CME-Certified Internet Activity

Managing Global Cardiometabolic Risk
How Can We Disrupt the Pathological Process?

Release Date: June 2007

Expiration Date: June 30, 2008

Jointly Sponsored by Medical Media Communications and
Medical Crossfire^®/Liberty Communications Network.

This activity is supported by an educational grant from sanofi-aventis.

Commensurate with the epidemic of obesity and diabetes in the US in recent years has been an increase in the prevalence of cardiovascular (CV) disease. Even with the considerable research and development of new approaches to manage cardiometabolic risk, the residual risk remaining with treated CV disease is associated with a markedly high rate of major CV events. This results, in part, from the fact that many pharmacological options treat downstream consequences of the cardiovascular and metabolic disease process, subsequent to the point in the pathological cascade at which the classical CV risk factors develop.

As we learn more about the drivers of global CV risk, new therapeutic targets are being explored. In addition to emerging pharmacotherapies that address individual risk factors in novel ways, there is also new focus toward treatments that can influence multiple risk factors by targeting upstream causes, such as the metabolic perturbations associated with conditions such as intra-abdominal adiposity and insulin resistance.

To enhance the treatment of cardiovascular risk, clinicians need to understand the emerging treatment options and their appropriate utilization in patient care. With the speed at which our scientific understanding and therapeutic alternatives are growing, education is key to effectively managing an ever-growing population of at-risk patients. This symposium will provide an opportunity to reinforce key principles and review new therapeutic alternatives clinicians must consider when individualizing a strategy for global CV risk management.

Through debate and authoritative peer exchange, this Medical Crossfire^® program, conducted in conjunction with Medical Media Communications, will confront issues related to current and emerging therapeutic options for managing cardiometabolic risk.

• Effectively recognize and accurately assess cardiometabolic risk in their patients.
• Understand the pathological process underlying cardiometabolic risk, including the impact of visceral adipocyte-derived bioactive mediators on metabolism, inflammation, and atherosclerosis.
• Analyze recent clinical data on cardiometabolic therapies that target the pathological process in novel ways, including CB1 blockade and its broad effects on central adiposity and other cardiometabolic risk drivers.
• Appropriately utilize new pharmacological approaches in the effective management of cardiometabolic disorders.
• Formulate clinical strategies for the comprehensive management of cardiometabolic risk.

This educational activity is designed for cardiologists, primary-care clinicians, and other health care professionals interested in or involved with the treatment of patients with risk factors for cardiovascular disease.

This activity has been planned and implemented in accordance with the Essential Areas and Policies of the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) through the joint sponsorship of Medical Media Communications and Liberty Communications Network.

Medical Media Communications, Department of CME, is accredited by the ACCME to provide CME for physicians.

Medical Media Communications designates this educational activity for a maximum of 2.0 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits.^TM Physicians should only claim credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

Continuing Medical Education credit will be awarded free of charge via mail within 4 weeks following the activity to physicians who view the program for its duration and return a successfully completed posttest and evaluation form to: Medical Media Communications, CME Department, 6133 North River Road, Suite 830, Rosemont, IL 60018.

This activity is being presented as a web format. Participants are expected to view the presentation and review the supplemental materials provided.

In accordance with the disclosure policies of Medical Media Communications and Liberty Communications Network, and to conform with ACCME and FDA guidelines, all program faculty are required to disclose to the activity participants: 1) the existence of any financial interest or other relationships with the manufacturers of any commercial products/devices, or providers of commercial services, that relate to the content of their presentation/material, or the commercial contributors of this activity, that could be perceived as a real or apparent conflict of interest; and 2) the identification of a commercial product/device that is unlabeled for use or an investigational use of a product/device not yet approved.

Dr. Ballantyne has received grant/research support from AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals, Gene Logic, GlaxoSmithKline Pharmaceuticals, Kos Pharmaceuticals, Merck & Co., Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corp., Pfizer, Roche, Sankyo Pharma, sanofi-synthelabo, Schering-Plough Pharmaceuticals, and Takeda Pharmaceuticals North America; has been a consultant for AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals, diaDexus, Merck & Co., Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corp., Pfizer, Reliant Pharmaceuticals, Roche, sanofi-synthelabo, and Schering-Plough Pharmaceuticals; and has served on the speakers' bureaus of AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals, Kos Pharmaceuticals, Merck & Co., Pfizer, Reliant Pharmaceuticals, and Schering-Plough Pharmaceuticals.

Dr. Bhatt has been a consultant for AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Eisai Pharmaceuticals, Eli Lilly and Co., GlaxoSmithKline Pharmaceuticals, Millennium Pharmaceuticals, Par Pharmaceutical, PDL BioPharma, sanofi-aventis, Schering-Plough Pharmaceuticals, and The Medicine Company; and has served as a paid speaker for Bristol-Myers Squibb, sanofi-aventis, and The Medicine Company.

Dr. McGuire has received grant/research support from GlaxoSmithKline Pharmaceuticals; has been a consultant for Tethys Biosciences; and has served on the speakers' bureaus of Pfizer and Takeda Pharmaceuticals North America.

Dr. Plutzky has received grant/research support from Takeda Pharmaceuticals North America; has been a consultant for AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals, Bristol-Myers Squibb, GlaxoSmithKline Pharmaceuticals, Laboratories Fournier, Merck & Co., Novo Nordisk, ONO Pharmaceutical Co., Pfizer, sanofi-aventis, and Takeda Pharmaceuticals North America; and has served on the speakers' bureaus of AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals, GlaxoSmithKline Pharmaceuticals, Merck & Co., Pfizer, sanofi-aventis, and Takeda Pharmaceuticals North America.

Dr. Smith has been a consultant for Pfizer and sanofi-aventis; and has received honoraria for speaking at symposia which received grant support from Bayer Corp., Bristol-Myers Squibb, and sanofi-aventis.

Please note that this activity contains discussions of unlabeled uses of FDA-approved pharmaceutical products, as well as discussions of investigational products not yet approved by the FDA. Please refer to the official prescribing information for approved indications, contraindications and warnings.

To review Medical Crossfire's privacy policy, click here.

The views expressed in this activity are those of the faculty. It should not be inferred or assumed that they are expressing the views of sanofi-aventis, any other manufacturer of pharmaceuticals, Medical Media Communications, or Medical Crossfire^®/Liberty Communications Network.

It should be noted that the recommendations made herein, with regard to the use of therapeutic agents, varying disease states, and assessments of risk, are based upon a combination of clinical trials, current guidelines, and the clinical practice experience of the participating panelists. The drug selection and dosage information provided in this activity are believed to be accurate. However, the participants are urged to consult the full prescribing information on any drug mentioned in this activity for recommended dosage, indications, contraindications, warnings, precautions, and adverse effects before prescribing any medication. This is particularly important when a drug is new or infrequently prescribed.

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Copyright ©2007 by Liberty Communications Network. All rights reserved including translation into other languages. No part of this activity may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or any information storage and retrieval systems without permission in writing from Liberty Communications Network.

Medical Crossfire^® is a registered trademark of Liberty Communications Network.