Cytomegalovirus in Stem Cell and Kidney Transplant: Overcoming the Limitations of Conventional Antiviral Therapy

Faculty

Genovefa Papanicolaou, MD, FIDSA, FASTCT
Attending Physician, Infectious Disease Service
Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center 
Professor, Weill Cornell Medical College, Cornell University 
New York, NY
Camille Nelson Kotton, MD, FIDSA, FAST
Clinical Director, Transplant and Immunocompromised Host Infectious Diseases
Infectious Diseases Division
Endowed Chair, MGB Cancer Center 
Massachusetts General Hospital 
Associate Professor, Harvard Medical School
Boston, MA

Statement of Need

Cytomegalovirus (CMV) remains a major concern in both solid organ transplantation (SOT) and hematopoietic stem cell transplant (HSCT), primarily due to challenges related to treatment selection and monitoring, management of drug-related adverse events, and resistant/refractory disease. To minimize the impact of CMV infection in patients with HSCTs or kidney transplants, the interdisciplinary care team managing these patients must have guidance on incorporating novel antiviral therapies into prevention and treatment schemas for CMV.

In this CME Outfitters recorded Grand Rounds series, expert faculty will emphasize the burden of CMV in kidney transplantation and HSCT, review the benefits and limitations of current antiviral agents, and discuss the role of novel antivirals (e.g., letermovir and maribavir) for managing CMV. Additionally, case studies will demonstrate how to integrate novel antivirals into clinical practice to improve quality of care and outcomes.

Learning Objectives

At the conclusion of this activity, learners will be able to better:

  • Identify the burden and impact of CMV infection in patients receiving renal transplants or HSCTs
  • Review the benefits and limitations of standard antiviral therapies for the prevention and treatment of CMV
  • Incorporate novel antivirals for CMV prophylaxis and treatment into clinical practice

Financial Support

This activity is supported through an independent educational grant from Merck & Co., Inc., Rahway, NJ, USA.

Target Audience

Infectious disease clinicians including physicians, physician associates (PAs), nurse practitioners (NPs), nephrologists, renal specialists, nurses, and pharmacists

Credit Information

Jointly Accredited Provider

In support of improving patient care, CME Outfitters, LLC, is jointly accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME), the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE), and the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) to provide continuing education for the healthcare team.

Physicians (ACCME) 1.0

CME Outfitters, LLC, designates this enduring material for a maximum of 1.00 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s)™. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

Pharmacists (ACPE) 1.0

This application-based activity is approved for 1.00 contact hours (0.1 CEUs) of continuing pharmacy credit (JA0007185-0000-24-042-H01-P).

Nurses (ANCC) 1.0

This activity is designated for 1.00 contact hours.

California Residents: This continuing nursing education activity was approved by the California Board of Registered Nursing. CME Outfitters, LLC’s provider number is CEP15510.

Note to Nurse Practitioners: The content of this CNE activity pertains to Pharmacology.

Interprofessional (IPCE) 1.0

This activity was planned by and for the healthcare team, and learners will receive 1.00 Interprofessional Continuing Education Credit for learning and change.

Physician Assistants (AAPA): 1.0

CME Outfitters, LLC, has been authorized by the American Academy of PAs (AAPA) to award AAPA Category 1 CME credit for activities planned in accordance with AAPA CME Criteria. This activity is designated for 1.00 AAPA Category 1 CME credits. Approval is valid until 08/13/2025. PAs should only claim credit commensurate with the extent of their participation.

ABIM MOC 1.0

Successful completion of this CME activity, which includes participation in the evaluation component, enables the participant to earn up to 1.00 MOC points in the American Board of Internal Medicine’s (ABIM) Maintenance of Certification (MOC) program. It is the CME activity provider’s responsibility to submit participant completion information to ACCME for the purpose of granting ABIM MOC credit.

MIPS Improvement Activity

Completion of this accredited CME activity meets the expectations of an Accredited Safety or Quality Improvement Program (IA_PSPA_28) for the Merit-based Incentive Payment Program (MIPS). Clinicians should submit their improvement activities by attestation via the CMS Quality Payment Program website.

Royal College MOC

Through an agreement between the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education and the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada, medical practitioners participating in the Royal College MOC Program may record completion of accredited activities registered under the ACCME’s “CME in Support of MOC” program in Section 3 of the Royal College’s MOC Program.

Disclosure Declaration

Dr. Papanicolaou reports the following financial relationships:

Consultant: Armata Pharmaceuticals, Inc.; Genentech, Inc.; MSD; SymBio Pharmaceuticals; Takeda Pharmaceuticals U.S.A., Inc.; and Trellis Bioscience, Inc.

Research Support: MSD (paid to institution)

Dr. Kotton reports the following financial relationships:

Advisory Board: Abbott and Roche Diagnostics

Consultant: Abbott; Abcuro; AiCuris; AMIVAS; BeiGene; Biotest; Evrys Bio; ExeVir Bio; Generate:Biomedicines; Hookipa Pharma Inc.; IntegerBio; Kamada Pharmaceuticals; Merck & Co., Inc.; QIAGEN; Synklino; and Takeda Pharmaceuticals U.S.A., Inc.

Research Support: AiCuris; BeiGene; Biohope Scientific; Kamada Pharmaceuticals; and Roche Diagnostics

Speakers Bureau: Kamada Pharmaceuticals

The following individuals have no financial relationships to disclose:

Rebecca Vargas-Jackson, MD  (Peer Reviewer)
Susan Perry (Planning Committee)
Warren Beckman (Planning Committee)
Scott J. Hershman, MD, FACEHP, CHCP (Planning Committee)
Sandra Caballero, PharmD (Planning Committee)
Sharon Tordoff (Planning Committee)

Questions about this activity?

Call us at 877.CME.PROS (877.263.7767).

GRV-040-081324-44

Cytomegalovirus in Stem Cell and Kidney Transplant: Overcoming the Limitations of Conventional Antiviral Therapy
Event Date: 08/13/2024