Winter (Volume 28, Number 4)
Therapeutics Committee Update
By Mary-Ann Fitzcharles, MD, FRCPC
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This has been a particularly productive year for the
CRA Therapeutics Committee. We are delighted that
our membership has reached the nice round figure
of 15, with representation from rheumatologists in both
academia and the community, rheumatologists from across
the country, and also members spanning the ages from the
young, bright and enthusiastic to the more seasoned and,
dare I say, grey-haired. In line with the stellar leadership of
CRA CEO Ahmad Zbib, we have clearly defined standard
operating procedures for reporting of conflicts of interest
by committee members, response to drug shortages, development
of position statements, and standards for a CRA
member representing the CRA at a national/international
forum, committee or advisory panel.
We have continued to alert membership to drug shortages,
which this year have included most importantly
myochrysine and prednisolone. We responded to a Health
Canada review on immune globulin (IVIG) product supply
by emphasizing the importance of this agent in the treatment
of Kawasaki Disease, as well as the emerging use of
IVIG in patients with childhood dermatomyositis, systemic
onset juvenile polyarthritis that is poorly responsive to conventional
treatments, and treatment-resistant vasculitis.
Our most important activity this year was to develop
a position statement for medical cannabis use in the
rheumatic diseases, as well as an update of the previous
position statement for biosimilars. We are particularly
excited that the medical cannabis position statement is
now in press at the Journal of Rheumatology. The CRA is
the first rheumatology association worldwide to come
forward in this regard, and also to provide real-life pragmatic
direction for rheumatologists and patients alike.
We will be looking carefully at stem cell transplantation,
which is currently being suggested as a treatment for
many of our patients with osteoarthritis and even soft
tissue rheumatism, and we will provide a position statement
in this regard in early 2019. Finally, we have developed
a succession plan, to ensure that our committee
remains vigorous and vibrant. Therefore, I would like to
warmly welcome Rosie Scuccimarri as the vice-chair of
the Therapeutics Committee.
Mary-Ann Fitzcharles, MD, FRCPC
Associate Professor of Medicine,
McGill University Health Centre
Montreal, Quebec
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