Pathways to Better Outcomes in Systemic Lupus Erythematosus

Faculty

Richard A. Furie, MD
Chief, Division of Rheumatology, Northwell Health
Professor of Medicine, Donald and Barbara Zucker School of Medicine
Hofstra University
Hempstead, New York

Eric Morand, MBBS (Hons), FRACP, PhD
Head, School of Clinical Sciences, Monash University
Director, Rheumatology, Monash Health
Melbourne, Australia

Virginia Pascual, MD Ronay Menschel Professor of Pediatrics
Director, Gale and Ira Drukier Institute for Children’s Health
Weill Cornell Medicine
New York, New York

Target Audience

The educational design of this activity addresses the needs of rheumatologists and other clinicians who treat patients with moderate-to-severe systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE).

Statement of Need

SLE is a chronic, autoimmune disorder that can present with a variety of clinical manifestations, commonly including arthritis, fever, photosensitivity, and malar rash.^1,2 The disease is pathologically characterized by generalized, multisystem inflammation and the presence of a number of potential autoantibodies and immune complexes.^2,3 Scientific and clinical research on SLE has uncovered factors that contribute to the characteristic loss of immune self-tolerance and the development of organ dysfunction.^3,4 A better understanding of SLE pathogenesis has supported the development of new approaches to disease characterization and targeted therapies.^5,6 Since approval by the US Food and Drug Administration of the first biologic therapy for SLE several years ago, promising new therapeutic options with novel targets have been in clinical development.^5-7 Rheumatologists can benefit from updates on the latest clinical trial data and practical recommendations on how the growing evidence pool can be translated into future clinical decision-making. During this Interactive Exchange™ program, an internationally recognized panel of expert faculty will discuss the latest updates on SLE pathogenesis, clinical data supporting evolving therapeutic approaches, and new insights into measurement of biomarkers, disease activity, and patient outcomes.

References

1. Bertsias GK, et al. Diagnostic criteria for systemic lupus erythematosus: has the time come? Nat Rev Rheumatol. 2013;9(11):687-694.
2. Tsokos GC. Systemic lupus erythematosus. N Engl J Med. 2011;365(22):2110-2121.
3. Yaniv G, et al. A volcanic explosion of autoantibodies in systemic lupus erythematosus: a diversity of 180 different antibodies found in SLE patients. Autoimmun Rev. 2015;14(1):75-79.
4. Obermoser G, Pascual V. The interferon-alpha signature of systemic lupus erythematosus. Lupus. 2010;19(9):1012-1019.
5. Furie R, et al. A phase III, randomized, placebo-controlled study of belimumab, a monoclonal antibody that inhibits B lymphocyte stimulator, in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus. Arthritis Rheum. 2011;63(12):3918-3930.
6. Felten R, et al. The 2018 pipeline of targeted therapies under clinical development for systemic lupus erythematosus: a systematic review of trials. Autoimmun Rev. 2018;17(8):781-790.
7. Furie R, et al. Anifrolumab, an anti-interferon-α receptor monoclonal antibody, in moderate-to-severe systemic lupus erythematosus. Arthritis Rheumatol. 2017;69(2):376-386.

Educational Objectives

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

1. Discuss dysregulated innate and acquired immune processes associated with SLE development and progression, focusing on factors that are promising biomarkers or molecular/cellular treatment targets
2. Describe recent results from clinical trials evaluating patients with moderate-to-severe SLE and current or emerging targeted therapies designed to inhibit innate or acquired immune signaling factors or cellular populations
3. Adapt current clinical choices for SLE management quickly in response to elucidation of new predictive biomarkers as well as clinical trial data and potential prescribing considerations as emerging targeted therapies become available

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.

Physician Credit Designation

Global Education Group designates this live activity for a maximum of 1.5 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.

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 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.

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:

Richard A. Furie, MD: Consultant/Independent Contractor: AstraZeneca plc, Biogen Inc., Boehringer-Ingelheim International GmbH, Bristol-Myers Squibb Company, Celgene Corporation, Eli Lilly and Company, EMD Serono, Inc., GlaxoSmithKline plc, Glenmark Pharmaceuticals Limited, Janssen Pharmaceuticals, Inc., MedImmune, LLC, Nektar Therapeutics, Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation, Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited, UCB, Inc. Investigator: Amgen Inc., AstraZeneca plc, Biogen Inc., Boehringer-Ingelheim International GmbH, Bristol-Myers Squibb Company, Boston Pharmaceuticals Inc., Celgene Corporation, Eli Lilly and Company, EMD Serono, Inc., GlaxoSmithKline plc, Kezar Life Sciences, Inc., MedImmune, LLC, Nektar Therapeutics, Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited, UCB, Inc. Grant/Research Support: AstraZeneca plc, Biogen Inc., Boehringer-Ingelheim International GmbH, Bristol-Myers Squibb Company, Celgene Corporation, Eli Lilly and Company, MedImmune, LLC, Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited, UCB, Inc. Committee Member: Lupus Foundation of America, Lupus Alliance of America, Lupus Research Alliance, Lupus Clinical Investigators Network (LuCIN), Lupus Academy

Eric Morand, MBBS (Hons), FRACP, PhD: Consultant/Independent Contractor: AstraZeneca plc, Eli Lilly and Company, GlaxoSmithKline plc, Janssen Pharmaceuticals, Inc., EMD Serono, Inc. Grant/Research Support: AstraZeneca plc, Bristol-Myers Squibb Company, GlaxoSmithKline plc, Janssen Pharmaceuticals, Inc., EMD Serono, Inc., UCB, Inc.; Honoraria: Merck Sharpe & Dohme Corp., Pfizer Inc.

Virginia Pascual, MD: Consultant/Independent Contractor: AstraZeneca plc, Neovacs S.A. Grant/Research Support: Sanofi-aventis Groupe; Honoraria: AstraZeneca plc, Neovacs S.A.

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:

Jim Kappler: Nothing to disclose
Rose O'Connor, PhD, CHCP:  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.