An emerging therapeutic class in MS

Faculty

Carrie Hersh, DO, MSc
Cleveland Clinic Lou Ruvo Center for Brain Health
Las Vegas, Nevada

Stephen C. Krieger, MD
Professor of Neurology
Corinne Goldsmith Dickinson Center for MS
Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai
New York, New York

Program Description

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic immune-modulated inflammatory and neurodegenerative disease of the central nervous system. Advances in understanding have led to the development and approval of multiple disease-modifying therapies (DMTs) that offer established safety and efficacy profiles, a variety of mechanisms of action, and different routes of administration to better match an individual patient’s clinical needs, preferences, and tolerance for risk. Issues that have come to the forefront with the approval of more effective therapies include the risk for infection and vaccination requirements as well as optimizing subsequent DMTs when switching is required. When selecting DMTs, it is important to distinguish among multiple therapies in the same class, such as sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P) receptor modulators, to select the optimal therapy for each patient. Furthermore, novel agents—and classes—are in clinical trials for MS. The rapid pace of advances in this field, however, poses significant challenges to clinicians as they try to keep abreast of evolving awareness of the disease state and strategies for managing patients. The modules in this Phone-a-Friend^TM series will address this need by offering learners the opportunity to hear faculty experts as they engage in data-driven conversations providing practical guidance on a range of key topics in the field of MS, including switching therapies, infection risk, and emerging therapies.

Target Audience

The educational design of this activity addresses the needs of neurologists, neurology nurses, nurse practitioners (NPs), physician assistants (PAs), physical medicine and rehabilitation specialists, and primary care providers (PCPs), with the overall goal of improving the care of patients with MS.

Learning Objectives

After completing this activity, participants will be better prepared to:

• Review recent clinical trial data of investigational therapies in relapsing and progressive MS

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

Physician Credit Designation

Global Education Group designates this enduring activity for a maximum of 0.25 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

Nurse Practitioner Continuing Education

This activity has been planned and implemented in accordance with the Accreditation Standards of the American Association of Nurse Practitioners (AANP) through the joint providership of Global Education Group and Integritas Communications. Global Education Group is accredited by the American Association of Nurse Practitioners as an approved provider of nurse practitioner continuing education. Provider number: 110121. This activity is approved for 0.25 contact hour(s) (which includes 0.0 hour(s) of pharmacology).

Disclosure of Conflicts of Interest

Global Education Group adheres to the policies and guidelines, including the Standards for Integrity and Independence in Accredited CE, set forth to providers by the ACCME and all other professional organizations, as applicable, stating those activities where continuing education credits are awarded must be balanced, independent, objective, and scientifically rigorous. All persons in a position to control the content of an accredited continuing education program provided by Global are required to disclose all financial relationships with any ineligible company within the past 24 months to Global. All financial relationships reported are identified as relevant and mitigated by Global in accordance with the Standards for Integrity and Independence in Accredited CE in advance of delivery of the activity to learners. The content of this activity was vetted by Global to assure objectivity and that the activity is free of commercial bias.

All relevant financial relationships have been mitigated.

The faculty have the following relevant financial relationships with ineligible companies:

Carrie Hersh, DO, MSc - Consulting fee: Novartis, Biogen, EMD Serono, Genzyme, Genentech, Bristol Myers Squibb, TG Therapeutics; Contracted Research: Novartis, Biogen, Genentech; Honoraria: Novartis, Biogen, EMD Serono, Genzyme, Genentech, Bristol Myers Squibb, TG Therapeutics; Speakers' Bureau: Genzyme

Stephen C. Krieger, MD - Consulting Fee: Biogen, EMD Serono, Genentech, Novartis, Octave, Genzyme/Sanofi, TG Therapeutics; Contracted Research: Biogen, Novartis; Speakers' Bureau: Non-promotional speaking with Biogen, EMD Serono, Genentech

The planners and managers have the following relevant financial relationships with ineligible companies:

Kristin Delisi, NP: Nothing to disclose
Lindsay Borvansky: Nothing to disclose
Andrea Funk: Nothing to disclose
Liddy Knight: Nothing to disclose
Ashley Cann: Nothing to disclose
Gena Dolson, MS: Nothing to disclose
Rose O’Connor, PhD, CHCP: 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 FDA. Global Education Group 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.

Instructions to Receive Credit

In order to received credit, participants must complete the following:

1. Read the educational objectives, accreditation information, and faculty disclosures at the beginning of this activity.
2. Complete the Preactivity Questions.
3. Review the activity content.
4. Achieve a grade of 70% on the Postactivity Test Questions and complete the Evaluation.

Term of Offering

This activity was released on March 18, 2022, and is valid for one year. Requests for credit must be made no later than March 18, 2023. 

Fee Information & Refund/Cancellation Policy

There is no fee for this educational activity.

Global Education Group Contact Information

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