The 26th Annual Scientific Meeting of the American Pain Society
Washington Convention Center, Washington, D.C.

Corporate Satellite Symposia

Eight corporate satellite symposia will be offered in conjunction with the APS Annual Scientific Meeting. These independently sponsored, commercially supported symposia are open to the registrants of the APS 26th Annual Scientific Meeting. The programs have been reviewed by the APS Scientific Program Committee and approved after determining that the materials to be presented are balanced, scientifically valid, relevant to the audience, and complementary to the official APS program. There is no fee to attend these symposia, but preregistration is required. In addition, the supporting companies hosting these satellite sessions will send separate invitations and registration forms. Seating will be available at no charge to those responding on a first-come, first-served basis. Program details and speakers are subject to change.

Thursday, May 3

1–2:30 pm
Corporate Satellite Lunch Symposia (2)

Signal Transduction of Pain: Implications for Opioid Therapy

Gavril Pasternak, MD PhD; Charles Inturrisi, PhD; Frank Porreca, PhD; Michael C. Rowbotham, MD

This program is designed to provide a comprehensive review of the physiology of pain transduction, emphasizing receptor physiology and ionotropic mechanisms of pain modulation. The impact of exogenous opioids on the plasticity of synaptic receptors and channels will be discussed as it relates to the clinical sensitivity and tolerance to opioid therapy. The rationale for the use of different types of opioids, and for opioids of different durations of action, will be explained. Novel opioid delivery systems will be described and justified based on what is known about receptor and synaptic physiology and the etiology of the pain.

Registration Information:
You may register for this activity online at www.painresourcenetwork.com or by calling MediCom Worldwide, Inc at 800-988-6742. If you have any questions regarding this activity, please call us at 800-988-6742.

APS gratefully acknowledges Cephalon, Inc. for its generous support of this activity through an educational grant.

Exploring the Reality of Fibromyalgia

Leslie J. Crofford, MD, Chair; Lesley M. Arnold, MD; Kim Jones, PhD

Debate continues among clinicians regarding the etiology, diagnosis, and treatment of fibromyalgia (FM). Many clinicians view FM as a “difficult” disease. The typical patient has seen an average of 15 physicians and has had FM for approximately 5 years before receiving a correct diagnosis. Many cases are misdiagnosed, and many patients endure costly treatments that provide little benefit. With the increased acceptance of shared medical decision making between patients and their clinicians, it is extremely important that clinicians are aware of the new pathophysiological mechanisms, the diagnostic tools and the new therapeutic options that have now become available for FM. This educational activity will review the variety of issues surrounding FM, including pathophysiology, diagnostic strategies, and current and emerging treatment strategies.

Registration Information:
You may register for this symposium via phone, fax, or email. When registering it is imperative that you provide the following information; first name, last name, address, phone number, fax number or email address, and the title Exploring the Reality of Fibromyalgia.

Phone: (800) 260-4378, ext. 125
Fax: (866) 841-9083
Email: exploringfm@chce.net

APS gratefully acknowledges Pfizer Inc. for its generous support of this activity through an educational grant.

Friday, May 4

7–8:30 am
Corporate Satellite Breakfast Symposia (2)

State Policies Affecting Pain Management: Relevance, Progress, and Next Steps

Aaron M. Gilson, PhD, Chair; Howard Heit, MD FACP FASAM; William Marcus, JD

The Pain & Policy Studies Group (PPSG), a research program of the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, has spent the last 10 years analyzing drug control and professional practice laws and policies that impact pain management, particularly those regarding the use of opioid analgesics. The PPSG works to bridge the gap among law enforcement that works to prevent the illegal diversion of prescription medications, healthcare regulators who work to promote appropriate professional practice and correct unprofessional conduct, and clinicians who treat patients with pain. This symposium will highlight the recent research of the PPSG, current federal and state policies regarding the use of opioid analgesics in treatment, and will provide participants with practical pain management case studies.

Registration Information:
Register online at www.pain.com or call 1-800-328-2308 to register.

APS gratefully acknowledges Purdue Pharma L.P. for its generous support of this activity through an educational grant.

Advances in Combination Opioid Therapy: Emerging Strategies for Pain Practice

Gavril Pasternak, MD PhD; Bruce Nicholson, MD

This symposium will provide the most up-to-date educational information regarding current treatment options for the management of pain, as well as future paradigms that address important unmet needs in pain management. The first presentation will review the impact and etiology of pain, the current understanding of pain transduction pathways and the roles of mu opioid receptors in transducing pain, and will discuss current opioid therapies used in pain management. The risk of abuse and the best practices for assessing, minimizing, and treating abuse will also be addressed. The second presentation will apprise healthcare professionals about emerging technologies and new strategies in long-term care for pain management. Advantages and potential disadvantages of these new therapies will be discussed.

