Activity OverviewChronic cough is the most common symptom for which individuals seek medical advice.This health issue has a substantial impact on a person's quality of life and can produce complications such as vomiting, fractures, muscle pain, syncope, and depression.Pharmacists and managed care professionals should recognize the complicated etiology of chronic cough and its difficult management.As there are currently no available therapies specifically indicated for this, the emerging treatment options that are targeted for patients with chronic cough have the promising potential to fulfill unmet needs in this population.They will resolve or minimize the significant burden on healthcare resources, families, work, and school, and improve patients' overall health. Statement of Educational NeedChronic cough is a highly debilitating condition that can result from multiple etiologies or is sometimes due to unknown causes.Further, there are no FDA-approved agents at this time that specifically address chronic cough.Combined with a lack of robust efficacy for agents used to treat acute cough, there is a significant unmet need for efficacious agents that provide relief for patients with chronic cough.To address these concerns, new agents with novel mechanisms of action are in development and, if found safe and effective, could become available in the United States.Therefore, healthcare professionals require continuing professional education and application of this knowledge to improve chronic cough management, clinical decision making, and the quality of life among patients affected. Educational ObjectivesAt the completion of this activity, participants will be able to:• Examine the etiologies of chronic cough, the burden, and the pathophysiology.• Explain the treatment options for chronic cough including the emerging therapies.• Identify opportunities to improve the management of chronic cough from a payer and patient perspective, as well as to integrate new treatments into the existing treatment algorithm. Accreditation StatementPharmacy Times Continuing Education™ is accredited
Activity OverviewChronic cough is the most common symptom for which individuals seek medical advice.This health issue has a substantial impact on a person's quality of life and can produce complications such as vomiting, fractures, muscle pain, syncope, and depression.Pharmacists and managed care professionals should recognize the complicated etiology of chronic cough and its difficult management.As there are currently no available therapies specifically indicated for this, the emerging treatment options that are targeted for patients with chronic cough have the promising potential to fulfill unmet needs in this population.They will resolve or minimize the significant burden on healthcare resources, families, work, and school, and improve patients' overall health. Statement of Educational NeedChronic cough is a highly debilitating condition that can result from multiple etiologies or is sometimes due to unknown causes.Further, there are no FDA-approved agents at this time that specifically address chronic cough.Combined with a lack of robust efficacy for agents used to treat acute cough, there is a significant unmet need for efficacious agents that provide relief for patients with chronic cough.To address these concerns, new agents with novel mechanisms of action are in development and, if found safe and effective, could become available in the United States.Therefore, healthcare professionals require continuing professional education and application of this knowledge to improve chronic cough management, clinical decision making, and the quality of life among patients affected. Educational ObjectivesAt the completion of this activity, participants will be able to:• Examine the etiologies of chronic cough, the burden, and the pathophysiology.• Explain the treatment options for chronic cough including the emerging therapies.• Identify opportunities to improve the management of chronic cough from a payer and patient perspective, as well as to integrate new treatments into the existing treatment algorithm. Accreditation StatementPharmacy Times Continuing Education™ is accredited
Activity OverviewChronic cough is the most common symptom for which individuals seek medical advice.This health issue has a substantial impact on a person's quality of life and can produce complications such as vomiting, fractures, muscle pain, syncope, and depression.Pharmacists and managed care professionals should recognize the complicated etiology of chronic cough and its difficult management.As there are currently no available therapies specifically indicated for this, the emerging treatment options that are targeted for patients with chronic cough have the promising potential to fulfill unmet needs in this population.They will resolve or minimize the significant burden on healthcare resources, families, work, and school, and improve patients' overall health. Statement of Educational NeedChronic cough is a highly debilitating condition that can result from multiple etiologies or is sometimes due to unknown causes.Further, there are no FDA-approved agents at this time that specifically address chronic cough.Combined with a lack of robust efficacy for agents used to treat acute cough, there is a significant unmet need for efficacious agents that provide relief for patients with chronic cough.To address these concerns, new agents with novel mechanisms of action are in development and, if found safe and effective, could become available in the United States.Therefore, healthcare professionals require continuing professional education and application of this knowledge to improve chronic cough management, clinical decision making, and the quality of life among patients affected. Educational ObjectivesAt the completion of this activity, participants will be able to:• Examine the etiologies of chronic cough, the burden, and the pathophysiology.• Explain the treatment options for chronic cough including the emerging therapies.• Identify opportunities to improve the management of chronic cough from a payer and patient perspective, as well as to integrate new treatments into the existing treatment algorithm. Accreditation StatementPharmacy Times Continuing Education™ is accredited
This activity will inform pharmacists and managed care professionals about the challenges in managing patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), with an emphasis on guideline-recommended therapies and strategies to help mitigate costs associated with treatment.This activity will review available treatment options, adverse effects associated with medications, and provide opportunities for pharmacist involvement in patient care.This supplement was developed with the goal of providing pharmacists and managed care professionals with an understanding of current treatment options for HCC, with a focus on assisting managed care professionals in optimizing patient outcomes. Statement of Educational NeedPatients with advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) present a great opportunity for pharmacists to demonstrate value in patient care.Sorafenib was the only therapy approved by the FDA for more than a decade; however, in the past 4 years, 9 more agents have received FDA approval.Options for first-line systemic therapy of advanced HCC include sorafenib, lenvatinib, and atezolizumab plus bevacizumab.Nivolumab may be useful in patients with advanced HCC who are ineligible for tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) or other anti-angiogenic agents.Options for subsequent therapy following disease progression include regorafenib, cabozantinib, ramucirumab, lenvatinib, nivolumab, nivolumab plus ipilimumab, sorafenib, or pembrolizumab.
