Current Status and Future Directions in the Treatment of Multiple Sclerosis: An Update From New Orleans

Activity Description & Educational Objectives

In this three-part activity, experts in the management of multiple sclerosis review and analyze data that was presented at the 64th Annual Meeting of the American Academy of Neurology (AAN 2012) in New Orleans, Louisiana. Topics discussed in this activity include recent efficacy, safety, and tolerability data on available disease-modifying therapies and new data on emerging disease-modifying therapies currently under investigation for the treatment of MS. New information on the utility of potential biomarkers for the treatment and prognosis of this disease and data related to the management of MS-associated symptoms are also reviewed.

Upon completion of this activity, participants should be better able to:

• Employ recent efficacy and safety data on available therapies for the treatment of patients with MS
• Assess the implications of late-breaking clinical data pertaining to emerging therapies for the treatment of patients with MS
• Analyze recent data on investigational biomarkers in the treatment of MS and new information pertaining to the management of symptoms associated with this disease

Target Audience

This activity has been designed to meet the educational needs of neurologists and other clinicians involved in the management of multiple sclerosis.

Requirements for Successful Completion

In order to receive credit, participants must view the activity and complete the post-test and evaluation form. There are no pre-requisites and there is no fee to participate in this activity or to receive CME credit. Statements of Credit are awarded upon successful completion of the post-test and evaluation form.

Media: Internet
Release and Expiration Dates: July 04, 2012 - July 03, 2013
Time to Complete: 45 minutes

Faculty & Disclosure / Conflict of Interest Policy

In accordance with ACCME requirements, Penn State College of Medicine has a conflict of interest policy that requires faculty to disclose relevant financial relationships related to the content of their presentations/materials. Any potential conflicts are resolved so that presentations are evidence-based and scientifically balanced.

Course Director and Interviewee

Barry Singer, MD
Director, The MS Center for Innovations in Care
Missouri Baptist Medical Center
St. Louis, Missouri

Barry Singer, MD, has a financial interest/relationship or affiliation in the form of:

Consultant for Bayer HealthCare Pharmaceuticals Inc.; Biogen Idec; Genentech, Inc.; Genzyme Corporation, a Sanofi company; Novartis Corporation; and Teva Neuroscience, Inc.

Speakers Bureau participant with Acorda Therapeutics, Inc.; Bayer HealthCare Pharmaceuticals Inc.; Biogen Idec; EMD Serono, Inc.; Novartis Corporation; Pfizer Inc.; and Teva Neuroscience, Inc.

Interviewees

Timothy L. Vollmer, MD
Professor and Director of Clinical Research
Medical Director, Rocky Mountain MS Center
Department of Neurology
University of Colorado School of Medicine
Aurora, Colorado

Timothy L. Vollmer, MD, has a financial interest/relationship or affiliation in the form of:

Consultant for Daiichi Sankyo, Inc.; Eisai Inc.; Eli Lilly and Company; Global Prairie; Guidepoint Global, LLC; Medical Logix, LLC; MSDx, Inc.; PRIME Education, Inc.; Projects In Knowledge Inc.; Schering-Plough Biopharma; Teva Neuroscience, Inc.; and XenoPort, Inc.

Grant/Research Support from Biogen Idec; Elan Corporation; Eli Lilly and Company; Genzyme Corporation, a Sanofi company; National Institutes of Health; Ono Pharmaceutical Co., LTD; and Teva Neuroscience, Inc.

Honoraria from Biogen Idec; Bristol-Myers Squibb; Elan Corporation; Genzyme Corporation, a Sanofi company; Hoffmann-La Roche Inc.; Teva Neuroscience, Inc.; The Consortium of Multiple Sclerosis Centers; University of California, Davis; and University of Washington.

Advisory Board for Acorda Therapeutics, Inc.; Biogen Idec; Bristol-Myers Squibb; Elan Corporation; Hoffmann-La Roche Inc.; Novartis Corporation; and Teva Neuroscience, Inc.

Stephen Krieger, MD
Assistant Professor of Neurology
Director, Neurology Residency Program
Corinne Goldsmith Dickinson Center for MS
Mount Sinai Medical Center
New York, New York

Stephen Krieger, MD, has a financial interest/relationship or affiliation in the form of:

Consultant for Acorda Therapeutics, Inc.; Bayer HealthCare Pharmaceuticals; EMD Serono, Inc.; Genzyme Corporation, a Sanofi company; Novartis Corporation; Questcor Pharmaceuticals, Inc.; and Teva Neuroscience, Inc.

Grant/Research Support from Bayer HealthCare Pharmaceuticals.

Speakers Bureau participant with Teva Neuroscience, Inc. (non-promotional).

CME Reviewer

Richard Tenser, MD
Professor of Neurology, Microbiology, and Immunology
Penn State College of Medicine
Hershey, Pennsylvania

Richard Tenser, MD, has a financial interest/relationship or affiliation in the form of:

Speakers Bureau participant with Biogen Idec; Novartis; Pfizer; and Teva Neuroscience.

Medical Director

Kirk A. Tacka, PhD
PVI, PeerView Institute for Medical Education

Kirk A. Tacka, PhD, currently has no financial interests/relationships or affiliations in relation to this activity.

Other PVI staff who may potentially review content for this activity have disclosed no relevant financial relationships.

Penn State College of Medicine staff and faculty involved in the development and review of this activity have disclosed no relevant financial relationships.

Sponsorship, Credit & Support

This activity has been planned and implemented in accordance with the Essential Areas and policies of the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) through the joint sponsorship of Penn State College of Medicine and PVI, PeerView Institute for Medical Education. Penn State College of Medicine is accredited by the ACCME to provide continuing medical education for physicians.

The Penn State College of Medicine designates this enduring material for a maximum of 0.75 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit^TM. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

Information about CME credit for this activity is available by contacting Penn State at 717-531-6483 or ContinuingEd@hmc.psu.edu. Reference course # G5131-12-T.

This CME activity is jointly sponsored by Penn State College of Medicine and PVI, PeerView Institute for Medical Education.

This activity is supported by an educational grant from

Disclosure of Unlabeled Use

The faculty of this educational activity may include discussions of products or devices that are not currently labeled for use by the FDA. Faculty members have been advised to disclose to the audience any reference to an unlabeled or investigational use.

No endorsement of unapproved products or uses is made or implied by coverage of these products or uses in our reports. No responsibility is taken for errors or omissions in reports.

Please refer to the official prescribing information for each product for discussion of approved indications, contraindications and warnings.