

The American Academy of CME, Inc designates this educational activity for a maximum of .75 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™. Physicians should only claim credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

To contact the American Academy of CME, Inc, please e-mail jjuchniewicz@academycme.org or call 609-921-6622.

Grant Support

Supported by educational grants from Amgen Inc and Wyeth Pharmaceuticals (Tier 1), Bristol-Myers Squibb Company, Genentech, Inc and Biogen Idec Inc (Tier 2), and Abbott Laboratories (Tier 3)

Participating Faculty

Presenter

Arthur L. Weaver, MD
Clinical Professor of Medicine
Department of Medicine, Section of Rheumatology
University of Nebraska Medical Center
Omaha, Nebraska

Independent Clinical Reviewer

James D. Katz, MD, FACP, FACR
Associate Professor of Medicine
Director, Division of Rheumatology
The George Washington University
Washington, DC

Financial Disclosure and Conflicts of Interest

According to the disclosure policy of the American Academy of CME, Inc and Princeton CME, 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 the Academy and Princeton CME 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.

The faculty reported the following:
Dr. Katz disclosed no relevant financial relationships with any commercial interests
Dr. Weaver: Scientific Advisory Board/Consulting—Amgen Inc, Bristol-Myers Squibb Company, Genentech, Inc, Merck and Co, Inc, TAP Pharmaceutical Products Inc, Wyeth Pharmaceuticals; Speakers Bureau—Amgen Inc, Bristol- Myers Squibb Company, Genentech, Inc, TAP Pharmaceuticals, Wyeth Pharmaceuticals; Shareholder/Stock Options: (Board of Directors) MGI PHARMA, Inc

Planning Committee Debra Bottinick, American Academy of CME, Inc; Randy Robbin, John Savage, and Richard Michael Tyska, PharmD, Princeton CME; Angela Merckling and Rosemary Hodgson, Princeton Media Communications have disclosed no relevant financial relationships with any commercial interests.

Off-label Disclosure
This educational activity may contain discussion of published and/or investigational use of agents that are not indicated by the FDA. Any off-label use will be identified by the faculty at the time of the program.