INDUSTRY-SUPPORTED SATELLITE SYMPOSIA
Open to all meeting registrants
These programs were not affiliated with AASLD
AASLD provided an opportunity for registrants at The Liver Meeting® 2009 to attend independent symposia financially supported by the pharmaceutical industry. These symposia took place following The Liver Meeting®’s scheduled educational events on Saturday, October 31, Sunday, November 1 and Monday, November 2.
Each of the symposia organizers made a financial contribution in support of the educational mission of AASLD. This support allowed symposia organizers access to The Liver Meeting®’s attendees before the meeting by way of mail promotions, and on specific evenings during the meeting following official AASLD functions. They also made many features of The Liver Meeting® possible and helped maintain reasonable registration fees. This support is gratefully acknowledged. This acknowledgement, however, does not constitute an endorsement of any product, nor AASLD oversight or endorsement of the content of the program. These programs were not affiliated with AASLD.
Several of the programs are being offered as enduring pieces online. If a link to the program has been provided, it is included below (the title is highlighted/linked if there is a website for the program). If you would like additional information about any of the programs, please contact the individual listed for each program.
Saturday, October 31, 2009
Game Changers in Hepatology - Future Challenges in the Treatment of HCV
Supported by Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation and Human Genome Sciences, Inc.
Organized by Projects In Knowledge, Inc.
CME provided by Projects In Knowledge, Inc.
On completion of this activity, participants should be able to:
• Assess the impact of changes in medical practice, including EMR, new reimbursement paradigms, and healthcare reform, will have on the practice setting and the treatment of patients with chronic hepatitis C.
• Evaluate the benefits and limitations of current agents on the treatment of patients with chronic hepatitis C.
• Assess the benefits and limitations of new agents, including modifications of IFN and ribavirin and inhibitors of viral protease and polymerase, in the treatment of chronic hepatitis C.
For more information, contact Michelle Ingram at 973-200-2525 or m.ingram@projectsinknowledge.com.
Latest Evidence and Evolution of Therapeutic and Research Strategies for Hyponatremia in Patients with Advanced Cirrhosis
Supported by Otsuka America Pharmaceutical, Inc.
Organized by CME-University
CME provided by University of Massachusetts Medical School
On completion of this activity, participants should be able to:
• Understand the epidemiology and prognostic implications of hyponatremia in patients with advanced cirrhosis.
• Explain the pathogenesis of hyponatremia in patients with cirrhosis, including the role of systemic vasodilation, arterial underfilling, and nonosmotic vasopression secretion.
• Discuss the risks associated with hyponatremia in patients undergoing liver transplantation, including the increased risks of morbidity and mortality in the postoperative period.
• Describe the latest evidence and evolution of therapeutic and research strategies for hyponatremia in patients with advanced cirrhosis.
For more information, contact Nicole Falco at 815-271-5035 or Nfalco1@gmail.com.
Prediction, Individualization, Optimization: Towards a Treatment-Free Future for Patients With Chronic Hepatitis B
Supported by F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd
Organized by Elements Communications Ltd
CME provided by Carolinas Center for Medical Excellence
On completion of this activity, participants should be able to:
• Understand the phases in the natural history of CHB and identify the patients who require treatment and those who only require monitoring.
• Interpret the key role of HBsAg clearance in immunological control of HBV infection and its associated long-term favorable prognosis.
• Understand and apply the rationale behind the two currently available treatment approaches; namely use of injectable interferon-based therapy and oral antivirals.
• Compare and contrast the different markers for monitoring response to identify which is most appropriate for each of the two different therapeutic strategies.
• Evaluate the wealth of new data on quantification of HBsAg during therapy and how it may be used to predict response to therapy.
• Appreciate how the combination of baseline and on-treatment HBsAg quantification can be used to predict response, tailor treatment duration, and optimize outcomes with both interferon-based and oral antiviral therapies.
• Discuss the rationale for a response-guided approach and potential combination strategies that may be employed to tailor treatment to the individual patient, and thereby maximize the potential sustained response.
For more information, contact Wendy Burgess at 44-1959-568-150 or wendyburgess@elementscommunications.com.
Sunday, November 1, 2009
Beyond the Tip of the Iceberg: Strategies to Ensure Optimal HBV Screening, Diagnosis, and Initial Therapy
Supported by Gilead Sciences
Organized by Clinical Care Options, LLC
CME provided by Postgraduate Institute for Medicine
On completion of this activity, participants should be able to:
• Describe potential shortcomings of current screening and evaluation practices for HBV as well as at least 2 strategies to address those shortcomings.
• Define appropriate strategies for assessing and monitoring HBV-infected patients to ascertain candidacy for treatment.
• Compare the safety, efficacy, durability, and potency of currently FDA-approved first-line HBV therapies.
For more information, contact Amy Goldman at 585-533-1874 or agoldman@clinicaloptions.com.
Clinical Science Investigations: Investigating the Issues that Determine Our Success in HCV Management
Supported by Roche Pharmaceuticals
Organized by Consensus Medical Communications
CME provided by Medical Education Resources, Inc.
