Target Audience
This activity is designed for rheumatologists and other healthcare professionals who manage the treatment of patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and other rheumatic diseases.
Learning Objectives
After completing this activity, participants should be able to:
- Describe the current safety issues with biologic agents in the treatment of RA
- Review the current evidence on the safety—pros and cons—of the use of biologics
- Summarize current screening and/or patient selection recommendations for the safety of RA patients to improve outcomes
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 and Princeton CME. The American Academy of CME is accredited by the ACCME to provide continuing medical education for physicians.
The American Academy of CME designates this educational activity for a maximum of 1.25 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™. Physicians should only claim credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.
To contact the American Academy of CME, please e-mail jjuchniewicz@academycme.org or call 609-921-6622.
Release Date: April 8, 2008
Expiration Date: April 8, 2009
Estimated time to complete: 1.25 hours
There is no fee associated with this activity.
Faculty
Eric M. Ruderman, MD
Associate Professor
Division of Rheumatology
Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine
Chicago, Illinois
Independent Clinical Reviewer
Carlo L. Mainardi, MD, MBA
Vice President for Medical Affairs
Newark Beth Israel Medical Center
Newark, New Jersey
Clinical Professor of Medicine
Mount Sinai School of Medicine
New York, New York
Content development assistance provided by Rob Brosen, Rosemary Hodgson.
Financial Disclosures and Conflicts of Interest
According to the disclosure policy of the American Academy of CME 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. Ruderman: Research Grants—Abbott Immunology, Amgen Inc, Biogen Idec, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Centocor, Genentech, Inc, Human Genome Sciences, Hoffman LaRoche, Targeted Genetics; Advisory Boards and Consulting—Abbott Immunology, Amgen Inc, Biogen Idec, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Genentech, Inc, Wyeth Pharmaceuticals
Dr. Mainardi has disclosed no relevant financial relationship with any commercial interests.
Planning Committee Randy Robbin, John Savage, Greg Paladino, Princeton CME; Rosemary Hodgson, Richard Tyska, PharmD, Princeton Media Communications, have disclosed no relevant financial relationships with any commercial interests. John Juchniewicz, MCIS, American Academy of CME, was a stockholder in Johnson and Johnson.
Rob Brosen has disclosed no relevant financial relationship with any commercial interests.
The American Academy of CME and Princeton CME require faculty to inform participants whenever off-label/unapproved uses of drugs or devices are discussed in their presentation.
Dr. Ruderman has disclosed that non-FDA-approved or investigational use of etanercept for the treatment of congestive heart failure will be discussed.
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).
Credit Eligibility
To be eligible for documentation of credit, participants must read all monograph content, 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 (log on to www.princetoncme.com) may immediately print their documentation of credit.
Please e-mail info@princetoncme.com or call 609-371-1137 if you have any questions or need additional information.
Update
The US Food and Drug Administration recently recommended that the prescribing information for the anti-tumor necrosis factor (TNF) therapy etanercept contain a black box warning for tuberculosis (TB). With this recommendation, etanercept will carry a boxed warning for TB and sepsis. Anti-TNF therapy adalimumab currently carries a boxed warning for TB, sepsis, and fungal and opportunistic infections, and anti-TNF therapy infliximab carries a boxed warning for TB, sepsis, fungal and opportunistic infections, and hepatosplenic T-cell lymphoma.
CORE™ is a registered trademark of Princeton CME, a division of Princeton Media Associates, LLC, 300 Rike Drive, Suite A, Millstone Township, NJ 08535. 609-371-1137. www.princetoncme.com. © 2008. Princeton CME, a division of Princeton Media Associates, LLC. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, without first obtaining permission from the publisher. Postmaster: Send address changes to: Princeton Media Associates, 300 Rike Drive, Suite A, Millstone Township, NJ 08535. E-mail can be sent to info@princetoncme.com.
Accrediting Institution’s Disclaimer and Publisher’s Note: The opinions expressed in this publication are those of the authors, presenters, and/or commentators and are not attributable to the sponsor or the publisher or editor of CORE™. Clinical judgment must guide each professional in weighing the benefits of treatment against the risk of toxicity. Dosages, indications, and methods of use for products referred to in this publication are not necessarily the same as indicated in the package insert and may be derived from the professional literature or other clinical courses. Consult complete prescribing information before administering.
