Monthly Archives: April 2021

$163K win connects on table game hand in Las Vegas Valley – Las Vegas Review-Journal

Posted: April 25, 2021 at 1:51 pm

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$163K win connects on table game hand in Las Vegas Valley - Las Vegas Review-Journal

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Travel in the time of Covid: Seychelles has opened its doors to international tourists – Moneycontrol.com

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The Aldabra Giant Tortoise on Curieuse Island, Seychelles. (Photo: Chris Close)

Pack linen, straw hat, flip-flops, a bucket of sunscreen, and proof that you got the second/final Covid-19 vaccine shot at least two weeks prior (for children under 18, an RT-PCR negative report will do) and head to the Seychelles, an archipelago of 115 granite and coralline islands that has just opened its doors to international tourists.

Too many islands?

Ignore the count, because only four are inhabited (Mahe, Praslin, La Digue and Silhouette).

You could hike, dive, eat a fruit bat, dip your toes in silken sand, gape at the worlds largest species of coconut - and tortoise. And hear stories about Marie Antoinette (last queen of France) escaping the guillotine and shacking in a Seychelles island. Of writer Ian Fleming waiting for the muse to write the Bond adventure For Your Eyes Only. Of Prince William and Kate Middleton picking a Robinson Crusoe-type island for their honeymoon. So many stories, so many to-do things on an island that if you believe the myth was the Garden of Eden.

Heres a quick look at must-see, must-do, must-eat in Seychelles:

Victoria: Nothing screams Small is Beautiful better than Victoria, the capital of Seychelles. One of the smallest capitals in the world, it is so small that you could walk around it in anhour and spin around in 20 minutes by car.An old church stands as a reminder of the colonial era, a Hindu temple painted bright shimmers by the arcade, and the weekly market buzzes with hawkers and buyers. The crown jewel of the central roundabout is the Big Ben. The Little Big Ben, actually. A tiny silver replica of Londons Vauxhall Clock Tower that was erected to mark Seychelles new status as the Crown Colony. This Big Ben is small but do not call it Little Ben. It has a proper name: IHorloge (literally, painted silver).

La Digue: With a population of 1,500, La Digue seems to be sitting on another planet. For long, cars were not allowed on the island. Rent a bicycle and pedal around. Laze on white beaches and gape at rocks carved exquisitely by lashing waves over millions of years. Anse Source dArgent on La Digue is said to be the most photographed beach in the world. Spare half a day for Aldabra Atoll, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, to get up close with the Aldabra Giant Tortoises that can live for centuries. Do not miss LUnion Estate, a former coconut and vanilla plantation that offers a peep into the islands colonial history.

Praslin Island: If legends are to be believed, Valle De Mai, a UNESCO World Heritage Site in Praslin, was the original site of the Garden of Eden. Not many talk of Adamand Eve, though. All chatter is around Coco de Mer, an

Female Coco De Mer nut. (Photo: Gerald Larose)

Tip: Take Cat Cocos Ferry from Mahe to Praslin and Praslin to La Digue. Operational twice daily every Monday, Tuesday, Wednesdayand Friday; once on Sunday. Do not think of bringing home the Coco de Mer - it is strictly prohibited.

Fruit batsandshark chutney: Pwason Sale (salt fish) chutney with green mango; grilled red snapper basted with garlic and ginger; red lentil stew; snake gourd curry; breadfruit or cassava chips or daube, a sweet/salty staple soup. In Seychelles, Creole meals meld local flavours with French flair. But wait, you have not heard of the unusual lunch delicacy: thefruit bat. Thats what Sundayare for -the bat meal. Fruit bats are dressed, diced, marinated overnight in garlic, ginger, cloves, cinnamon and vinegar, then sauted and slathered with tamarind juice. Four bats are enough for a hearty meal for three people! If bats are not enough to fill a plate, theres satini reken. That is, shark chutney. Skinned, boiled shark meat finely mashed and cooked in lime and bilimbi juice and garnished with fried onions.

Vanilla tourandtreat: You cannotcome away from Seychelles without hearing its vanilla story, a pod that turned the fate of the African island and its people. In 1877, the archipelago exported the first batch of vanilla for a puny 1,195 Seychelles Rupees. Almost 60 kilograms of cured vanilla derived from 48,000 green pods! Today, vanilla is an economy and culinary essential. Visit a vanilla plantation; dig a spoon into Ladob (made of sweet potato and plantain boiled in coconut milk, nutmeg, sugar and vanilla) and Carotte Bananas (bananas wrapped in banana leaves with honey and vanilla).