APS gratefully acknowledges Abbott Laboratories for its generous support of this activity through an educational grant.

Noon–1:30 pm
Corporate Satellite Lunch Symposia (2)

State-of-the-Science Update: Imaging, Innovations, and Implications

Christine Miaskowski, PhD RN FAAN, Chair; Sean C. Mackey, MD PhD; Raymond S. Sinatra, MD PhD; Steven D. Passik, PhD

The continual flow of scientific and technological advances in pain research may not seem applicable to clinical practice. This session presents an opportunity to translate recent developments into rational management of chronic pain. Neuroimaging to “unlock” the mysteries of pain perception and processing in the human brain will be presented. Strategies for opioid rotation, equianalgesic conversion, and the principles behind using immediate- and controlled- release formulations to manage chronic pain will be addressed by presenting the clinical trial evidence and pharmacologic profile of new agents and examining their application to clinical practice. Finally, integrating risk management into clinical practice without compromising patient care or creating a “chilling” effect will be stressed.

Registration Information:
Register on-line at www.pharmacomgroup.com/aps or call PharmaCom Group at 203-323-5945.

APS gratefully acknowledges Endo Pharmaceuticals Inc. for its generous support of this activity through an educational grant.

Therapeutic Targets for Optimizing Opioid Tolerability: A Class Review of Opioid Antagonists

B. Eliot Cole, MD, MPA, Moderator; Mary Lynn McPherson, PharmD; Gordon Irving, MD; Bill H. McCarberg, MD

Opioid antagonists offer a therapeutic alternative to conventional adjuvant agents. They produce symptom relief in patients experiencing opioid bowl dysfunction, (OBD) but with challenges that limit their clinical use. Traditional approaches for addressing OBD (eg, laxatives) also have their own limitations. This symposium will provide an in-depth review for the mechanisms of action of opioid antagonists, the role of opioid antagonists in pain management, and the management of adverse events related to opioid therapy.

Registration Information:
To register for this program please call (888) ASPE-REG (277-3734).

APS gratefully acknowledges GlaxoSmithKline and Adolor for its generous support of this activity through an educational grant.

6:30–8:30 pm
Corporate Satellite Dinner Symposium (2)

The NSAID Debate: Balancing Gastroprotective Effects and Cardiovascular Risks in the Management of Osteoarthritis

Thomas Miller, MD; Joseph Grisanti, MD; Byron Cryor, MD; Tilo Grosser, MD; Paul Arnstein, PhD RN

NSAIDs are a cornerstone in osteoarthritis management. Nonselective NSAIDs, however, demonstrated a propensity to cause gastrointestinal adverse events due to their inhibition of cyclooxygenase (COX)-1 in the gastric mucosa; therefore, the selective COX-2 inhibitors were developed as a safer gastroprotective alternative. However, data from some long-term trials emerged that indicated a significantly higher incidence of cardiovascular adverse events in patients treated with COX-2 inhibitors. Issues surrounding the COX- 2 inhibitors prompted further evaluation of nonselective NSAIDs. The nonselective NSAIDs versus coxibs discussion will review clinical trial data and focus on ways to achieve a balance between gastroprotection, efficacy, and cardiovascular risk.

Registration Information:
Register online at www.aps2007.cmewebsite.org.

APS gratefully acknowledges Merck & Co., Inc. for its generous support of this activity through an educational grant.

Freedom from Neuropathic Pain: Moving Toward Enhanced Assessment and Management of Symptoms

David M. Simpson, MD; Mark P. Jensen, PhD; Robert Alan Bonakdar, MD

This activity will begin with a discussion of how the use of validated pain scales in routine clinical practice allows for a more efficient assessment of chronic pain. Faculty will then review the benefits and risks of emerging FDA-approved pharmacotherapies, such as antidepressants and anticonvulsants, for the treatment of neuropathic pain according to recent clinical trial data. Finally, faculty will discuss the importance of incorporating a multidisciplinary team approach into the management of patients with pain to address the relationship of pain with other medical (e.g., diabetes), psychiatric (e.g., depression), and social (e.g., anxiety) conditions.

Registration Information:
To register for this symposium please contact Ashley List at 317.208.3608 or go to: www.FreedomFromNeuropathicPain.com.

APS gratefully acknowledges Eli Lilly & Company for its generous support of this activity through an educational grant.

Registration information for each symposium will be posted as it becomes available.