The Costs of Multiple Sclerosis: Maximizing the Impact of Treatment on Health and Economic Outcomes

Teleconference with Live Q&A Sessions

Sponsored by North American Center for Continuing Medical Education, LLC

Presenters/Q&A Cohosts

Bruce A. Cohen, MD
Professor,  Davee Department of Neurology
Director, Northwestern Comprehensive Multiple Sclerosis Program
Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University
Chicago, Illinois

David Calabrese, RPh, MHP
Chief Clinical Officer
MedMetrics Health Partners
Assistant Clinical Professor
Northeastern University Bouvé College of Pharmacy
Boston, Massachusetts

Q&A Cohost

Howard Zwibel, MD
Founding Medical Director, Emeritus
Neuroscience Consultants
Comprehensive Multiple Sclerosis Center
Coral Gables, Florida

Learning Objectives

After completing this activity, participants should be able to:

• Explain the current role of magnetic resonance imaging in multiple sclerosis (MS) diagnosis
• Describe the clinical and economic consequences of MS and MS disease progression
• Compare and contrast current and emerging MS therapies, including issues surrounding safety, efficacy, and patient compliance
• Assist clinicians in promoting patient compliance and patient-centered treatment to reduce the clinical and economic consequences of MS disease progression

Target Audience

This activity is designed for managed markets physicians and pharmacists. 

Activity Overview

This teleconference lecture will be presented on 8 dates in March by Bruce A. Cohen, MD and David Calabrese, RPh, MHP, with a live question-and-answer session following each presentation.

To participate, dial toll-free 800-803-7101 approximately 5 minutes before the scheduled time of the teleconference. Upon calling in, provide the activity code, Multiple Sclerosis.

An activity booklet containing lecture slides will be forwarded to each participant prior to the start of the teleconference series. To be eligible for documentation of credit, participants must attend a full teleconference event, complete the 10-question online post-test with a score of 70% or better, and complete the evaluation form. After successful completion of the post-test and evaluation form online at www.naccme.com, participants may immediately print their documentation of credit.

To be eligible for credit for the live version of this activity, completed post-tests must be submitted online by April 14, 2010.

There is no fee associated with this activity.

This educational activity is a knowledge-based activity.

For questions regarding this educational activity, please contact Angela Scarnici at 609-371-1137.

Hardware/Software Requirements

All educational activities are accessible via a computer with 650 MHz PC, 128 MB RAM, Windows or MAC operating system, Internet Explorer, Netscape, or Safari browsers. Windows Media Player, sound card, and speakers are required for streamed audio. Flash Player, sound card, and speakers are required for video programs. A PDF reader is required for print publications. Please direct technical questions to webmaster@naccme.com.

CME Accreditation

North American Center for Continuing Medical Education, LLC (NACCME) is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education to provide continuing medical education for physicians.

NACCME designates this educational activity for a maximum of 1 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™.  Physicians should only claim credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

CPE Accreditation

North American Center for Continuing Medical Education, LLC (NACCME) is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education as a provider of continuing pharmacy education. This activity is approved for 1 contact hour (0.1 CEU) of continuing pharmacy education (UAN 276-000-10-003-L01-P).

Any participant wanting to file a grievance with respect to any aspect of a continuing pharmacy education activity accredited by NACCME may contact John Savage, Director, Medical Education, NACCME, in writing at 300 Rike Drive, Suite A, Millstone Township, NJ 08535, or by e-mail at jsavage@naccme.com. The Director of Medical Education will review the grievance and respond within 30 days of receiving the written statement. If the participant is unsatisfied with the response, an appeal to the Vice President, Medical Education, NACCME, may be made for a second level of review.

Independent Clinical Reviewer: Darin T. Okuda, MD, Assistant Clinical Professor of Neurology, University of California, San Francisco, UCSF MS Center, San Francisco, California

Planning Committee

The planning committee comprises David Calabrese, RPh, MHP, Bruce A. Cohen, MD, Darin T. Okuda, MD, Howard Zwibel, MD; Kristin Dickie, Mary Johnson, Mike Kearney, Nick Lombardi, Randy Robbin, John Savage, and Jessica Steuerman, NACCME.

Financial Disclosure and Conflicts of Interest  

According to the disclosure policy of NACCME, faculty, editors, managers, and other individuals who are in a position to control content are required to disclose any relevant financial relationships with relevant commercial companies related to this activity. All relevant conflicts of interest that are identified are reviewed for potential conflicts of interest. If a conflict is identified, it is the responsibility of NACCME to initiate a mechanism to resolve the conflict(s). The existence of these interests or relationships is not viewed as implying bias or decreasing the value of the presentation.

All educational materials are reviewed for fair balance, scientific objectivity of studies reported, and levels of evidence.

The faculty has reported the following:

Dr. Cohen: Disclosure information will be provided prior to the start of the teleconference series.
Dr. Okuda: Grant/research support—Pfizer, Inc, EMD Serono, Inc
Dr. Zwibel: Consultant—Acorda Therapeutics, Teva Neuroscience; Promotional speakers bureau—Acorda Therapeutics, Novartis, Teva Neuroscience
Mr. Calabrese disclosed no relevant financial relationships with any commercial interests.

Ms. Dickie, Ms. Johnson, Mr. Kearney, Mr. Robbin, Mr. Savage, and Ms. Steuerman have disclosed no relevant financial relationships with any commercial interests.

Mr. Lombardi: Stock shareholder—Inspire Pharmaceuticals, Inc, ViroPharma, Inc, Vertex Pharmaceuticals

NACCME requires faculty to inform participants whenever off-label/unapproved uses of drugs and/or devices are discussed in their presentations.

Off-label/unapproved uses of drugs and/or devices will be disclosed in the activity materials.

Privacy Policy

NACCME protects the privacy of personal and other information regarding participants, educational partners, and joint sponsors. NACCME and our joint sponsors will not release personally identifiable information to a third party without the individual's consent, except such information as is required for reporting purposes to the appropriate accrediting agency.

NACCME maintains physical, electronic, and procedural safeguards that comply with federal regulations to guard your nonpublic personal information.

Copyright © 2010 by North American Center for Continuing Medical Education, LLC. All rights reserved. No part of this accredited continuing education activity may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, without first obtaining permission from North American Center for Continuing Medical Education.

Grant Support

Supported by an education grant from Teva Neuroscience