Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic, inflammatory disease affecting 1% of the population. If left untreated or undertreated, patients with RA can suffer from joint destruction as well as a wide array of debilitating extra-articular, systemic effects. Patients and physicians frequently have different goals for RA treatment, and oftentimes they do not discuss these goals with each other. This web-based interactive enduring activity will provide participants with the opportunity to optimize the treatment of patients with RA through improved knowledge about the role of cytokines, particularly IL-6, in pathogenesis and patient treatment. Furthermore, participants will have access to new data and recent treatment recommendation updates about the use of disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (DMARDs) for patients with moderate to severe RA, enabling them to better select appropriate, individualized initial and escalation therapies. Finally, participants will learn how to integrate patient-reported outcomes scales to assess and document treatment effectiveness in clinical practice.

COURSE GOAL 

The goal of this activity is to provide rheumatologists and other healthcare professionals with valuable clinical insights that assess new and emerging therapies for patients with RA, including IL-6 inhibitors, and explore the effective use of these newer therapies in clinical practice.

TARGET AUDIENCE

This activity is intended for rheumatologists and other healthcare providers (physicians, nurse practitioners, and physicians’ assistants) in Australia who treat patients with RA.

EDUCATIONAL OBJECTIVES

Upon completion of this activity, participants will be better able to do the following:

1. Describe the role of cytokines, particularly IL-6, in the pathogenesis and treatment of RA.
2. Assess new data and recent treatment recommendation updates regarding the use of DMARDs for moderate to severe RA.
3. Select appropriate, individualized initial and escalation therapies for patients with RA.
4. Integrate patient-reported outcomes scales to assess and document treatment effectiveness in clinical practice.

FACULTY

	Roy Fleischmann, MD, MACR (Chair) Clinical Professor of Medicine Department of Internal Medicine University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center Co-Medical Director Metroplex Clinical Research Center Dallas, Texas
	Stephen Hall, MBBS, MMSc, FRACP Associate Professor Cabrini Medical Center Medical Director, Emeritus Research Malvern, Victoria, Australia

Disclosure of Conflicts of Interest

It is the policy of the Elsevier Office of Continuing Medical Education that all faculty, instructors, and planners disclose real or apparent conflicts of interest relating to the topics of this educational activity. 

The faculty reported the following financial relationships or relationships to products or devices they or their spouse/life partner have with commercial interests related to the content of this CME activity:

Non-faculty: Christina M. Ohnsman, MD; Jessica Marshall, PhD; Lou Settembrino; Sandy Breslow; Alison Kemp; and Bernarnd M. Abrams hereby state that neither they nor their spouse/life partner have had any financial relationships to products or devices with any commercial interest related to the content of this activity of any amount during the past 12 months.

Financial Support

This activity has been supported by an independent educational grant from Genzyme, a Sanofi Company and Regeneron Pharmaceuticals.

Provider Information

Jointly provided by the Elsevier Office of Continuing Medical Education, In Vivo Academy Limited, and ASiM.

CME Credit (Physicians)

This activity has been planned and implemented in accordance with the accreditation requirements and policies of the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) through the joint providership of the Elsevier Office of Continuing Medical Education, In Vivo Academy and ASiM. The Elsevier Office of Continuing Medical Education is accredited by the ACCME to provide continuing medical education for physicians.

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

An application has been made to the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP) and the Australian College of Rural and Remote Medicine (ACRRM).

CME INQUIRIES/SPECIAL NEEDS

For all CME inquiries or special needs, please contact elsevierCME@elsevier.com.

Disclosure of Unlabeled Use: This educational activity may contain discussion of published and/or investigational uses of agents that are not indicated by the FDA. The Elsevier Office of Continuing Medical Education, In Vivo Academy Limited, ASiM, and Genzyme, a Sanofi Company and Regeneron Pharmaceuticals do not recommend the use of any agent outside of the labeled indications.

Disclaimer: Participants have an implied responsibility to use the newly acquired information to enhance patient outcomes and their own professional development. The information presented in this activity is not meant to serve as a guideline for patient management. Any procedures, medications, or other courses of diagnosis or treatment discussed or suggested in this activity should not be used by clinicians without evaluation of their patient’s conditions and possible contraindications on dangers in use, review of any applicable manufacturer’s product information, and comparison with recommendations of other authorities.