Jointly sponsored by Medical Education Collaborative (MEC) and Princeton CME

Purpose Statement

This activity is designed to educate managed markets physicians and pharmacists on the prevalence and burden of hepatitis C virus (HCV) and evidence-based approaches for HCV management.

Target Audience

This activity is designed for managed markets physicians and pharmacists, including medical directors, pharmacy directors, and formulary directors.

Learning Objectives

After completing this activity, participants should be able to:

• Describe the prevalence and clinical and economic burden of HCV in the United States
• Explain the frequency and implications of HCV progression to hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and end-stage liver disease (ESLD)
• Summarize current data regarding HCV medication dosing, monitoring, and duration
• Apply current data and guidelines to assist clinicians and patients to maximize outcomes in HCV diagnosis and management

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 successfully completed the live version of this activity are not eligible to receive credit for this enduring material.

Release date: October 26, 2007; Expiration date: November 15, 2008

Estimated time to complete: 1 hour

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 through the joint sponsorship of Medical Education Collaborative, Inc. (MEC) and Princeton CME. MEC is accredited by the ACCME to provide continuing medical education for physicians.

Medical Education Collaborative designates this educational activity for a maximum of 1.0 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s)™. Physicians should only claim credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

CPE Accreditation

Princeton CME is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education as a Provider of continuing pharmacy education (ACPE Provider #452) and complies with the Criteria for Quality and Interpretive Guidelines. This activity is approved for 1 hour credit (0.1 CEU) of continuing pharmacy education (ACPE #452-999-07-031-H01).

Any participant wanting to file a grievance with respect to any aspect of a continuing pharmacy education activity sponsored or cosponsored by Princeton CME may contact the Assistant Director of Continuing Education in writing. The Assistant Director of Continuing Education will review the grievance and respond within 30 days of receiving the written statement. If the participant is unsatisfied with the response, an appeal to the Director of Continuing Education may be made for a second level of review.

Grant Support

Supported by an educational grant from Schering-Plough Corporation

Participating Faculty

Mark S. Sulkowski, MD
Associate Professor of Medicine
Medical Director, Viral Hepatitis Center
Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine
Baltimore, Maryland

Jason P. Smith, PharmD
Clinical Pharmacy Specialist
VA Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System
Hepatology Clinical Research Center
David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA
Los Angeles, California

Independent Clinical Reviewer

David E. Kaplan, MD
Assistant Professor of Medicine
Department of Medicine
Division of Gastroenterology and Research
University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine
Philadelphia VA Medical Center
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Financial Disclosure and Conflicts of Interest

According to the disclosure policy of MEC 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 MEC 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 has reported the following:
Dr. Kaplan disclosed no relevant financial relationships with any commercial interests.
Dr. Smith disclosed no relevant financial relationships with any commercial interests.
Dr. Sulkowski: Consultant—Human Genome Sciences, Idenix Pharmaceuticals, Merck, Novartis, Roche, Schering-Plough Corporation, Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated, Wyeth; Research—Human Genome Sciences, Idenix Pharmaceuticals, Merck, Roche, Schering-Plough Corporation, Valeant Pharmaceuticals, Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated, Wyeth

Planning Committee employees of MEC, the accredited provider for this activity; Randy Robbin and John Savage, Princeton CME; and Mary Johnson and Stacey Ohana, Princeton Media Communications have disclosed that they have no significant financial relationships.

MEC and Princeton CME require faculty to inform participants whenever off-label/unapproved uses of drugs or devices are discussed in their presentations.

The faculty has disclosed that no off-label/unapproved uses of drugs or devices will be discussed.