Achieving High-Quality Patient Outcomes in Spinal Muscular Atrophy: A Review of New Data and Managed Care Strategies

Achieving High-Quality Patient Outcomes in Spinal Muscular Atrophy: A Review of New Data and Managed Care Strategies

Faculty

Elizabeth Bisaccia, PharmD, BCPPS
Clinical Pharmacy Specialist
Rush University Medical Center
Chicago, Illinois

Alan D. Pannier, PharmD, MBA
Head of Clinical Services
SmithRx
Salt Lake City, Utah

Medical Writing & Editorial Support

Brittany Hoffmann-Eubanks, PharmD, MBA
Founder and CEO
Banner Medical LLC
Frankfort, Illinois

Andrew Abe, PharmD
Medical Writer
Honolulu, Hawaii
 

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Program Description
It is estimated that about one in 65 people are carriers of the gene mutation for spinal muscular atrophy (SMA), which causes degeneration of motor neurons and progressive muscle weakness affecting patients’ ability to move, swallow, and breathe. The rapid progression of SMA and high rate of mortality have contributed to its designation as a recommended condition for which all newborns should receive screening. The majority of patients with SMA present with signs and symptoms by 3 months of age, but symptom onset can vary according to SMA type, thus affecting treatment decisions and making early diagnosis and treatment initiation imperative. Previously, management of SMA consisted primarily of supportive care with specialized equipment, such as ventilators and feeding tubes, physical and occupational therapy, and other expert care to maintain patient quality of life, with astronomical associated costs. However, use of disease-modifying therapies has the potential to change existing treatment protocols, normalize development, and increase survival, especially for patients in whom a diagnosis was received early. These therapies are also associated with high costs and are often subject to extensive barriers to access. To balance the costs of treatment with improvement of patient outcomes, managed care professionals and pharmacists must establish a framework for evaluating newly approved therapies and expediting the use of these agents in the treatment of SMA.

Target audience: Managed care pharmacists
Activity type: Application
Release date: January 29, 2021
Expiration date:  February 15, 2022
Estimated time to complete activity: 2 hours
Fee: Free

Educational Objectives
At the completion of this activity, the participant will be able to:

• Determine gold standards for treating spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) including updates to the 2020 revised recommendations.
• Use the most up-to-date clinical data of approved therapies to aid in advancing treatment options and patient-specific protocols for SMA.
• Employ strategies that allow access to patient-specific treatment protocols and the potential opportunities to offset costs in SMA.

Pharmacy Times Continuing Education™ is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE) as a provider of continuing pharmacy education. This activity is approved for 2.0 contact hour (0.20 CEU) under the ACPE universal activity number 0290-0000-21-022-H01-P. The activity is available for CE credit through February 15, 2022.


Instructions for Completing the Activity and Receiving CPE Credit
To receive CPE credit, participants must complete the pretest, read the online article in its entirety, complete the posttest, and complete the online activity evaluation. After successful completion of the online activity evaluation, you can submit your credit to CPE Monitor. You may view your credit within 48 hours at www.mycpemonitor.net. All participants must request credit before the activity expiration date. CE credit will not be issued after this date.
 

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Disclosures

Faculty

Elizabeth Bisaccia, PharmD, BCPPS and Alan D. Pannier, PharmD, MBA, have no relevant financial relationships with commercial interests to disclose.

Medical Writing & Editorial Support Disclosures

Brittany Hoffmann-Eubanks, PharmD, MBA, and Andrew Abe, PharmD, have no relevant financial relationships with commercial interests to disclose.

Pharmacy Times Continuing Education™ Planning Staff – Jim Palatine, RPh, MBA; Maryjo Dixon, RPh; Kimberly Simpson, PharmD; Kelly McCormick; Susan Pordon; and Brianna Winters have no relevant financial relationships with commercial interests to disclose.

Disclosure Policy
According to the disclosure policy of The American Journal of Managed Care^® and Pharmacy Times Continuing Education™, all persons who are in a position to control content are required to disclose any relevant financial relationships with commercial interests. If a conflict is identified, it is the responsibility of Pharmacy Times Continuing Education™ to initiate a mechanism to resolve the conflict(s). The existence of these relationships is not viewed as implying bias or decreasing the value of the activity. All educational materials are reviewed for fair balance, scientific objectivity of studies reported, and levels of evidence.

Disclosure of Unapproved/Off-Label Use
The contents of this activity may include information regarding the use of products that may be inconsistent with or outside the approved labeling for these products in the United States. Participants should note that the use of these products outside current approved labeling is considered experimental and they are advised to consult prescribing information for these products.

The information provided in this CE activity is for continuing medical and pharmacy education purposes only and is not meant to substitute for the independent medical or pharmacy judgment of a physician or pharmacist relative to diagnostic, treatment, or management options for a specific patient’s medical condition.

The opinions expressed in the content are solely those of the individual faculty members and do not reflect those of The American Journal of Managed Care^®, Pharmacy Times Continuing Education™, or any of the companies that provided commercial support for this CE activity.

Signed disclosures are on file at the office of The American Journal of Managed Care^®, Cranbury, New Jersey.

Educational Disclaimer
CPE activities are offered solely for educational purposes and do not constitute any form of professional advice or referral. Discussions concerning drugs, dosages, and procedures may reflect the clinical experience of the author(s) or they may be derived from the professional literature or other sources and may suggest uses that are investigational in nature and not approved labeling or indications. Participants are encouraged to refer to primary references or full prescribing information resources.

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