Treatment of ALS: Examining the Role of Current and Emerging Therapies

Program Info

This activity includes a Patient Perspective video.

Program Description

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a progressive and fatal neuromuscular disease characterized by the degeneration of motor neurons in the brain and spinal cord. A mainstay of ALS treatment is to manage symptoms as the disease progresses and provide palliative care. While significant advances have led to a strong pipeline and new therapies, treatment decisions for ALS are often quite complex, and successful management involves a multitude of clinical and social factors. There is a critical need for pharmacists to be aware of the emerging treatments in order to improve access to new therapies for people with ALS. Pharmacists serve as the bridge between a patient and their pharmacotherapy and are the last step in the medication use process; thus, it is important that pharmacists remain up-to-date on new therapy approvals and recommendations to properly care for patients with ALS. This activity will help pharmacists stay knowledgeable regarding current, including recently approved, therapies for ALS and their efficacy and safety profiles, as well as the importance of taking a patients’ quality of life into consideration. This activity will also include a patient/caregiver perspective to provide insight into living with ALS as well as important points for pharmacists involved in the care of patients with ALS.

Target audience: Health-system pharmacists, retail pharmacists, and specialty pharmacists

Type of activity: Application
Release date: January 23, 2023
Expiration date: January 23, 2024

Time to complete activity: 1 hour
Fee: Free

Educational Objectives

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

• Identify the pathophysiology, risk factors, and disease burden of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), including clinical manifestations and key health disparities
• Distinguish between current and recently approved treatment options for ALS, including their efficacy and safety profiles
• Examine the role of pharmacists in the management of ALS, including strategies for collaborating with prescribers and providing medication counseling to help improve patient outcomes

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 contact hour (0.10 CEU) under the ACPE universal activity number 0290-0000-23-018-H01-P. The activity is available for CE credit through January 23, 2024.

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

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

Faculty

Mindy Roselli, PharmD, BCGP, CPh, CSP

Pharmacy Times Continuing Education™ Planning Staff—Jim Palatine, RPh, MBA; Maryjo Dixon, RPh; Liza Patel, PharmD, RPh; Crissy Wilson; Susan Pordon; Brianna Winters; and Chloe Taccetta.

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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