Anse Source d'Argent, La Digue. (Photo: Michel Denousse)

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Predatory European ships push Indian Ocean tuna to the brink – Mongabay-India

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A Spanish tuna fishing vessel, the Playa de Anzoras, named after a beach in Spain, sailed under the Spanish flag until January 9, 2014. On January 10 that year, the 2,200-tonne vessel dropped the Spanish flag in favour of the Seychelles flag. Seychelles is a small archipelagic nation in the Indian Ocean.

Neither Spain nor continental Europe share a coast with the Indian Ocean, wherePlayadeAnzorasoperates. Yet the European Union dominates tuna fisheries here and profits the most from it. This dominance is, in part, explained by ships like thePlaya de Anzoras, which is flagged to Seychelles but ultimately controlled by European companies, according to records reviewed by Mongabay.

EU-controlled ships have pulled in the lions share of the regions valuable yellowfin tuna (Thunnus albacares) for more than three decades. Now, the stock is teetering on the verge of collapse. A plan to stop overfishing and restore it has failed.

This March, talks on the issue ended in a stalemate. The EU wants other members of the Indian Ocean Tuna Commission (IOTC), the intergovernmental agency charged with managing tuna fisheries in the region, which India is a part of, to be subject to greater restrictions. Meanwhile, some observers point to the EUs own failure to play by the rules and save a stock that it profits so greatly from.

The Indian Ocean is ringed by developing countries, many of which have only in the last century gained independence from European colonial rule. Some see EU states grip over resources like tuna as the persistence of an exploitative relationship.

The attitude of the EU is hypocritical and neo-colonial, Nirmal Shah, chief executive of the non-profit Nature Seychelles and former head of the Seychelles Fishing Authority (SFA), told Mongabay. You have some of the richest countries in the world overfishing and they are blaming poorer countries.

Tuna fisheries are lucrative, feeding a market worth billions of dollars. The Indian Ocean is thesecond most productive tuna fishery in the world, and most of this tuna is caught in the western Indian Ocean.

In 1982, the U.N. recognised states sovereign rights to marine areas 200 nautical miles (370 kilometres) from their coasts, creating exclusive economic zones (EEZs). Seychelles, a fledgling nation that won independence from the U.K. in 1976, stood to benefit immensely. Between them, the 100 or so islands scattered just south of the equator in the western Indian Ocean carve out an EEZ of 1.37 million square kilometres (530,000 square miles), a little less than half the size of India.

Seychellois waters are a prime spot for tuna fishing, with yellowfin, bigeye (Thunnus obesus) and skipjack (Katsuwonus pelamis) being the major catches there.

As tuna fisheries profitability in the Atlantic Ocean declined, European nations like Spain and France sought new fishing grounds. The formation of EEZs forced these countries to enter into agreements with poorer coastal states to feed the continents growing appetite for seafood. (The EU is second only to China in seafood consumption.)

We have this amazing orchard of apple trees, and right now we do not have ladders to climb to them and collect the apples, is how Jeremy Raguain, who works for the Seychelles Islands Foundation, described the situation. E.U. and other countries, which have very advanced technology and ships, say: look, we have the ladders to take these apples that you would not otherwise be able to get.

In the western Indian Ocean, the European Economic Community (EEC), the precursor to the EU, struck deals with Madagascar and small island nations like Seychelles, Mauritius and Comoros, which didnt have the financing or technical capacity to harvest their own marine resources at a commercial scale, partly due to decades of colonisation.

Spain signed a pact with Seychelles in 1983 allowing its ships to fish migratory species like tuna in Seychellois waters, and the first Spanish purse seiners started operating there in 1984. But with its entry into the EEC in 1986, Spains fishing activities, like those of France, became subject to agreements between the EEC and Seychelles.

These agreements have long been criticised as disadvantaging the smaller, poorer countries.

There are direct benefits for states like Seychelles. Fishing access fees are an important source of revenue for the country. Under the latestagreementwith the EU, this amounts to 5.3 million euros ($6.3 million) annually.

EU shipowners also pay about 80-85 euros ($97-$102) per ton of tuna. One can buy canned yellowfin for about $17 per kilogram on Amazon. A ton of tuna 1,000 kilograms would cost $17,000 (14,145 euros) at that price.

Yes, they bring in some money, yes they give us license fees. But look at what they give us compared to the profits that these people make, Shah said. They give us trinkets for our treasure.

