A satellite symposium held at PBMI 2026.
To attend PBMI in person, register here
Program Description
Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and its severe renal manifestation, lupus nephritis (LN), represent complex management. Both are characterized by unpredictable disease patterns. LN develops in approximately 40% of individuals with SLE and is a major predictor of accelerated organ damage and increased mortality, driving a heavy burden of comorbidities like cardiovascular and bone disease. Traditional induction and maintenance strategies heavily rely on high-dose glucocorticoids and conventional immunosuppressants; however, these options frequently fall short of achieving remission, and they carry a high risk of cumulative toxicity that leaves patients vulnerable to multiple yearly flares. For payers and health systems, this translates into increased health care expenditures, long-term dialysis, and more hospital admissions during acute disease exacerbations. This session will examine the mechanisms of targeted novel therapies in the expanding armamentarium of targeted biologics and small molecules in SLE and LN. Participants will evaluate how to align cost-containment efforts with the latest clinical protocols from the 2024 KDIGO, 2025 ACR, and 2025 EULAR consensus statements. The discussion will equip managed care professionals and pharmacists with the evidence-based strategies needed to optimize treatment pathways and utilization management while supporting use of early, steroid-sparing combination therapies. Examples will highlight strategies for managed care pharmacists to lead multidisciplinary collaborations, manage polypharmacy, implement appropriate formulary controls, and execute evidence-based utilization management to curb the staggering direct and indirect costs of these conditions while significantly improving outcomes for patients with SLE and LN.
Target audience: Managed Care Pharmacists
Type of activity: Application
Release date:
September 11, 2026
Expiration date: November 11, 2026
Time to complete activity: 1
hour
Learner level: Foundational
Fee: Free
Educational Objectives
At the completion of this activity, participants will be able to:
- Examine the epidemiology and pathophysiology of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and lupus nephritis (LN) and the impact of disease progression on patient outcomes
- Analyze clinical guidelines and the role of standard and new pharmacotherapy for the treatment of SLE and LN
- Apply an evidence-based approach to utilization management for the treatment of SLE and LN
