Retina Forum: Focus on Surgical Approaches That Extend Treatment Intervals in nAMD and DME
This activity is supported by an educational grant from Genentech, Inc., a member of the Roche Group.
Overview
Provider Statement
This continuing medical education activity is provided by 
Support Statement
This activity is supported by an educational grant from Genentech, Inc., a member of the Roche Group.
Activity Description
Pinnacle clinical trials in diabetic macular edema (DME) and neovascular age-related macular degeneration (nAMD) have demonstrated significant visual and anatomical improvements through treatment with anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) therapies. Corticosteroid therapy is also an effective option for DME but is often not effectively integrated into treatment protocols. Improvements in visual and anatomical outcomes with real-world application of anti-VEGF therapies do not always align with those seen in pinnacle studies due to treatment burden and incomplete responses to therapy. To address these inconsistences in outcomes, treatment protocols using FDA-approved therapies continue to be refined, whereas novel delivery systems, gene therapies, and agents with unique mechanisms of action seek to address treatment burden through extending dosing intervals. In this CME series, experts in the field examine the current need for treatments that reduce the burden of frequent anti-VEGF injections for the management of nAMD and DME, assess approved therapies based upon their efficacy and safety in clinical studies, review the evidence about new and emerging surgical delivery systems that reduce treatment burden, and provide best practices that can reduce the potential for complications when implanting and refilling the Port Delivery System with ranibizumab.
Target Audience
The intended audience for this activity is ophthalmologists, retina specialists, and other health care professionals involved in the management of patients with nAMD and DME.
Learning Objectives
Upon successful completion of this activity, participants should be better able to:
- Assess evidence about new and emerging surgical delivery systems that reduce the need for frequent anti–VEGF injections for patients with nAMD or DME.
- Detail surgical procedures and techniques that can reduce the potential for complications when implanting and refilling the Port Delivery System with ranibizumab.
Course Co-Chairs
Caroline R. Baumal, MD, FASRS
Professor of Ophthalmology
Tufts Medicine
New England Eye Center
Boston, MA
Arshad M. Khanani, MD, MA, FASRS
Managing Partner
Director of Clinical Research
Director of Fellowship
Sierra Eye Associates
Clinical Associate Professor
University of Nevada
Reno, NV
Faculty
Jordan M. Graff, MD, FACS, FABO
Surgeon & Partner, BDP Eye Center – Retina Division
American Vision Partners (AVP) Medical Executive Team
Phoenix, AZ
Nancy M. Holekamp, MD
Director, Retina Services
Pepose Vision Institute
St. Louis, MO
Reviewer
Ronald A. Codario, MD, EMBA, FACP, FNLA, RPVI, CHCP
Accreditation
Vindico Medical Education is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) to provide continuing medical education for physicians.
Credit Designation
Vindico Medical Education designates this enduring material for a maximum of 1.0 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s)™. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.
This enduring material is approved for 1 year from the date of original release, December 16, 2022, to December 15, 2023.
How to Participate in This Activity and Obtain CME Credit
To participate in this CME activity, you must read the objectives, answer the polling and pretest questions, view the content, and complete the posttest and evaluation. Provide only one (1) correct answer for each question. A satisfactory score is defined as answering 66% of the posttest questions correctly. Upon receipt of the completed materials, if a satisfactory score on the posttest is achieved, Vindico Medical Education will issue an AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s)™ certificate.
Disclosures
Vindico Medical Education adheres to the ACCME’s Standards for Integrity and Independence in Accredited Continuing Education. Any individuals in a position to control the content of a continuing education activity, including faculty, planners, reviewers, or others, are required to disclose all relevant financial relationships with ineligible entities (commercial interests). All relevant conflicts of interest have been mitigated prior to the commencement of the activity.
