New Treatments in Systemic Lupus Erythematosus to Advance Care: A Managed Care Focus on Nephritis

A satellite symposium held at PBMI 2026.

To attend PBMI in person, register here

Program Description

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and its severe renal manifestation, lupus nephritis (LN), pose complex management challenges. Both are characterized by unpredictable disease patterns. LN develops in approximately 40% of individuals with SLE and is a major predictor of accelerated organ damage and increased mortality, driving a heavy burden of comorbidities like cardiovascular and bone disease. Traditional induction and maintenance strategies heavily rely on high-dose glucocorticoids and conventional immunosuppressants; however, these options frequently fall short of achieving remission, and they carry a high risk of cumulative toxicity that leaves patients vulnerable to multiple yearly flares. For payers and health systems, this translates into increased health care expenditures, long-term dialysis, and more hospital admissions during acute disease exacerbations. This session will examine the mechanisms of novel therapies in the expanding armamentarium of targeted biologics and small molecules for SLE and LN. Participants will evaluate how to align cost-containment efforts with the latest clinical protocols from the 2024 KDIGO, 2025 ACR, and 2025 EULAR consensus statements. The discussion will equip managed care professionals and pharmacists with the evidence-based strategies needed to optimize treatment pathways and utilization management while supporting the use of early, steroid-sparing combination therapies. Examples will highlight strategies for managed care pharmacists to lead multidisciplinary collaborations, manage polypharmacy, implement appropriate formulary controls, and execute evidence-based utilization management to curb the staggering direct and indirect costs of these conditions while significantly improving outcomes for patients with SLE and LN.

Target audience: Managed Care Pharmacists
Type of activity: Application
Release date: September 11, 2026
Expiration date: November 11, 2026
Time to complete activity: 1 hour
Learner level: Foundational
Fee: Free

Educational Objectives

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

• Examine the epidemiology and pathophysiology of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and lupus nephritis (LN) and the impact of disease progression on patient outcomes
• Analyze clinical guidelines and the role of standard and new pharmacotherapy for the treatment of SLE and LN
• Apply an evidence-based approach to utilization management for the treatment of SLE and LN

Accreditation Information

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 1.0 contact hour (0.10 CEU) under the ACPE universal activity number 0290-0000-26-230-L01-P. The activity is available for CE credit through November 11, 2026.

Obtaining Credit

All participants who attended the live virtual broadcast need to log on to their Pharmacy Times Continuing Education™ account on www.pharmacytimes.org to complete an online evaluation form and request their credit. Instructions on receiving credit will be provided the day of the event.

Disclosures

Darren W. Grabe, BS, PharmD; and Yuqian Liu, PharmD; have no financial relationships with ineligible companies to disclose.

Pharmacy Times Continuing Education™ Planning Staff: Jim Palatine, RPh, MBA; Adam Welch, PharmD, MBA, FAPhA; Kylie Ferrentino; Brianna Winters; and Chloe Taccetta have no financial relationships with ineligible companies to disclose.

All of the relevant financial relationships listed for these individuals have been mitigated.

At least one anonymous peer reviewer has been used as part of content validation and conflict resolution. The peer reviewer has no relevant financial relationships with ineligible companies 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.

For questions about this internet CPE activity, please contact:
ceinfo@pharmacytimes.com
Privacy Policy and Terms of Use Information:
www.pharmacytimes.org/terms