STATEMENT OF NEED

Lupus nephritis is a severe complication that develops in up to 60% of individuals with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Characterized by kidney inflammation and chronic parenchymal damage, lupus nephritis leads to progressive kidney damage and potential kidney failure, representing one of the leading causes of morbidity and mortality among patients with SLE. The emergence of novel biological agents and combination therapies has provided a promising new approach to the treatment of lupus nephritis. This Clinical Case Conference will explore 3 complex case studies illustrating the use of novel therapies and combinations in the management of lupus nephritis (Wiegley et al, 2024). It features perspectives from Anca Askanase, MD, Professor of Medicine, Director of the Lupus Center, and Director of Rheumatology Clinical Trials at Columbia University Irving Medical Center; Andrew Bomback, MD, MPH, Associate Professor of Medicine and Co-Director of the Center for Glomerular Diseases at Columbia University Irving Medical Center; and Samir Parikh, MD, Clinical Professor of Internal Medicine in the Division of Nephrology at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center. 

TARGET AUDIENCE

Nephrologists, rheumatologists, nephrology and rheumatology advanced practice providers, and other healthcare providers involved in the care of patients with systemic lupus erythematous (SLE) with or at risk of lupus nephritis.

LEARNING OBJECTIVES

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

• Describe unmet needs in the current management of LN
• Analyze the mechanisms by which new and emerging biologic agents address LN pathophysiology
• Evaluate the clinical utility of novel and emerging biologic therapies for the treatment of patients with LN

 
REGISTRATION

JOINTLY ACCREDITED PROVIDER

In support of improving patient care, i3 Health is jointly accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME), the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE), and the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), to provide continuing education for the healthcare team.

PHYSICIANS

i3 Health designates this live activity for a maximum of 1.0 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

Successful completion of this CME activity, which includes participation in the evaluation component, enables the participant to earn up to 1.0 Medical Knowledge MOC point in the American Board of Internal Medicine’s (ABIM) Maintenance of Certification (MOC) program. Participants will earn MOC points equivalent to the amount of CME credits claimed for the activity. It is the CME activity provider’s responsibility to submit participant completion information to ACCME for the purpose of granting ABIM MOC credit.

By providing this information, participants are agreeing to allow i3 Health to share this information with the ACCME.

Physician Assistants/Associates

i3 Health has been authorized by the American Academy of PAs (AAPA) to award AAPA Category 1 CME credit for activities planned in accordance with AAPA CME Criteria. This activity is designated for 1.0 AAPA Category 1 CME credit. Approval is valid until 2/18/27. PAs should only claim credit commensurate with the extent of their participation.

Nurse Practitioners

The American Academy of Nurse Practitioners Certification Program (AANPCP) accepts AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™ from organizations accredited by the ACCME. Individuals are responsible for checking with the AANPCP for further guidelines.

DISCLOSURE OF RELEVANT FINANCIAL INFORMATION WITH INELIGIBLE COMPANIES

i3 Health endorses the standards of the ACCME that require everyone in a position to control the content of a CME activity to disclose all financial relationships with ineligible companies that are related to the content of the CME activity. CME activities must be balanced, independent of commercial bias, and promote improvements or quality in health care. All recommendations involving clinical medicine must be based on evidence accepted within the medical profession.

A conflict of interest is created when an individual has an opportunity to affect CME content about products or services of an ineligible company with which he/she has a financial relationship, which therefore may bias their opinions and teaching. This may include receiving a salary, royalty, intellectual property rights, consulting fee, honoraria, stocks, or other financial benefits.

i3 Health will identify, review, and mitigate all relevant financial relationships that speakers, authors, or planners disclose prior to an educational activity being delivered to learners. Disclosure of a relationship is not intended to suggest or condone bias in any presentation but is made to provide participants with information that might be of potential importance to their evaluation of a presentation. i3 Health does not endorse any products or services.

Relevant financial relationships exist between the following individuals and ineligible companies:

The i3 Health planners, reviewers, and managers have nothing to disclose.

Anca Askanase, MD, discloses that she has served as a consultant for AbbVie, Amgen, AstraZeneca, Aurinia, Biogen, Bristol Myers Squibb, Cabaletta, Celgene, Eli Lilly, Idorsia, Janssen, Genentech, GlaxoSmithKline, Mallinckrodt, Nkarta, Pfizer, Sana, Sanofi, Thermo Fisher, and UCB; and that she has received grants/research support from Nkarta.

Andrew Bomback, MD, MPH, discloses that he has served on an advisory board or panel for GlaxoSmithKline; that he has served on a speaker's bureau for Otsuka; and that he has served as a consultant for Amgen, Apellis, Aurinia, Novartis, and Travere.

Samir Parikh, MD, discloses that he has served on an advisory board or panel for Alexion, Calliditas, GlaxoSmithKline, Travere, Vera, and Vertex; that he has served as a consultant for Alexion, Aurinia, Calliditas, GlaxoSmithKline, Kezar, Travere, Vera, and Vertex; and that he has received grants/research support from Aurinia. 

i3 Health has mitigated all relevant financial relationships.

INSTRUCTIONS TO RECEIVE CREDIT

In order to receive credit for this activity, participants must submit a completed evaluation at the end of the activity.

TECHNOLOGY REQUIREMENTS FOR VIRTUAL CME | NCPD | CPE ACTIVITIES

For virtual (asynchronous, archived live, home study; synchronous webinars) CME/NCPD/CPE activities, include access to system requirements:

• The Internet browser(s) supported and minimum versions of each required by the learner to complete the online activity.
• The minimum memory, storage, processor, and Internet speeds require by the learner to complete the online activity.

UNAPPROVED USE DISCLOSURE

i3 Health requires CME faculty (speakers) to disclose to attendees when products or procedures being discussed are off-label, unlabeled, experimental, and/or investigational (not FDA approved), as well as any limitations on the information that is presented, such as data that are preliminary or that represent ongoing research, interim analyses, and/or unsupported opinion. Faculty may discuss information about pharmaceutical agents that is outside of U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved labeling.

This information is intended solely for continuing medical education and is not intended to promote off-label use of these medications. If you have questions, contact the medical affairs department of the manufacturer for the most recent prescribing information.

DISCLAIMER

The information provided at this CME activity is for continuing education purposes only and is not meant to substitute for the independent medical/clinical judgment of a healthcare provider relative to diagnostic and treatment options of a specific patient’s medical condition.

COMMERCIAL SUPPORT

This activity is supported by an educational grant from Genentech, a member of the Roche Group.

Aggregate participant data will be shared with commercial supporters of this activity.

CONTACT INFORMATION

Technical queries or questions regarding activity credit should be directed to i3 Health at support@i3health.com.