From Biomarkers to Bedside: Translating IIM Classification into Targeted Treatment Strategies

The idiopathic inflammatory myopathy (IIM) landscape is evolving rapidly, transforming how clinicians recognize disease, assess risk, and select treatment, but translating these advances into everyday practice remains a challenge. As biomarkers and myositis-specific autoantibodies enable increasingly precise subtype classification, clinicians need practical strategies to move beyond a one-size-fits-all approach to “myositis”, confidently distinguish IIM subtypes from key mimics, and determine when negative, incomplete, or discordant serology should prompt further diagnostic evaluation rather than premature diagnostic closure. Accurate classification must also translate into identifying patients at risk for serious complications such as interstitial lung disease (ILD), malignancy, and dysphagia. At the same time, persistent glucocorticoid exposure and a rapidly evolving treatment evidence base make it essential for clinicians to understand current steroid-sparing options, distinguish approved and investigational approaches, and appropriately interpret the clinical rationale and emerging evidence for neonatal Fc receptor (FcRn) inhibition. Education is needed to equip neurologists, neuromuscular specialists, rheumatologists, dermatologists, pulmonologists, primary care physicians (PCPs), advanced practice providers, pharmacists, nurses, rehabilitation professionals, speech-language pathologists (SLPs), and other members of the interprofessional care team with actionable strategies for earlier recognition, targeted comorbidity assessment, and personalized treatment that addresses outcomes and quality-of-life priorities that matter most to patients.

In this case-based CME Outfitters live webcast, expert faculty will guide learners through real-world diagnostic and treatment decision points that translate biomarker-informed IIM classification into clinical practice, linking subtype recognition to further diagnostic evaluation, targeted comorbidity assessment, multidisciplinary care, and current and emerging steroid-sparing treatment strategies. Patient perspectives on function, treatment burden, quality of life, and personal goals will be integrated into these decisions, while investigational FcRn inhibition is considered within a fair and balanced therapeutic landscape.

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

• Apply biomarker-informed diagnostic strategies to differentiate major IIM subtypes and distinguish inflammatory disease from key mimics
• Utilize IIM subtype to inform comorbidity assessment, multidisciplinary management, and QoL improvement
• Describe current and emerging steroid-sparing and targeted treatment strategies in IIM, including the clinical rationale for FcRn inhibition within a balanced therapeutic landscape

Supported through an independent educational grant from argenx.

Primary: Neurologists, neuromuscular specialists, rheumatologists, nurse practitioners (NPs), and physician associates (PAs)
Secondary: Dermatologists, pulmonologists, primary care physicians (PCPs), specialty pharmacists, infusion/rheumatology/and neuromuscular nurses, physical and occupational therapists (PT/OTs), speech-language pathologists (SLPs), and other interprofessional team members who contribute to diagnosis, comorbidity screening, counseling, rehabilitation, and care coordination for patients with IIM

It is the policy of CME Outfitters, LLC, to ensure independence, balance, objectivity, and scientific rigor and integrity in all of their CE activities. Faculty must disclose to the participants any relationships with commercial companies whose products or devices may be mentioned in faculty presentations, or with the commercial supporter of this CE activity. CME Outfitters, LLC, has evaluated, identified, and mitigated any potential conflicts of interest through a rigorous content validation procedure, use of evidence-based data/research, and a multidisciplinary peer review process. The following information is for participant information only. It is not assumed that these relationships will have a negative impact on the presentations.

Dr. Naddaf reports the following financial relationships:

Advisory Board: Arcellx and Johnson & Johnson

Research Support: Abcuro; Arcellx/Kite; and Cabaletta Bio, Inc.

The following individuals have no financial relationships to disclose:

Jeffrey Helfand, DO (Peer Reviewer)
Albert Eubanks, Jr., RN (Peer Reviewer)
Mary Gleason, PhD, CHCP (Planning Committee)
Felicia Oyedepo-Joshua, MD (Planning Committee)
Andrea Perseghin, EdD (Planning Committee)
Sandra Caballero, PharmD (Planning Committee)
Sharon Tordoff (Planning Committee)

*All identified conflicts of interest have been mitigated.

Unlabeled Use Disclosure
Faculty of this CME/CE activity may include discussions of products or devices that are not currently labeled for use by the FDA. The faculty have been informed of their responsibility to disclose to the audience if they will be discussing off-label or investigational uses (any uses not approved by the FDA) of products or devices. CME Outfitters, LLC, the faculty, planners, and reviewers do not endorse the use of any product outside of the FDA labeled indications. Medical professionals should not utilize the procedures, products, or diagnosis techniques discussed during this activity without evaluation of their patient for contraindications or dangers of use.

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