Week 3: Withdrawal and Tapering of Biologic Therapy

Hear from Dr. Jones as he discusses a study on the multiple factors that drive the initiation and development of rheumatoid arthritis, including genetic risk, environmental risk factors, and systemic autoimmunity. This activity is targeted to rheumatologists, residents, and fellows.

At the completion of this course, the participant should be able to:

• Discuss the similarities and differences in the pathogenetic mechanisms that underlie inflammatory arthritis, focusing on rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and the spondyloarthropathies.

• Implement strategies to apply the knowledge gained of inflammatory and immunologic pathways to the rational selection of therapeutic agents for the treatment of an individual patient.

• Summarize novel developments in clinical areas related to optimum treatment of patients with inflammatory arthritis.

The following Faculty/Planners have disclosed the following relevant financial relationships with ineligible companies.

Planner:

John Miller, MD:

• Relburn Pharmaceuticals: Medical or Scientific Advisory Board Membership
• AbbVie: Stock; Speakers’ Bureau; Consultant; Honoraria; Medical or Scientific Advisory Board Membership
• Johnson & Johnson: Stock
• Pfizer: Author, Co-author, or Editor; Stock; Speakers’ Bureau; Consultant; Medical or Scientific Advisory Board Membership; Honoraria
• Lilly USA: Speakers’ Bureau; Consultant

Jeff Jones, MD:

• Janssen R&D: Consultant; Research Support
• Alexion: Royalties
• Q32 Bio: Consultant; Research Support; Stock

All of the relevant financial relationships listed for these individuals have been mitigated.

None of the other individuals in a position to control the content of this educational activity have relevant financial relationships to disclose with ineligible companies whose primary business is producing, marketing, selling, re-selling, or distributing healthcare products used by or on patients.