Managed Care Considerations: Targeting the Janus Kinase Pathway in Atopic Dermatitis and Alopecia Areata

Program Description
Atopic dermatitis (AD) and alopecia areata (AA) can severely affect patients’ quality of life. Adults and children with dermatological diseases experience negative impacts in mental health as well as overall health throughout their lifetimes. AD is a common comorbidity in patients with AA, as are other conditions including asthma, rhinitis, and eczema, which share common inflammatory pathways. As there is no cure for AD or AA, early treatment and interventions are important to manage disease progression. Current treatment approaches for AD and AA include topical corticosteroids and oral immunosuppressive drugs. However, research into medications targeting the interleukin pathways and those that inhibit Janus kinase (JAK) have proven efficacy in autoimmune diseases, leading investigators to explore use of JAK inhibitors in AD and AA as well. Managed care professionals and pharmacists have important roles in incorporating emerging JAK inhibitors into the treatment plans for patients with AD and AA. This activity will specifically focus on data presented at the 2021 American Academy of Dermatology Virtual Meeting Experience, and expert faculty will review the potential of these emerging agents to impact clinical outcomes for patients with AD and AA.

Target audience: Managed care pharmacists

Type of activity: Application

Release date: December 14, 2021

Fee: Free


Educational Objectives

At the completion of this activity, participants will be able to:

• Identify the overlapping management for atopic dermatitis (AD) and alopecia areata (AA) as chronic, inflammatory skin diseases as well as the burden of disease on clinical outcomes and quality of life.
• Investigate recent clinical updates to treatment recommendations presented at the 2021 American Academy of Dermatology Virtual Meeting Experience and the place in therapy for new and emerging JAK inhibitors for the treatment of AD and AA.
• Apply managed care considerations to appropriately assess and integrate evidence-based treatments, including new JAK inhibitors, into treatment paradigms for patients with AD and AA.

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 1.0 contact hour (0.10 CEU) under the ACPE universal activity number 0290-0000-21-374-L01-P. The activity is available for CE credit through February 14, 2022.

Instructions for Completing the Activity and Receiving CPE Credit

To receive CPE credit, participants must complete the pretest, read the 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.

Disclosures

The following contributors have no relevant financial relationships with commercial interests to disclose:

Faculty

Dana McCormick Rph, FAMCP

Pharmacy Times Continuing Education™ Planning Staff—Jim Palatine, RPh, MBA; Maryjo Dixon, RPh; Rose Namissa, PharmD, BSPS; Kylie Ferrentino; Susan Pordon; Brianna Winters; and Chloe Taccetta

Pharmacy Times® Editorial Staff—Davy James

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.

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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