Evolving Management Strategies for Moderate-to-Severe Atopic Dermatitis

Target Audience

The educational design of this activity addresses the needs of dermatologists, allergists, and other clinicians who treat patients with atopic dermatitis.

Statement of Need

Atopic dermatitis is a common, chronic inflammatory disease that manifests primarily in the skin, although research has uncovered potentially deleterious effects in other organ systems throughout the body.^1,2 The disease-related physical and biopsychosocial burdens of atopic dermatitis can have a substantial effect on patients’ quality of life, particularly in those with moderate-to-severe disease.^3,4 A better understanding of atopic dermatitis etiology has supported the development of new approaches to disease characterization and targeted therapies.^5,6 As a result, the first biologic therapy is now available to treat patients with moderate-to-severe disease, and several other therapies are in late-stage clinical development.^7-10 With novel therapies emerging for patients with difficult-to-treat atopic dermatitis, dermatologists will benefit from updates on the latest clinical trial data and practical recommendations on how to translate those results into daily clinical decision-making. In this Evidence-Based Best Practices™ program, internationally recognized experts will review the latest published evidence with a goal of providing recommendations to enhance overall patient outcomes. The expert faculty panel will discuss the pathophysiologic underpinnings of atopic dermatitis, share best practices related to comprehensive patient evaluations, and relay their own clinical experience in managing patients with moderate-to-severe disease.

References

1. Nutten S. Atopic dermatitis: global epidemiology and risk factors. Ann Nutr Metab. 2015:66(suppl 1):8-16.
2. Brunner PM, et al. Increasing comorbidities suggest that atopic dermatitis is a systemic disorder. J Invest Dermatol. 2017;137(1):18-25.
3. Whiteley J, et al. The burden of atopic dermatitis in US adults: results from the 2013 National Health and Wellness Survey. Curr Med Res Opin. 2016;32(10):1-7. [Epub ahead of print].
4. Drucker AM, et al. The burden of atopic dermatitis: summary of a report for the National Eczema Association. J Invest Dermatol. 2017;137(1):26-30.
5. Mansouri Y, Guttman-Yassky E. Immune pathways in atopic dermatitis, and definition of biomarkers through broad and targeted therapeutics. J Clin Med. 2015;4(5):858-873.
6. Gandhi NA, et al. Targeting key proximal drivers of type 2 inflammation in disease. Nat Rev Drug Discov. 2016;15(1):35-50.
7. Simpson EL, et al. Two phase 3 trials of dupilumab versus placebo in atopic dermatitis. N Engl J Med. 2016;375(24):2335-2348.
8. de Bruin-Weller M, et al. Dupilumab with concomitant topical corticosteroid treatment in adults with atopic dermatitis with an inadequate response or intolerance to ciclosporin A or when this treatment is medically inadvisable: a placebo-controlled, randomized phase III clinical trial (LIBERTY AD CAFÉ). Br J Dermatol. 2018;178(5):1083-1101.
9. Boguniewicz M. Biologic therapy for atopic dermatitis: moving beyond the practice parameter and guidelines. J Allergy Clin Immunol Pract. 2017;5(6):1477-1487.
10. Cotter DG, et al. Emerging therapies for atopic dermatitis: JAK inhibitors. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2018;78(3S1):S53-S62.

Educational Objectives

After completing this activity, the participant should be better able to:

1. Discuss atopic dermatitis pathophysiology, including clinically relevant molecular and cellular targets
2. Assess patients with atopic dermatitis longitudinally for uncontrolled symptoms, disease flares, comorbidities, and clinical responses to their current treatment regimens
3. Describe the clinical profiles of targeted biologic therapies for the treatment of moderate-to-severe atopic dermatitis
4. Optimize treatment regimens for patients with moderate-to-severe atopic dermatitis to reduce symptomatology, address comorbidities, maximize health-related quality of life, and minimize treatment-related side effects
5. Educate patients and caregivers to improve their understanding of atopic dermatitis to promote shared decision-making and treatment adherence

Faculty

Marjolein de Bruin-Weller, MD, PhD
Head, National Expertise Center for Atopic Dermatitis
Department of Dermatology/Allergology
University Medical Center Utrecht
Utrecht, The Netherlands

Eric L. Simpson, MD, MCR
Professor of Dermatology
Director, Clinical Research
Department of Dermatology
Oregon Health & Science University
Portland, Oregon, USA

Andreas Wollenberg, MD, PhD
Professor
Department of Dermatology and Allergy
Ludwig-Maximilian University of Munich
Munich, Germany

Physician Accreditation Statement

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 Global Education Group (Global) and Integritas Communications. Global is accredited by the ACCME to provide continuing medical education for physicians.