Canned or pouched yellowfin tuna caught by purse seine vessels in the Indian Ocean brings in $1 billion every year from customers, according to an analysis by The Pew Charitable Trusts, a U.S.-based policy research group. Almost 80% of this tuna is caught by European-controlled vessels.

These vessels are mostly purse seiners, some of the worlds largest industrial fishing boats. They deploy seine nets, up to 2 km (1.2 mi) in length if laid out flat, which encircle the fish school and squeeze shut at the bottom like a drawstring purse.

There are 15 Spanish-flagged and 12 French-flagged purse seine vessels currently authorised to fish in the Indian Ocean.

On paper, Seychelles has a purse seine fleet operating in the Indian Ocean that rivals that of Spain, the EUs biggest fishing nation. But the entire fleet of 13 vessels that fly Seychelles flag is effectively in European hands.

EU records and other fishing agreements reveal that Pesquera Vasco Montaesa SA (Pevasa), a founding member of Spains Pevaeche Group, owns Playa de Anzoras. AlbacoraSA owns four other Seychelles-flagged vessels,S. Echebastarowns three,Inpescaowns two, andAtunsa, one. All these companies are based in Spains Basque Country, a traditional stronghold for the fisheries industry in Europe.

French company SAPMER SA, controls the remaining two vessels in the Seychellois fleet. It also owns three boats that make up the entire purse seine fleet of Mauritius, another small island-nation in the western Indian Ocean.

The Albacora group, which has four vessels in the Seychellois fleet and annual revenues exceeding $100 million, is a major player in tuna fisheries. It owns vessels, canneries and tuna marketing companies. From its start as a family-run outfit in the early 1970s in Spain, it now operates in the Atlantic and Pacific oceans, in addition to the Indian Ocean where it has vessels flagged to both the EU and Seychelles.

Using a flag of convenience is a widespread but controversial practice. It allows vessel owners to save on taxes, bypass labour regulations, and avoid tougher oversight and increasingly stringent environmental checks that their own countries may require.

For the first time, the EUSeychelles agreement signed last year set aside about 175,000 euros ($209,000) a year to be paid by EU purse seine vessel owners toward an environmental fund. It also seeks to phase out the use of harmful fish aggregating devices, or FADs, fishing aids that have contributed to overexploitation of yellowfin populations. But provisions under the agreement dont extend to thePlaya de Anzorasor the 12 other Seychelles-flagged ships, even if their beneficial owners, the ones that ultimately profit from the ships, are European.

While EU records list Spanish company Pevasa as the owner of the Playa de Anzoras, IOTC records identify the ships owner as Sea Breeze Ventures Limited, based in the Caribbean nation of Belize. This company, per the D&B Business Directory, has one employee. While the connection between Pevasa and Sea Breeze remains unclear, it bears the hallmarks of a common arrangement in the fisheries industry in which a larger established company, the beneficial owner, sets up one or more companies in a tax haven as nominal owners of its fleet or a portion thereof for business purposes.

All the Spanish-backed Seychellois vessels appear to have nominal owners headquartered in jurisdictions like Belize that regularly feature in the EUs list of tax havens.Neither Pevasa nor the other European companies that own Seychelles-flagged purse seiners responded to attempts by Mongabay to seek a comment for this story.

A ships flag determines which country is responsible for the vessel, and in the case of yellowfin tuna, which countrys quota its owners can exploit. By sailing under the flag of a small island nation with a nominal owner based in a fiscal paradise, a ship can maximise profits and minimise regulatory oversight.

The use of flags of convenience is a loophole, said Vanya Vulperhorst, a campaign director at the European office of the NGO Oceana, headquartered in Washington, D.C. Its a way to circumvent EU requirements.

It is really an oversight if you are trying to get more sustainable fisheries, she added.

Indian Ocean yellowfin tuna is not only one of the worlds most profitable fisheries; it is also one of the most threatened.

The stock could collapse as soon as 2026, according to an assessment the IOTC commissioned. The tuna management agency has 31 members, including local parties like Seychelles, and others like the EU, China and Japan that operate distant-water fishing fleets in the region.

In 2016, the agency launched a yellowfin rebuilding plan, which required member states to reduce their purse seine catches by 15% from their 2014 levels. An IOTC report from 2021 found that EU-flagged purse seiners overfished yellowfin tuna in 2017 and 2018, after the rebuilding plan was implemented.

Everybody has an equal responsibility to abide by their quotas, said Glen Holmes, a fisheries expert with The Pew Charitable Trusts. But the EU as a well-resourced country block has a moral obligation to set the highest standard.

