Program Description
While cancer treatment makes strides in improvement, lung cancer persists as a leading cause of death and cases remain high, reaching over 228,000 new cases and over 135,000 deaths in 2020. One of the major developments in the treatment paradigm of non−small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is the advent of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs). As evidence for use of ICIs in the frontline setting increases, the impact of potential toxicities, use of resources, and cost becomes more relevant for managed care providers. ICIs have the potential to minimize adverse effects and decrease overall cost compared with chemotherapy. Managed care professionals and pharmacists require a foundational knowledge of appropriate usage and selection of ICIs within treatment regimens for patients with NSCLC. Familiarity with currently available and emerging ICIs for treatment of NSCLC will lead to improved outcomes across patient populations. This activity will also cover biomarker analysis for candidacy of treatment with ICIs, strategies and guidelines of ICI treatment, and impact of ICI therapy on patients’ quality of life.
Target audience: Managed care pharmacists and oncology pharmacists
Activity type: Application
Release date: October 15, 2021
Expiration date: October 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:
- Identify the clinical challenges that have the potential to impact the uptake of PD-L1 testing in non−small cell lung cancer (NSCLC)
- Employ immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI) therapy into the frontline treatment of a patient with advanced NSCLC based on patient- and disease-related characteristics
- Explore the potential economic impact of decreased uptake of biomarker testing
- Analyze data demonstrating the impact of ICIs on quality of life and resource utilization in advanced NSCLC.
Eve M. Segal, PharmD, BCOP
Lead Clinical Pharmacist, Hematology/Oncology
University of Washington Medical Center/Seattle Cancer Care Alliance
Seattle, Washington
Kelly Procailo, PharmD, BCOP
Manager, Oncology Medical Drug Management and Customer Initiatives
Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan
Detroit, Michigan
Medical Writing and Editorial Support
Jane de Lartigue, PhD
Medical Writer
Newberry, Florida
Andrew Abe, PharmD
Medical Writer
Honolulu, Hawaii
This activity is supported by educational grants from
Merck Sharp & Dohme Corp and BeiGene, Ltd.
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 hours (0.20 CEU) under the ACPE universal activity number 0290-0000-21-335-H01-P. The activity is available for CE credit through October 15, 2022.
Instructions for Completing the Activity and Receiving CPE Credit
To receive CPE credit, participants must complete the pretest, read the supplement 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.
Disclosures
Eve M. Segal, PharmD, BCOP, and Kelly Procailo, PharmD, BCOP, have no relevant financial relationships with commercial interests to disclose.
Jane de Lartigue, PhD, 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; Amy Seung PharmD, BCOP, FHOPA; Kylie Ferrentino; Susan Pordon; Brianna Winters; and Chloe Taccetta have no relevant financial relationships with commercial interests to disclose.
An anonymous peer reviewer was used as part of content validation and conflict resolution. The peer reviewer has no relevant financial relationships with commercial interests to disclose.
Medical reviewer Josiah Land, PharmD, BCOP, has the following financial relationship with a commercial interest to disclose:
Advisory Board: Bristol Myers Squibb
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.