ALS remains a devastating diagnosis that presages a rapid decline in motor functioning and often leads to death within 2 to 5 years.Two FDA-approved treatments are currently marketed that stem the decline temporarily, and guidelines strictly recommend these therapies be used and implemented into therapy as soon as possible.However, neither offer a cure and despite this progress, the disease ravages the ability of patients with ALS to function as they lose their ability to walk, swallow, sometimes think, and, eventually, breathe.With the advent of targeted therapies and growing knowledge about the disease, several discoveries are at last offering a glimpse into a more hopeful future for patients with this rare condition.It is imperative managed care professionals review the current treatment landscape and guidelines and the potential of emerging therapies to change the landscape. Statement of Educational NeedMore than 5000 Americans receive a diagnosis of ALS each year, and an estimated 20,000 Americans are living with the disease.ALS poses a clinical and economic burden, with a grim prognosis and requirement for high level of care.Continuing education on the current and emerging therapies and burden of ALS will allow managed care professionals to provide quality care and medication access to patients. Educational ObjectivesUpon completion of this activity, participants should be able to: • Examine the disease burden of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) from population and patient perspectives.• Differentiate the mechanisms of action and clinical data for currently approved treatments in ALS.• Characterize disease targets and investigational drugs in ALS research.• Explore utilization management considerations in ALS, including best practices and emerging therapies. Accreditation StatementPharmacy Times Continuing Education™ is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE) as a provider of
This activity will inform pharmacists and managed care professionals about the challenges in managing patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), with an emphasis on guideline-recommended therapies and strategies to help mitigate costs associated with treatment.This activity will review available treatment options, adverse effects associated with medications, and provide opportunities for pharmacist involvement in patient care.This supplement was developed with the goal of providing pharmacists and managed care professionals with an understanding of current treatment options for HCC, with a focus on assisting managed care professionals in optimizing patient outcomes. Statement of Educational NeedPatients with advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) present a great opportunity for pharmacists to demonstrate value in patient care.Sorafenib was the only therapy approved by the FDA for more than a decade; however, in the past 4 years, 9 more agents have received FDA approval.Options for first-line systemic therapy of advanced HCC include sorafenib, lenvatinib, and atezolizumab plus bevacizumab.Nivolumab may be useful in patients with advanced HCC who are ineligible for tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) or other anti-angiogenic agents.Options for subsequent therapy following disease progression include regorafenib, cabozantinib, ramucirumab, lenvatinib, nivolumab, nivolumab plus ipilimumab, sorafenib, or pembrolizumab.
ALS remains a devastating diagnosis that presages a rapid decline in motor functioning and often leads to death within 2 to 5 years.Two FDA-approved treatments are currently marketed that stem the decline temporarily, and guidelines strictly recommend these therapies be used and implemented into therapy as soon as possible.However, neither offer a cure and despite this progress, the disease ravages the ability of patients with ALS to function as they lose their ability to walk, swallow, sometimes think, and, eventually, breathe.With the advent of targeted therapies and growing knowledge about the disease, several discoveries are at last offering a glimpse into a more hopeful future for patients with this rare condition.It is imperative managed care professionals review the current treatment landscape and guidelines and the potential of emerging therapies to change the landscape. Statement of Educational NeedMore than 5000 Americans receive a diagnosis of ALS each year, and an estimated 20,000 Americans are living with the disease.ALS poses a clinical and economic burden, with a grim prognosis and requirement for high level of care.Continuing education on the current and emerging therapies and burden of ALS will allow managed care professionals to provide quality care and medication access to patients. Educational ObjectivesUpon completion of this activity, participants should be able to: • Examine the disease burden of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) from population and patient perspectives.• Differentiate the mechanisms of action and clinical data for currently approved treatments in ALS.• Characterize disease targets and investigational drugs in ALS research.• Explore utilization management considerations in ALS, including best practices and emerging therapies. Accreditation StatementPharmacy Times Continuing Education™ is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE) as a provider of
Alzheimer disease (AD) is the sixth leading cause of death and the most common etiology for dementia.It causes a significant burden to the public health system, patients afflicted with it, and their caregivers.Continuing professional education will increase competency on AD, including the importance of early detection, patient and caregiver education, and the role of new therapeutic targets for the treatment of AD.Application of knowledge will improve clinical decision making, improve quality of life among patients and caregivers, optimize medication therapy, improve outcomes, and decrease costs associated with the treatment of AD. Statement of Educational NeedAlzheimer disease requires a multispecialty approach to diagnosis and treatment.The estimated cost of Alzheimer disease includes direct medical, indirect, and social care costs.Early diagnosis can improve quality of life for both patients and caregivers.Continuing education on the importance of early diagnosis, current and emerging therapies, and the societal and economic burden of Alzheimer disease will help managed care professionals provide timely and appropriate care to patients. Educational ObjectivesUpon completion of this activity, participants should be able to:• Explore the impact of Alzheimer disease as it relates to progression, value of early diagnosis, associated comorbidities, and effect on patients and caregivers.• Analyze current and emerging data for new therapeutic targets for the pharmacologic treatment of Alzheimer disease.• Examine the importance of medication therapy management and drug utilization reviews for controlling costs and improving outcomes among patients with Alzheimer disease. Accreditation StatementPharmacy Times Continuing Education™ is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE) as a provider of continuing pharmacy education.This activity is approved for 2.5 contact hours (0.25 CEU) under the ACPE universal activity number 0290-0000-20-207-H01-P.