The Seychelles-flagged purse seine fleet also exceeded its yellowfin quota in 2017 and 2018.Being a small island developing state, a special status under the U.N., Seychelles was allowed to choose the baseline year upon which to calculate its target quota.Instead of 2014, when its catch was only 23,463 tons, it chose 2015, when its catch stood at 39,072 tons. This resulted in a much higher target quota under the rebuilding plan another advantage for European-owned vessels flying the Seychellois flag.

Mauritius is also recognised as a small island developing state and chose 2018 as its baseline year, when its catch was 11,322 tons, as opposed to 2014, when its fleet caught only 4,844 tons of yellowfin tuna. As a result, its purse seine fleet is today allowed to catch about 10,500 tons of tuna, more than double what it was catching in 2014.

Christopher OBrien, the IOTCs executive secretary, told Mongabay that catch limits for the following year are lower for fleets that overshoot their catch limits but there are no other penalties for breaching them.

Experts argue that even the present catch reductions are not enough to save the stock.

The yellowfin tuna stock rebuilding plan put in place by the IOTC in 2016 has, thus far, failed to reduce catches from the baseline at all, let alone by the 25 percent necessary to save the stock from collapse, a 2020 Blue Marine Foundation report authored by Jess Rattle concluded.

The rebuilding plans failure has prompted the IOTC to hold a series of special meetings to build consensus around measures to curb overfishing. At a meeting held this March, the EU proposed that catch reductions for purse seiners increase marginally from 15% to 18%. The Maldives, another small island nation, is pushing for more: a 35% cut for purse seiners from developed countries and 28% from developing countries.

The European Union proposal is less ambitious, Holmes said. There is less change involved in the EUs proposal than there is in the Maldives one. The Maldives proposal will almost certainly reduce the overall catch to a level that will reduce or prevent overfishing.

Julio Morn Ayala, managing director of OPAGAC, which represents the Spanish tuna fishing industry, including Albacora, told Mongabay in an emailed response that his organisation wants fleets of IOTC member countries that are currently exempt from reductions to also be subject to catch cuts.

Since 2016, IOTC regulation has established a larger cut on the purse seine gear (15%) compared to others (10-5%) and exempting most of the Coastal countries, Ayala said. So, the EU has and is taking a major cut on the yellowfin catch, but the final result is that other gears had increased their catch offsetting the reduction achieved.

The countries currently exempt from cuts are almost all developing Indian Ocean countries, including Yemen and Madagascar, some of the worlds poorest nations. Most do not operate industrial fleets but rather small-scale fisheries in their own EEZs that largely supply local populations. None of the individual countries shares of the yellowfin tuna catch is anywhere close to the EUs. But the combined share of this dozen or so countries has grown in the past few years.

Experts say that in the absence of proper enforcement, illegal fishing activity will also deplete fish stocks in the region.

Read more: El Nio-Southern Oscillation can affect tuna fish in the Indian Ocean, says FAO report

Even if the quotas are reduced, enforcing them will still be difficult.

The IOTC relies on self-reporting by member states to track catches, so transgressions are hard to pinpoint independently. In 2018, a discrepancy in Spains catch reports came to light only after Blue Marine Foundation flagged it. TheIOTClater confirmed that Spain underreported its yellowfin tuna catch by 30% that year.

The ability of Seychelles, a small coastal state whose total government revenues stand at around $400 million, to police multimillion-dollar companies with beneficial owners abroad is questionable, as suggested by the Seychellois fleets involvement in overfishing yellowfin. An IOTC report found poor training and a lack of support for the countrys observer program, where personnel board ships to collect data and monitor their practices. The program is partly funded by the industry.

Operators can choose freely where to register their vessels, the EUs Office for Seychelles and Mauritius said in a statement in response to Mongabays questions about ships using flags of convenience. The office becomes concerned only if vessels change flags regularly to escape obligations or circumvent their quota. Since many of the vessels have flown the Seychelles flag for several years, it doesnt qualify as abusive, the statement said.

Seychelles has to exercise its flag state responsibilities on their fleets and report on their compliance records to the RFMOs [regional fisheries management organisations] covering their EEZ, it added.

The Seychelles Fishing Authority and the ministry of fisheries did not respond to several attempts by Mongabay to seek comment.

