Program Description
Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and its severe renal manifestation, lupus nephritis (LN), pose complex management challenges. 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 novel therapies in the expanding armamentarium of targeted biologics and small molecules for 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 the 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: October 15, 2026
Expiration date: December 15, 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
Yuqian Liu, PharmD
Senior Director, Specialty Clinical Solutions
Prime Therapeutics
Accreditation Information
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 0290-0000-26-230-L01-P. The activity is available for CE credit through November 15, 2026.
Instructions for Completing the Activity and Receiving CPE Credit
To
receive CPE credit, participants must complete the pretest, review the activity 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
Yuqian Liu, PharmD, has no relevant financial relationships with ineligible companies to disclose.
Pharmacy Times Continuing Education™ Planning Staff: Jim Palatine, RPh, MBA; Adam Welch, PharmD, MBA, FAPhA; Kylie Ferrentino; Brianna Winters; have no financial relationships with ineligible companies to disclose.
All of the relevant financial relationships listed for these individuals have been mitigated.
At least one anonymous peer reviewer has been used as part of content validation and conflict resolution. The peer reviewer has no relevant financial relationships with ineligible companies 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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