Overcoming Barriers to the Optimal Treatment and Management of Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia (CLL)

Audience: This activity is intended for healthcare professionals practicing in managed care environments.

This activity is supported by educational grants from
AstraZeneca and Lilly

Description:
Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) is a cancer of the blood and bone marrow that affects older adults. CLL is the most common type of leukemia in adults. It affects B cell lymphocytes, which originate in the bone marrow, develop in the lymph nodes, and normally fight infection by producing antibodies. In 2023, it is expected that there were 20,160 new cases of CLL and about 4,410 deaths, which represents an increase in both numbers. Patients with CLL are often diagnosed when they are asymptomatic; therefore, knowing when to initiate treatment may pose a challenge to clinicians. Furthermore, patients with CLL have impaired immune systems and multiple comorbidities, which can complicate management and impact treatment decisions. Fortunately for patients with CLL, several new treatments have recently become available, including BTK inhibitors, giving clinicians many new options to improve patient outcomes with these new treatments and strategies. Additionally, noncovalent BTK inhibitors have recently become available giving managed care professionals even more options to improve outcomes for patients with CLL. This activity focuses on these evolving options and outlines how to incorporate quality measures for the diagnosis and management of CLL and describes how to apply evidence-based data to select appropriate treatment regimens and manage toxicities. With the availability of new treatments, it is critical that physician medical directors, oncologists, nurses and other healthcare professionals are updated on these emerging options, guidelines and strategies for implementing them into the treatment paradigm, which will ultimately improve patient outcomes.

Upon completion of this activity, participants will be able to:

• Evaluate the clinical and economic burden of chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL), including factors that contribute to poor prognosis and increased costs
• Explore best practices for utilizing relevant prognostic factors, disease progression, and therapeutic intolerance to guide treatment planning with BTK inhibitors in R/R CLL
• Differentiate covalent and noncovalent BTK inhibitors utilized in CLL according to selectivity, binding, efficacy and safety profiles
• Analyze the evolving role of noncovalent BTK inhibitors in the management of patients with CLL
• Integrate best practices for managed care in preventing and mitigating adverse effects associated with noncovalent BTK inhibitors in CLL
• Implement managed care strategies around evolving noncovalent BTK inhibitor treatment approaches, including combination regimens, for patients with CLL that evaluate the cost of care while improving patient outcomes

Faculty:
John N. Allan, MD
Associate Professor of Medicine
Division of Hematology & Medical Oncology
Weill Cornell Medicine

Disclosure Information:
As accredited providers, NAMCP and AAMCN must ensure balance, independence, objectivity, and scientific rigor in all of their activities. All faculty participating in this activity are required to disclose to NAMCP/AAMCN any financial relationships with ineligible companies. NAMCP/AAMCN in turn discloses all relevant financial conflicts to the learners. NAMCP/AAMCN disclosure policy adheres to The Standards for Integrity and Independence in Accredited Continuing Education. All relevant conflicts of interest have been mitigated prior to the commencement of the activity. See below for conflicts of interest.

Disclosures (Relevant Financial Relationships with Ineligible Companies in the Last 24 Months):
Dr. Allan has served as a consultant for AbbVie, Adaptive Biotechnologies, ADC Therapeutics, AstraZeneca, BeOne Medicine, Genentech, Janssen, Lilly, Merck, NeoGenomics, Pfizer, and Pharmacyclics. He has received grant/research support from BeOne Medicine, BMS, and Genentech. All relevant financial relationships have been mitigated.

Planning Committee Disclosures (Relevant Financial Relationships with Ineligible Companies in the Last 24 Months):
Bill Williams, MD has no relevant financial relationship with an ineligible company to disclose.
Jeremy Williams has no relevant financial relationship with an ineligible company to disclose.
Jacqueline Cole, RN, MS, CMCN has no relevant financial relationship with an ineligible company to disclose.

NAMCP and/or the presenter has copyright or has received permissions for use of materials provided in this activity.

Accreditation & Designation
This activity has been planned and implemented in accordance with the accreditation requirements and policies of the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) through the joint providership of the National Association of Managed Care Physicians (NAMCP) and American Association of Managed Care Nurses (AAMCN). The National Association of Managed Care Physicians is accredited by the ACCME to provide continuing medical education for physicians.

NAMCP designates this enduring material for a maximum of 1 AMA PRA Category 1 credit(s)^TM. Each physician should claim credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

The American Association of Managed Care Nurses is accredited as a provider of nursing continuing professional development by the American Nurses Credentialing Center's Commission on Accreditation.

Nurses who complete this activity and achieve a passing score will receive 1 hour in nursing continuing professional development.

This activity has been approved by the American Board of Managed Care Nursing for 1.0 contact hours toward CMCN recertification requirements.

NAMCP and/or this website do not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. NAMCP does not endorse or imply endorsement of the content on any linked website. This website is to be used as an informational resource. With any health-related concern, consult with your physician or healthcare professional.

This activity is supported by educational grants from
AstraZeneca and Lilly

NAMCP and/or this website does not provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. NAMCP does not endorse or imply endorsement of the content on any linked website. This website is to be used as an informational resource. With any health related concern, consult with your physician or healthcare professional.