The ship owners view the arrangements as investments and point to the benefits they offer to coastal states. Since our operations started back in the 60s, some companies not only invest in coastal countries through fleet, but through tuna processing plants inland. Ayala from OPAGAC said in his email. In the Indian Ocean, the EU fleet operating since 1987, has developed the tuna industry in Seychelles, Mauritius, Madagascar and Kenya, where more than 15,000 direct employments depend on the tuna operations.

However, foreign workers are overrepresented in this sector. Of theroughly 2,000 employees at Indian Ocean Tuna Ltd. (IOT), the largest cannery in Seychelles, for instance, almost 70% are foreigners.

The Thai Union group that owns the cannery supplies some of Europes leading seafood brands, including John West, Petit Navire, Parmentier and Mareblu.

It isnt just the ownership of the Seychellois purse seine vessels that is shadowy; they often operate under the radar. A recent analysis showed that, in violation of international law, most of the Spanish-controlled tuna purse seine vessels did not continuously transmit their locations via the automatic identification system (AIS).

AIS, which tracks vessels through their unique alphanumeric signature, allows seafarers to map out other ships locations and aids navigation. But it is also central to coastal states ability to monitor vessels activity to ensure they are not entering protected areas or fishing where they are not supposed to.

The analysis, by the U.K.-based NGO OceanMind compiled by Blue Marine Foundation, looked at AIS use by tuna purse seiners over 850 days between 2017 and 2019 in the western Indian Ocean. It revealed low rates of AIS transmission for both Spanish-flagged and Seychelles-flagged ships.

ThePlaya De Anzorastransmitted its location for less than 40% of the 850-day period. It did better than most. TheArtza, owned by Atunsa, did not transmit its location at all. For the nine remaining Spanish-controlled ships, the figure ranged between 3% and 33%. The numbers were similar for the 14 Spain-flagged ships considered in the report.

The fact that these ships beneficial owners are based in Europe also allows them to profit from EU fishing subsidies. Between 2000 and 2010, Spains global fishing industry received more than $8 billion in subsidies. The Albacora group has benefited from subsidies not just from the EU but also from the Spanish government.

Critics say such state subsidies allow unprofitable fishing to remain viable and lead to overfishing.

The EU has continued to subsidise fisheries over the years, while trying to purge those that lead to overexploitation. Reports that the EU is seeking to reintroduce allegedly harmful fishing subsidies as part of the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund have sparked alarm.

Between 2021 and 2027, around seven billion euros of public money will be injected into the ocean economy. However, countless studies and reports show that the vast majority of the fund is used to encourage overfishing and fuel the demise of nature at sea, a group of more than 100 scientists wrote in anopen letterpublished in November 2020.

It has also raised concerns in Seychelles, whose fisheries sector is greatly impacted by the EUs actions. For us in the Western Indian Ocean where 40 percent of the E.U. catch of tuna comes from, this may mean the end of our tuna stocks, Shah toldlocal news agencies.

He told Mongabay in an interview in March that the EUs reputation was being sullied because of the actions of two countries: Spain and France. It is not even two countries but the private companies in two countries of the EU being supported, defended and paid for by the EU, he said.

European interests dominate Indian Ocean tuna fisheries not just in terms of supply but also demand.

Almost all of the processed tuna from Seychelles, Mauritius and Madagascaris exported, and the exports are largely destined for the EU. Canneries in those countries are all supplied by the European industrial purse seine fleet. The mainly European shipowners areassured a captive market for their catches, a 2017 report from the EU think tank IDDRI found.

These tuna exports haveduty-free accessto European markets under economicpartnership agreements, saving them from a 24% tariff. Under the rules of origin that are part of the agreements, the canneries in Seychelles, Mauritius and Madagascar can use only fish caught either by their fleets or by the EU fleets, Liam Campling, an expert on global trade centred on tuna fisheries, at the Queen Mary University of London, said. The rules of origin have been a massive support to the EU distant water fleet because it means they have a locked-in market.

Since almost all the tuna comes from EU-controlled ships, it is unclear how the three countries benefit from these tax breaks.

If the Europeans really wanted to deal with the problem of yellowfin, they can, Campling said. but they dont want to take the economic hit.

In some ways, the biggest cannery in Seychelles, Indian Ocean Tuna Ltd. (IOT), embodies the unequal relationship around tuna that has become entrenched between some Indian Ocean countries and the EU. It is owned by Thai Union/M.W. Brands, a Thailand-based leading supplier of canned tuna. It buys tuna almost exclusively from EU-owned ships, sends most of its tuna back to the EU duty-free, and employs mostly foreigners.

