7:30 a.m. – 8:30 a.m.                       Registration & Breakfast


8:30 a.m. – 8:45 a.m.                       Opening Remarks by John Milne, Senior Vice-President,
                                                         Rogers Business and Professional Publishing


8:45 a.m. – 9:45 a.m.                       Session One: Keynote Address

New pharmaceutical treatments play a major role in improving patient outcomes in Canada.  They are an integral part of the health care system, bringing  significant value to patients by allowing them to live longer, healthier, and more productive lives.  Wendy Zatylny, of Canada’s Research-Based Pharmaceutical Companies, kicks off the conference with an overview of the benefits innovative medicines bring, and the need to break down the silos to move towards a vision of an integrated health care system that provides patients with greater access to treatments and more successful health outcomes.

Presenter:
Wendy Zatylny, Vice-President, Stakeholders/Partnerships, Canada’s Research-Based Pharmaceutical Companies (Rx&D)



9:45 a.m. – 10:45 a.m.                      Session Two: Mistaken for 'Lifestyle' Choices

2A: Rethinking the Management of Nicotine Addiction: A Value-Based and Medically Necessary Benefit

Tobacco use kills approximately 48,000 Canadians annually and significantly impacts workforce productivity and absenteeism. A great opportunity exists for employers to avoid costs related to chronic diseases and lost productivity by supporting evidence-based smoking cessation strategies. This presentation will provide an update on innovative treatment strategies and how employers can best support a value-based benefit for nicotine addiction.

Presenter: Dr. Peter Selby, MBBS, CCFP, MHSc, FASAM, Clinical Director, CAMH and Associate Professor, Departments of Family and Community Medicine, Psychiatry and Public Health Sciences, University of Toronto


2B: The Cost Implications of Obesity in the Workplace: The LAP-BAND® System

This system is a medical device for effective long-term treatment of morbid obesity. Obesity increases drug and disability claim costs and decreases employee productivity. Learn more about the LAP-BAND® System, a long-term, cost-effective treatment to reduce employer costs and increase employee health.

Presenter: Dr. Christopher S. Cobourn, MD, FRCS(C) Medical Director and Surgeon, Surgical Weight Loss Centre


10:45 a.m. - 11:15 a.m.                      Networking Coffee Break                         

11:15 a.m. – 12:15 p.m.                     Session Three: Innovation in Therapy

3A: Proton Pump Inhibitors (PPI’s) – Choice Matters

Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) significantly impacts patients and their employers. While drug costs are an important factor, indirect costs can be considerable if GERD is not effectively managed. Since patient experiences with different proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) may vary, restrictions can have unintended clinical effects. This presentation will highlight how maintaining choice in PPI selection may improve outcomes and overall costs.

Presenter: Dr. Gabor Kandel, Physician, St. Michael’s Hospital and Associate Professor of Medicine, University of Toronto


3B: Getting “PERSONAL” in the Era of Targeted Therapies

Healthcare professionals know that every patient has a unique biology and that the same drug does not generate the same response in each patient. In the field of oncology, research has paved the way for the introduction of drugs that target specific differences in cancer and normal cells. Erbitux (cetuximab) is a targeted therapy used to treat patients diagnosed with colorectal cancer (CRC). Recent advances in molecular diagnostic methods have allowed for the identification of a biomarker for a potential sub-group of CRC patients who would benefit from this targeted therapy. This discovery will enable physicians to select the “right drug for the right patient” bringing us one step closer to providing personalized care to patients with CRC.

Presenter: Anitasha Puodziunas, PhmD, BPhm, ACPR, BCOP BCPS, Bristol-Myers Squibb


12:15 p.m. – 12:30 p.m.                      Closing Remarks


12:30 p.m. – 1:30 p.m.                        Buffet Lunch 

**Agenda is subject to change.**

For more information about this event or this webpage, contact Jennifer Hughey Assistant Editor, Conferences

This page was last updated on September 10, 2008