Clinical Issues in Severe Asthma

Faculty

Eugene R. Bleecker, MD
Professor and Co-Chief
Division of Genetics, Genomics and Precision Medicine
Department of Medicine
Co-Director, Division of Pharmacogenomics
Center for Applied Genetics and Genomic Medicine
University of Arizona College of Medicine
Tucson, Arizona

Reynold A. Panettieri, Jr., MD
Professor of Medicine
Robert Wood Johnson Medical School
Vice Chancellor, Clinical & Translational Science
Director, Rutgers Institute for Translational Medicine & Science
Emeritus Professor of Medicine
University of Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Sally E. Wenzel, MD
Professor of Medicine
Director, University of Pittsburgh Asthma Institute at UPMC/UPSOM
UPMC Chair of Translational Airway Biology
Subsection Chief of Allergy
Pulmonary, Allergy and Critical Care Medicine
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Course Description

This CME-accredited Clinical Issues™ program is intended for allergists/clinical immunologists, pulmonologists, and other healthcare providers involved in the management of patients with severe asthma. During the activity, a panel of expert faculty discuss and debate a series of topics related to the evaluation and long-term treatment of various severe asthma phenotypes. Activity topics include classification of severe asthma, disease biomarkers, comorbidity management, and current and emerging targeted biologic therapies. The goal is to provide clinician learners with the latest evidence and a fresh perspective on evolving management paradigms for severe asthma. 

Target Audience

The educational design of this activity addresses the needs of allergists/clinical immunologists, pulmonologists, and other clinicians involved in the management of patients with severe asthma.

Educational Objectives

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

• Describe pathophysiology of severe asthma with a focus on helper T cell type 2 (Th2)–mediated processes, biomarkers of disease phenotypes, and treatment targets
• Evaluate patients with severe asthma for symptom severity, exacerbation history, comorbidities, disease phenotypes, and prior treatment responses
• Discuss the clinical profiles of cytokine-targeting biologic medications for the treatment of severe asthma
• Individualize therapeutic regimens for severe asthma based on identified disease phenotypes, ongoing evaluations of symptoms, exacerbation risks, and comorbid conditions

Disclosure of Conflicts of Interest

It is the policy of the Elsevier Office of Continuing Medical Education that all faculty, instructors, and planners disclose any 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 spouses/life partners have with commercial interests related to the content of this CME activity:

Eugene R. Bleecker, MD: Consultant/Advisor: AstraZeneca; Boehringer Ingelheim GmbH; GlaxoSmithKline plc; Knopp Biosciences LLC; MedImmune, LLC; Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation; Regeneron Pharmaceuticals; sanofi-aventis U.S. LLC. Grant/Research Support: AstraZeneca; Boehringer Ingelheim GmbH; Genentech, Inc.; GlaxoSmithKline plc; Janssen Pharmaceuticals, Inc.; Johnson & Johnson; Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation; Pfizer Inc.; Regeneron Pharmaceuticals Inc.; sanofi-aventis U.S. LLC; Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd.

Reynold A. Panettieri, Jr., MD: Consultant/Advisor: AstraZeneca; MedImmune, LLC; Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation; Grant/Research Support: Amgen Inc.; AstraZeneca; Bristol-Myers Squibb Company; Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation; OncoArendi Therapeutics SA; RFIM; Theratrophix, LLC.; Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated; Speakers Bureau: Boston Scientific Corporation; Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd.

Sally E. Wenzel, MD: Consultant/Advisor: AstraZeneca; Boehringer Ingelheim GmbH; Genentech, Inc.; Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation; sanofi-aventis U.S. LLC; Grant/Research Support: AstraZeneca; Boehringer-Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals, Inc.; Genentech, Inc.; GlaxoSmithKline Pharmaceuticals; Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation; sanofi-aventis U.S. LLC.

Non-faculty

Rose O’Connor, PhD, CHCP; Jim Kappler, PhD; Sandy Breslow; Alison Kemp; and Bernard M. Abrams, MD, hereby state that neither they nor their spouses/life partners have 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 Sanofi Genzyme and Regeneron Pharmaceuticals.

Provider Information

Jointly provided by the Elsevier Office of Continuing Medical Education and Integritas Communications.

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 and Integritas Communications. 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™. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

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, Integritas Communications, and Sanofi Genzyme 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.

Method of Participation

In order to claim 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 Pre-Activity Questions.
3. Read or review the activity content.
4. Complete the Post-Activity Test Questions and Evaluation.
5. A physician who achieves a grade of 70% or better on the Post-Activity Test and who completes the Evaluation will receive a CME Certificate.
6. All other participant who achieves a grade of 70% or better on the Post-Activity Test Questions and who completes the Evaluation will receive a Certificate of Participation.