Targeting the Unmet Needs in Cardiovascular Disease Through PCSK9 Inhibition: Recent Advances and Managed Care Insights

Program Description

Lowering cholesterol in patients at high risk for cardiovascular disease (CVD) has been an important goal to reduce heart disease. High cholesterol is a leading risk factor for atherosclerotic CVD, and it is a major contributor to the rising cost of healthcare. Despite treatment with standard lipid-lowering therapies, 10% to 20% of high-risk and very-high-risk patients fail to reach LDL-C goals and require further adjunctive therapy. The availability of newer agents specifically targeting PCSK9 inhibition for patients who do not achieve LDL-C lowering targets requires managed care professionals to be familiar with existing guidelines and evaluate utilization data and drug spend in this class. Promoting disease control through mitigation efforts and implementing consistent criteria to increase access to cost-effective LCL-C-lowering therapies are key strategies for pharmacists involved in the care and management of patients with hypercholesterolemia at high risk of CVD.

Target audience: Health-system and managed care pharmacists

Type of activity: Application

Release date: July 29, 2022

Expiration date: July 29, 2023

Time to complete activity: 1.0 hour

Fee: Free

Pharmacist Educational Objectives

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

• Illustrate the challenges in treating patients with atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease or heterozygous familial hypercholesterolemia to target low-density lipoprotein cholesterol goals.
• Explore the efficacy and safety data, as well as the guideline-recommended use of PCSK9 inhibitors in the management of hypercholesterolemia.
• Identify managed care strategies to integrate evidence-based, cost-effective use of PCSK9-inhibiting therapies.

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 0290-0000-22-354-H01-P. The activity is available for CE credit through July 29, 2023.

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

Khalid M. Kamal, MPharm, PhD, has no relevant financial relationships with commercial interests to disclose.

Pharmacy Times Continuing Education™ Planning Staff—Jim Palatine, RPh, MBA; Maryjo Dixon, RPh; Dipti Desai, PharmD, MBA, CHCP; Crissy Wilson; Susan Pordon; Brianna Winters; and Chloe Taccetta have no 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.

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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