On completion of this activity, participants should be able to:
• Identify the importance of negative predictors within patient populations and discuss how these affect both therapeutic decision-making and the appropriateness of global guideline development.
• Describe the evidence base related to sustained virologic response rates and patient outcomes for adding an erythropoietic agent for treatment-induced anemia.
• Evaluate the impact of patient host factors such as insulin resistance and obesity on treatment outcomes and explore the evidence supporting the active treatment of these factors.
• Identify the scientific and clinical basis for direct-acting antiviral agents (DAAs) and evaluate current data related to their safety and efficacy as well as viral resistance.
• Describe the potential uses of DAAs in future treatment regimens, with consideration of adjunctive treatment to the current standard of care as well as in IFN-or RBV-free DAA regimens.
For more information, contact Sarah Orvis at 720-881-3954 or sorvis@consensusmedical.com.
HYPONATREMIA AND CIRRHOSIS: Pathogenesis, Clinical Significance, and Therapeutic Management
Supported by Astellas Pharma Global Development, Inc.
Organized by Potomac Center for Medical Education
CME provided by Potomac Center for Medical Education
On completion of this activity, participants should be able to:
• Discuss the pathogenesis and underlying mechanisms of hyponatremia associated with liver disease.
• Identify the clinical manifestations, sequelae, and complications associated with hyponatremia of liver disease.
• Determine appropriate treatment strategies and the role of vasopressin antagonism to improve patient outcomes.
For more information, contact Mira Valkova at 410-309-0690 or mvalkova@rockpointe.com.
Taking Stock of the Current Research in Hepatocellular Carcinoma: An Interactive Discussion of the Importance of Multidisciplinary Collaboration and the Need for Appropriate Incorporation of Latest Treatment Strategies
Supported by Onyx Pharmaceuticals and Bayer HealthCare Pharmaceuticals Inc.
Organized by PVI, PeerView Institute for Medical Education, Inc.
CME provided by University of Florida College of Medicine
On completion of this activity, participants should be able to:
• Recognize the importance of multidisciplinary collaboration among the different specialists involved in managing patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) to determine the best setting for treating these patients and appropriate timing of referrals, if necessary, to ensure that they receive optimal care.
• Effectively employ the available imaging tools to appropriately assess patients with HCC and identify the best evidence-based, multimodal treatment strategy for each individual patient.
• Understand the potential role of biomarkers and their utility in making treatment decisions for patients with HCC.
• Demonstrate knowledge of the current efficacy and safety data on novel treatment approaches in HCC, including molecularly targeted therapies and emerging alternatives to TACE, and determine their clinical applicability.
• Optimally integrate the latest evidence-based treatment strategies appropriate for each stage of the disease into treatment plans for patients with HCC.
For more information, contact Chris Kriz at 203-344-1012 or chris.kriz@peerviewnetwork.com.
Monday, November 2, 2009
Expert Perspectives in Hepatitis B: Screening, Assessing, & Treating
Supported by Bristol-Myers Squibb
Organized by Practice Point Communications, Inc.
CME provided by Rush University Medical Center
On completion of this activity, participants should be able to:
• Describe at risk patient populations for HBV and methods for improving access to care.
• Identify appropriate testing and patient workup procedures for HBV.
• Discuss clinical approaches to HBV therapy based on individual patients needs.
• Describe key treatment strategies for the long-term management of patients with chronic HBV.
For more information, contact Kathi Donovan at 813-891-6999 or kdonovan@practicepointinc.com.
Smoother Waters Ahead? New Directions in the Management of HCV
Supported by Vertex Pharmaceuticals Inc.
Organized by Clinical Care Options, LLC
CME provided by Postgraduate Institute for Medicine
On completion of this activity, participants should be able to:
• Describe 2 factors that impact the current and/or future burden of HCV disease.
• Identify STAT-C agents that are currently in advanced clinical development, including their mechanisms of action.
• Compare and contrast the duration of therapy required by the current standard of care with emerging data from studies of STAT-C in treatment-naïve patients and treatment-experienced patient populations.
• Compare and contrast the efficacy of current FDA-approved regimens and emerging data from studies of STAT-Cs in both treatment-naïve and treatment-experienced patient populations.
For more information, contact Amy Goldman at 585-533-1874 or agoldman@clinicaloptions.com.
The Art and Science of Treating Hepatic Encephalopathy: Patient Scenarios Through Diagnosis and Management
Supported by Salix Pharmaceuticals Inc.
Organized by AccreditEd
CME provided by University of Kentucky Colleges of Medicine and Pharmacy
On completion of this activity, participants should be able to:
• Discuss the nature of the metabolic abnormalities of HE.
• Compare and contrast the mechanism of action and efficacy of medical strategies for the treatment of patients with HE.
• Describe adverse effects of current treatments for patients with HE, and discuss the impact of these adverse effects on the patient.
For more information, contact Jacqueline Drozak at 973-898-9811 or jdrozak@theaccredited.com.