Safety and Efficacy of Biologics in Rheumatoid Arthritis

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:

Employ current data on the clinical benefits and limitations of biologic therapies in the management of RA and related diseases
Identify the role of new therapies in the treatment of RA and related conditions

Credit Eligibility

To be eligible for documentation of credit, participants must participate in the full educational activity, complete the 10-question post-test with a score of 70% or better, and complete the online 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: 3/24/08

Expiration date: 3/24/09

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.

This activity is made available on-line.

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 1.0 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

This activity is 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

Marc D. Cohen, MD
Professor of Medicine
National Jewish Medical and Research Center
Denver, Colorado

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 has reported the following:
Dr. Cohen: Advisory Board—Amgen Inc, Centocor, Genentech, Inc, Wyeth Pharmaceuticals; Scientific Advisory Board—Abbott Laboratories Amgen Inc, Centocor, Genentech, Inc, Wyeth Pharmaceuticals; Scientific Consultant—Amgen Inc, Genentech Inc, Wyeth Pharmaceuticals; Speakers Bureau—Amgen Inc, Genentech, Inc, Wyeth Pharmaceuticals
Dr. Katz disclosed no relevant financial relationships with any commercial interests.

Planning Committee Debra Bottinick, American Academy of CME, Inc; Randy Robbin, John Savage, Greg Paladino, 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. John Juchniewicz, American Academy of CME, Inc: Stockholder—Johnson & Johnson.

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

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.