Emerging Therapies for Multiple Sclerosis

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Emerging Therapies for Multiple Sclerosis ~ Member Rate - $25.00

Emerging Therapies for Multiple Sclerosis - $30.00

Session Summary

This session reviews new knowledge in the pathophysiology of multiple sclerosis (MS) and describes how this knowledge informs drug therapy development for both immunomodulatory and symptomatic treatment. Great strides in knowledge of MS pathophysiology have occurred over the last decade. The role of B and T cells, other immune cells and tissues, and neurodegeneration are described.

All MS therapies are briefly reviewed with emphasis on the newer agents: dalfampridine, dextromethorphan/quinidine, fingolimod, mitoxantrone, and natalizumab. The mechanisms of action, pharmacokinetics, and adverse effects of the new therapies are highlighted. The use of cases helps illustrate the place of the new agents in therapy of MS.

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Faculty Information

Melody Ryan, PharmD, MPH, CGP, BCPS

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Melody Ryan, PharmD, MPH, CGP, BCPS
Associate Professor
College of Pharmacy-Department of Pharmacy Practice and Science
College of Medicine-Department of Pharmacy Practice and Science
College of Medicine-Department of Neurology
University of Kentucky
Lexington, KY

Melody Ryan, Pharm.D., MPH, CGP, BCPS received her Pharm.D. and Master’s of Public Health degrees from the University of Kentucky. She completed a pharmacy practice residency at Duke University and a neurosciences fellowship at the University of Kentucky. She holds appointments as Associate Professor in the College of Pharmacy, Department of Pharmacy Practice and Science and at the College of Medicine, Department of Neurology at the University of Kentucky. Her practice site is the neurology clinic at the Veteran’s Affairs Medical Center in Lexington, Kentucky.

Dr. Ryan earned her certification in geriatric pharmacy in November 1998 and she attained Board Certified Pharmacotherapy Specialist status in 2000. She was named the Rho Chi Society 2006 National Faculty Advisor. Dr. Ryan currently serves as Regional Councilor for the Rho Chi Society. She also serves on the Medicare Model Guidelines Expert Panel for the United States Pharmacopeia.

Presentation will include discussion of off-label, experimental, and/or investigational use of drugs or devices:

Interferon betas, glatiramer acetate, fingolimod, natalizumab, mitoxantrone, dalfampridine, vitamin D, amphetamines, anticholinergics.

Learning Objectives

Outline the new drug therapies for the treatment of multiple sclerosis.
Classify new multiple sclerosis drug treatments into those used for the treatment of chronic symptoms versus those used to prevent the progression of the disease.
Summarize the pharmacologic mechanism of action, pharmacokinetics, and adverse effects or toxicities associated with new drugs for the treatment of multiple sclerosis.
Illustrate when the benefit associated with use of a new multiple sclerosis drug outweighs the possible toxicity associated with its use.

Continuing Education Credit

Activity Dates: 05/03/2011 - 05/03/2014
ACPE Contact Hours: 1.0
ACPE Number: 0284-9999-11-015-H01-P (Knowledge)
Nursing Credit Reminder: Note that ACPE and ACCME credit is accepted for certification renewal.

View complete continuing education credit details

ACPE The College of Psychiatric and Neurologic Pharmacists is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education as a provider of continuing pharmacy education. This self-study course provides 1.0 contact hours (0.10 CEUs) of knowledge-based continuing education credit from CPNP approved programming. The ACPE universal program number assigned to this course is 0284-999-11-015-H01-P (1.0 contact hours).

ACPE approved contact hours are accepted for ANCC Certification Renewal (see pages 5 and 6): At least 50% (37.5 hours) of your 75 continuing education hours must be formally approved continuing education hours. Formally approved continuing education hours meet one or more of the criteria listed below:

Continuing nursing education (CNE) approved for nursing contact hours by an accredited provider or approver of nursing continuing education
Continuing medical education (CME) approved for CME hours
Sponsored by organizations, agencies, or educational institutions accredited or approved by the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) or the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) or the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE) or the Commission on Dietetic Registration

Course Requirements

This course is provided online at cpnp.org and consists of the speaker audio and slides. A PDF file of the slides is also provided and access is available to participants indefinitely although ACPE credit is available only through the course expiration date.

Participants in this course must complete an examination and achieve a score of 60% or greater. Successful completion of the course also requires the completion of a course evaluation. ACPE statements of credit can be retrieved by participants online at cpnp.org immediately upon successful completion of the course.

View System Requirements to Access All Session Resources

Minimum:

Internet Explorer 6+, Firefox 2+ or Safari 3+
1024x768 resolution or greater
Adobe Flash Player 8+
512MB RAM
Any Operating System capable of the above requirements

Recommended:

Internet Explorer 7+, Firefox 3+ or Safari 3+
1280x768 resolution or greater
Adobe Flash Player 10+
Windows XP/2000/Vista and Mac OS 10.4 or better
512MB of RAM for Windows XP or Mac OS
1GB of RAM for Windows Vista

Target Audience

If you are a pharmacist, nurse practitioner or other healthcare professional involved in the medication therapy management of psychiatric and/or neurological patients, we invite you to participate in this online course.

Grant Support

This programming was supported in part by grants from Bristol-Myers Squibb, Cyberonics, Merk and Sunovion.