William J. Shergy, MD

William Shergy, MD
 

Associate Clinical Professor of Medicine
University of Alabama at Birmingham
School of Medicine
Huntsville, Alabama
Assistant Consulting Professor of Medicine
Duke University Medical Center
Durham, North Carolina


What clinical trials have been conducted and/or are currently in progress evaluating IL-6 inhibitors for RA? How are the trials designed to identify patients most suitable for IL-6 inhibition?

What clinical trials have been conducted and/or are currently in progress evaluating IL-6 inhibitors for the management of RA? How are the trials designed with respect to identifying patients most suitable for IL-6 inhibition?

With respect to clinical response, what is the trigger for using a different MOA -- including IL-6 inhibition -- in a patient who has failed a TNFI?

With respect to clinical response, what is the trigger for using a different MOA — including IL-6 inhibition — in a patient who has failed a TNFI?

Do the trials with the IL-6 inhibitor sarilumab suggest any differences between this agent and the establish IL-6 inhibitor indicated for RA?

Do the trials with the IL-6 inhibitor sarilumab suggest any differences between this agent and the establish IL-6 inhibitor indicated for RA?

How important are quality-of-life measures in RA and how effective are IL-6 inhibitors in this regard compared to TNFIs according to the latest clinical studies?

How important are quality-of-life measures in RA and how effective are IL-6 inhibitors in this regard compared to TNFIs according to the latest clinical studies?

Trials evaluating IL-6 inhibitors such as sarilumab in RA patients have used global function and disability as outcome benchmarks for assessing patient outcomes? Why is this important?

Trials evaluating IL-6 inhibitors such as sarilumab in RA patients have used global function and disability as outcome benchmarks for assessing patient outcomes? What are the findings and why is this important?

What is the role of B-cell depletion therapy in RA?

What is the role of B-cell depletion therapy in RA?


Can you summarize the key features of the new guidelines for RA issued by the ACR?

Can you summarize the key features of the new guidelines for RA issued by the ACR?

What specific pattern of treatment response failures do you require to switch a patient from a TNFI to an IL-6 inhibitor of co-stimulatory blockade?

What specific pattern of treatment response failures do you require to switch a patient from a TNFI to an IL-6 inhibitor of co-stimulatory blockade?

What percentage of patients started on a TNFI will respond and to what degree will they respond?

What percentage of patients started on a TNFI will respond and to what degree will they respond?