Issue 2
Biologics: Established and New

Faculty

Needs Statement

Over 15,000 people attended the American College of Rheumatology/Arthritis-Related Healthcare Professionals Scientific Meeting (ACR/ARHP) held at the Moscone Center in San Francisco, USA on October 24-29, 2008. The latest findings in education, research, and treatment were presented to an international audience. For rheumatoid arthritis (RA) the focus of these issues will be modifiable risk factors, safety, and efficacy of biologics and measuring and reporting responses.

Target Audience

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

Objectives

1. Articulate the current evidence for efficacy of selected biological therapies in RA treatment;
2. Design a treatment strategy and monitor safety issues for biologic therapy in RA;
3. Describe a RA disease activity measures based on patient reported outcomes and its rationale for their use in clinical practice.

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 # 022-999-08-171-H04-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
The University of Kentucky, College of Nursing is accredited as a provider of continuing nursing education by the American Nurses Credentialing Center's Commission on Accreditation (ANCC).

ANCC approval of a continuing nursing education provider does not constitute endorsement of program content nor commercial sponsors. This educational activity is offered for 1.00 contact hour(s) for nurses who complete the entire program. In order to receive credit, participants complete CNE activity and submit a credit application and evaluation form online. Certificates may be printed upon completion.

University of Kentucky College of Nursing is a provider approved by the California Board of Registered Nursing, Provider 00340864.

Faculty Disclosure

Dr. Singer has disclosed the following:
Consultant/Honoraria - Abbott Immunology
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 and CME Solutions. Supported by an unrestricted educational grant from Genentech Inc..