The Expanding Role of Pharmacists in Patient Education and REMS Management in Multiple Sclerosis

This episode, titled The Expanding Role of Pharmacists in Patient Education and REMS Management in Multiple Sclerosis, features Ryan Fuller, PharmD, and Aimee Banks, PharmD, BCPS, MSCS, discussing the pharmacist’s role in educating patients with MS—including those with nrSPMS—about disease progression and treatment, while leveraging experience with REMS programs to support the safe use of current and emerging therapies such as BTK inhibitors.

Pharmacists play a critical role in the education and management of patients with multiple sclerosis (MS), particularly as the disease evolves. Beyond providing guidance on standard treatment regimens, pharmacists serve as key educators, helping patients understand the complexities of relapsing and progressive forms of MS, including non-relapsing secondary progressive MS (nrSPMS) and the implications of disease progression. This includes counseling on symptom management, adherence strategies, and the potential impact of therapies on daily life, which is essential for optimizing outcomes and empowering patients in their care.

In parallel, pharmacists often engage with Risk Evaluation and Mitigation Strategies (REMS) programs, which are increasingly associated with MS therapies. These programs ensure safe use of treatments with potentially serious risks and require pharmacists to manage patient enrollment, monitoring, and ongoing education. Experience gained from current REMS programs offers valuable insights for future therapies, including emerging Bruton’s tyrosine kinase inhibitors (BTKis), which may have similar safety requirements. Leveraging this experience allows pharmacists to anticipate challenges, streamline patient access, and maintain safety standards while supporting adherence and education.

Led by the moderator, the neurology pharmacists examine the following critical questions:

What is the role of the pharmacist in educating patients about MS?

How about with nrSPMS and the associated disease progression?

What is your current experience like working with REMS programs for therapies used to treat MS?

What can you carry over to potential future therapies such as BTKi’s that may have REMS programs?

Throughout the conversation, the experts provide a comprehensive reflection on the field and the factors that may shape how clinicians approach care moving forward.

In the next episode, Optimizing MS Therapy Management: REMS and Routes of Administration, panelists will continue their discussion on multiple sclerosis and highlight the key stakeholders involved in developing REMS programs for MS therapies and highlights critical considerations for selecting between oral, injectable, and infusion treatment options.