Course Co-chairs and Faculty report the following relevant financial relationship(s)
Caroline R. Baumal, MD, FASRS
Consultant: Genentech, Novartis, Ora, Regeneron, Zeiss
Jordan M. Graff, MD, FACS, FABO
Consultant: Genentech/Roche
Speaker Contracted by Ineligible Company: Genentech/Roche
Independent Research Contractor: Genentech/Roche, Novartis, Regeneron, Regenxbio
Nancy M. Holekamp, MD
Royalties or Patent Beneficiary: Katalyst Surgical
Advisor: Nacuity, PolyActiva
Consultant: 4DMT, AbbVie/AIIergan, Adverum, AGTC, Annexon, Apellis, Bayer, Biogen,
Boehringer Ingelheim, Cardinal, Clearside, EyePoint, Gemini, Genentech, Gyroscope,
Katalyst Surgical, Nacuity, NGM, Notal Vision, Novartis, Ocuphire, Outlook Therapeutics,
Regeneron, Stealth, Thea, Vial
Speaker Contracted by Ineligible Company: AbbVie/Allergan, Apellis, Bausch + Lomb,
Genentech, Regeneron
Independent Research Contractor: Gemini, Genentech, Gyroscope, Notal Vision
Individual Stocks and Stock Options: Gemini, Katalyst Surgical, Nacuity
Data Monitoring and Safety Committee: Editas, Ocuphire, Roche
Arshad M. Khanani, MD, MA, FASRS
Consultant: 4DMT, Adverum, Alimera, Allergan, Apellis, AsclepiX, Aviceda, Bausch + Lomb, Broadwing Bio, Chengdu Kanghong, Cholgene, DORC, Gemini, Genentech, Glaukos, Graybug, Gyroscope, Iveric Bio, Janssen, Kato, Kodiak, Novartis, Oculis, Opthea, Oxurion, PolyPhotonix, RecensMedical, Regeneron, Regenxbio, Retrotope, RevOpsis, Roche, Thea, Unity Bio
Speaker Contracted by Ineligible Company: Allergan, Genentech, Novartis
Independent Research Contractor: 4DMT, Adverum, Apellis, AsclepiX, Chengdu Kanghong, Gemini, Genentech, Graybug, Gyroscope, Iveric Bio, Kodiak, Neurotech, NGM Bio, Novartis, Ocular Therapeutix, Oculis, Opthea, Oxurion, RecensMedical, Regenxbio, Roche, Unity Bio
Individual Stocks and Stock Options: Aviceda, PolyPhotonix, RecensMedical, Retrotope
Reviewer reports the following relevant financial relationship(s)
Ronald A. Codario, MD, EMBA, FACP, FNLA, RPVI, CHCP
No relevant financial relationships to disclose.
Vindico Medical Education staff report the following relevant financial relationship(s)
No relevant financial relationships to disclose.
Signed disclosures are on file at Vindico Medical Education, Office of Medical Affairs and Compliance.
Unlabeled and Investigational Usage
The audience is advised that this continuing medical education activity may contain references to unlabeled uses of US Food and Drug Administration (FDA)–approved products or to products not approved by the FDA for use in the United States. The faculty members have been made aware of their obligation to disclose such usage. All activity participants will be informed if any speakers/authors intend to discuss either non–FDA-approved or investigational use of products/devices.
Copyright Statement
Created and published by Vindico Medical Education, 6900 Grove Road, Building 100, Thorofare, NJ 08086-9447. Telephone: 856-994-9400; Fax: 856-384-6680. Printed in the USA. © 2022 Vindico Medical Education. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced without written permission from the publisher. The material presented at or in any of Vindico Medical Education continuing medical education activities does not necessarily reflect the views and opinions of Vindico Medical Education. Neither Vindico Medical Education nor the faculty endorse or recommend any techniques, commercial products, or manufacturers. The faculty/authors may discuss the use of materials and/or products that have not yet been approved by the US Food and Drug Administration. All readers and continuing education participants should verify all information before treating patients or utilizing any product.
CME Questions?
Contact us at cme@vindicoCME.com