Overview

Biologic agents have become an important part of the overall therapeutic strategies for clinicians caring for patients with rheumatic and inflammatory diseases. Patients who are candidates for biologic therapies often present with other comorbidities, including infections, malignancies, cardiovascular disease, and autoimmune diseases. Understanding and incorporating these comorbidities into the management approach is important for clinicians when prescribing biologics in these special populations.

The Cleveland Clinic Richard J. Fasenmyer Center for Clinical Immunology and the Cleveland Rheumatology Association invite you to join an outstanding faculty of clinical experts for presentations on autoimmune and inflammatory disorders, common and rare infections associated with biologics, newer agents, and biologic use with existing conditions such as pregnancy, cancer, and liver disease.

Target Audience

The Summit is directed to rheumatologists, gastroenterologists, dermatologists, pulmonologists, internal medicine physicians, nurse practitioners, physician assistants, and other healthcare professionals interested in or using biologic therapeutics in autoimmune and inflammatory disorders.

Objectives

At the end of the Summit, the participant will be able to:

• Review and describe recent advances in basic immunology including B cell biology,
  cytokine biology, cell trafficking, and tolerance;
• Assess risks and mechanisms and prevention strategies for infectious complications
  attendant to biologic therapies;
• Describe the mechanisms of action, indications, and toxicity of newly approved agents
  as well as those in late development;
• Assess prevalence and risk of rare complications associated with agents in this class
  including hematologic, immunologic, cardiovascular, neurologic;
• Manage highly complex patient scenarios with biologics and compare their management
  decisions with global experts.

Abbott Laboratories, Inc.
Amgen
Bristol- Myers Squibb
Centocor
Genentech and Biogen Idec
Roche Laboratories
UCB, Inc.
Wyeth