Issue 3
Non-Biologic Treatments in RA
B-Cells and Beyond
RA: New Targets, New Bullets
Clinical Approach to Early RA

Faculty

Needs Statement

RA affects 2.1 million Americans resulting in more than 9 million physician visits and more than 250,000 hospitalizations per year. Disability from RA causes major economic loss and can have a profound impact on families. Numerous studies have demonstrated the benefit of treatment early in the disease and evidence of treatment on outcomes. New classes of therapeutic agents and recent advances in the diagnosis and management of RA have been introduced. In addition, the rheumatologist should provide support and consultation to the patients and their primary care physician in the diagnosis and treatment of the RA.

Target Audience

This activity is intended for rheumatologists and other health care professionals who treat patients with rheumatoid arthritis.

Objectives

1. Describe potential RA therapies in clinical development including what is known to date regarding safety and efficacy;
2. Assess the therapeutic options for RA patients who have experienced inadequate response to anti-TNF agents that are currently available or are in development for RA.

Accreditation

Medicine
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 the University of Kentucky College of Medicine and CME Solutions. The University of Kentucky College of Medicine is accredited by the ACCME to provide continuing medical education for physicians.

The University of Kentucky College of Medicine designates this educational activity for a maximum of 1.00 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™. Each physician should claim only those hours of credit actually spent in the educational activity.

The University of Kentucky College of Medicine presents this activity for educational purposes only. Participants are expected to utilize their own expertise and judgment while engaged in the practice of medicine. The content of the presentations is provided solely by presenters who have been selected for presentations because of recognized expertise in their field.

Pharmacy
The University of Kentucky College of Pharmacy is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education as a provider of continuing pharmacy education.

This activity has been assigned ACPE # 022-999-08-096-H01-P and will award up to 1.00 contact hours (0.1 CEUs) of continuing pharmacy education credit in states that recognize ACPE providers.

Statements of credit will indicate hours and CEUs based on participation and will be issued online at the conclusion of the activity. Successful completion includes completing the activity, its accompanying evaluation and/or posttest (score 70% or higher) and requesting credit online at conclusion of the activity. The College complies with the Accreditation Standards for Continuing Pharmacy Education.

Nursing
AdvancMed, LLC is accredited as a provider of continuing nursing education by the American Nurses Credentialing Center's Commission on Accreditation.

AdvancMed is a provider approved by the California Board of Registered Nursing, Provider #13429. AdvancMed provides this activity for 1.00 nursing contact hour(s).

Faculty Disclosure

Dr. Singer has disclosed the following:
Consultants/Speaker’s Bureau - Abbott Immunology
Honoraria - BMS
Grants/Contracts - Merck, Pfizer, Zymogenetics, Serono, Genentech, Roche, Amgen, Endo, ALR, NIH, Arthritis Foundation

Activity Sponsorship

This activity is jointly sponsored by the University of Kentucky, CME Solutions, and AdvancMed. Supported by an unrestricted educational grant from, Bristol-Myers Squibb Company, Genentech Inc., and Biogen Idec Inc..