This CME/CE activity complies with all requirements of the federal Physician Payment Sunshine Act. If a reportable event is associated with this activity, the accredited provider managing the program will provide the appropriate physician data to the Open Payments database.

Physician Credit Designation

Global Education Group designates this live activity for a maximum of 1.0 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

Global Contact Information

For information about the accreditation of this program, please contact Global at 303-395-1782 or cme@globaleducationgroup.com.

Instructions to Receive Credit

In order to receive credit for this activity, the participant must score 70% on the posttest and complete the program evaluation.

System Requirements

PC
Microsoft Windows 2000 SE or above.
Flash Player Plugin (v7.0.1.9 or greater)
Internet Explorer (v5.5 or greater), or Firefox
Adobe Acrobat Reader*

MAC
MAC OS 10.2.8
Flash Player Plugin (v7.0.1.9 or greater)
Safari
Adobe Acrobat Reader*
Internet Explorer is not supported on the Macintosh.

*Required to view printable (PDF) version of the lesson.

Fee Information & Refund/Cancellation Policy

There is no fee for this educational activity.

Disclosure of Conflicts of Interest

Global Education Group (Global) requires instructors, planners, managers, and other individuals and their spouses/life partners who are in a position to control the content of this activity to disclose any real or apparent conflict of interest they may have as related to the content of this activity. All identified conflicts of interest are thoroughly vetted by Global for fair balance, scientific objectivity of studies mentioned in the materials or used as the basis for content, and appropriateness of patient care recommendations.

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

Marjolein de Bruin-Weller, MD, PhD: Consultant/Advisor: AbbVie Inc.; Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc.; Sanofi Genzyme; Grant/Research Support: Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc.; Sanofi Genzyme.

Eric L. Simpson, MD, MCR:Consultant/Advisor: AbbVie Inc., Eli Lilly and Company, Galderma Laboratories, L.P., LEO Pharma Inc., Menlo Therapeutics Inc., Pfizer Inc., Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Sanofi Genzyme; Grant/Research Support: Eli Lilly and Company, GlaxoSmithKline, Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation, Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Vanda Pharmaceuticals Inc.

Andreas Wollenberg, MD, PhD: Consultant: Almirall Limited, Beiersdorf AG, Galderma S.A., LEO Pharma Inc., L’Oréal S.A., MedImmune, LLC, Pierre Fabre Laboratories, Pfizer Inc., Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Sanofi-Aventis Europe S.A.S.; Grant/Research: Beiersdorf AG, LEO Pharma Inc.; Speakers Bureau: Almirall Limited, Anacor Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Astellas Pharma Europe Ltd, Beierdsorf AG, Bioderma Laboratoire Dermatologique, Celgene Corporation, Chugai Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., Galderma S.A., Hans Karrer GMBH, LEO Pharma Inc., L’Oréal S.A.; Meda AB, MedImmune, LLC, Merck Sharp & Dohme Corp., Novartis Pharma AG, Pierre Fabre Laboratories, Pfizer Inc., Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Sanofi-Aventis Europe S.A.S.

The planners and managers reported the following financial relationships or relationships to products or devices they or their spouses/life partners have with commercial interests related to the content of this CME activity:

Stacey Ullman, MHS Nothing to disclose
Ashley Marostica, RN, MSN Nothing to disclose
Lindsey Borvansky Nothing to disclose
Andrea Funk Nothing to disclose
Liddy Knight Nothing to disclose

Disclosure of Unlabeled Use

This educational activity may contain discussion of published and/or investigational uses of agents that are not indicated by the US Food and Drug Administration. Global Education Group (Global) and Integritas Communications do not recommend the use of any agent outside of the labeled indications.  

The opinions expressed in the educational activity are those of the faculty and do not necessarily represent the views of any organization associated with this activity. Please refer to the official prescribing information for each product for discussion of approved indications, contraindications, and warnings.

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 in this activity should not be used by clinicians without evaluation of patient conditions and possible contraindications on dangers in use, review of any applicable manufacturer’s product information, and comparison with recommendations of other authorities.