Tuna and the money to be made from it leave Seychelles every year and its not clear if the countrys gains outweigh its losses. What is certain is that those gains are themselves in jeopardy.

If the worst were to happen and fish stocks decline to a point where we couldnt fish anymore, the EU purse seine fleet could almost certainly go to a different ocean to fish, says Rattle of the Blue Marine Foundation, whereas the coastal states left behind, they cant go anywhere else, so they will just be stuck with no fish.

For Shah, too, it isnt just immediate economic gains that are at stake. Is it right for you, no matter how much money you make, to destroy our natural resources? he asked. What will happen to future opportunities for Seychellois?

This article was first published in Mongabay on April 8, 2021.

Editors Note: The article has been updated to clarify IOTC executive secretary Christopher OBriens comments.

Banner image: A yellowfin tuna. Photo by sucinimad via Flickr.

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New data point to benefits of Bristol’s novel psoriasis pill, but safety issues will be scrutinized – STAT

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Last November and then again in February, Bristol Myers Squibb said its oral drug designed to treat psoriasis differently from currently approved medicines had achieved the goals of large Phase 3 clinical trials.

On Friday, the actual data from those two studies were presented publicly for the first time at the annual meeting of the American Academy of Dermatology. The Bristol drug, called deucravacitinib, proved more effective at clearing the chronic skin disease numerically and statistically compared to a placebo and a competing drug from Amgen.

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Foods to avoid with psoriasis: Types, diets, and more – Medical News Today

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Psoriasis is an autoimmune condition that causes skin cells to build up and form lesions on the skin. Food is one of many potential triggers that may make a persons psoriasis symptoms worsen or flare.

People with psoriasis are at a greater risk of developing other conditions, including obesity, type 2 diabetes, and cardiovascular disease.

Making dietary adjustments may help prevent these secondary conditions and reduce symptoms.

Certain foods may act as triggers for some people.

This article explores what foods may trigger psoriasis flares and how a person can identify them.

Gluten is a protein in certain grains, including wheat. For example, bread, pasta, and baked goods contain gluten in varying amounts.

Celiac disease is an autoimmune disease that causes a reaction to gluten when a person consumes products that contain wheat.

A 2018 study found that people with psoriasis had the same prevalence of an antibody that people with celiac and gluten sensitivities have.

Researchers also found that when people who tested positive for the antibody ate a gluten-free diet, they saw a reduction in their psoriasis symptoms.

Learn more about how a gluten-free diet might help with psoriasis here.

Red meat contains a polyunsaturated fatty acid called arachidonic acid. These fats create byproducts that contribute to psoriasis lesions.

As a result, avoiding red meat, such as hamburgers or steak, may help reduce the severity of psoriasis lesions.

Avoiding red meats has the added benefit of helping to prevent heart disease.

According to some research, red meats create byproducts that increase a persons likelihood of developing heart disease.

For a person living with psoriasis, avoiding red meat may help prevent heart disease even if it does not affect their psoriasis symptoms.

Learn more about red meat and health here.

Like red meat, dairy also contains arachidonic acid.

A 2017 review suggested that the arachidonic acid in dairy products may irritate the intestinal tracts inner lining and worsen psoriasis symptoms.

However, researchers called for more studies to confirm this link.

Anecdotal evidence suggests that some people have experienced fewer psoriasis symptoms after eliminating dairy from their diets.

Another 2017 study investigating the effects of diet on psoriasis, reported that one of the most common food triggers participants chose to remove from their diets was dairy.

Learn about how to replace dairy in the diet.

Processed foods can contribute to various health conditions, including type 2 diabetes, obesity, and heart disease.

Obesity has associations with inflammation and an increase in the severity of psoriasis symptoms.

A person with psoriasis who also has obesity may find that cutting out or reducing processed foods may also help them manage their weight. This could improve their psoriasis symptoms.

The term processed food means any food that manufacturers change during production.

Learn more about processed foods here.

Caffeine may trigger psoriasis flares in some people.

Some research indicates that people with psoriasis could consider avoiding caffeine. However, the researchers state that they do not fully understand the exact relationship between dietary caffeine from coffee, tea, or other sources.

However, some people may find reducing or eliminating caffeine helpful.

Learn more about caffeine here.

Nightshades include the following vegetables:

One study indicated that people living with psoriasis often avoid nightshades because they believe it helps with their psoriasis symptoms.

However, the Global Healthy Living Foundation states that the number of nightshades a person typically eats would not be enough to trigger an inflammatory response. Though they focused primarily on arthritis, researchers believe the same chemicals trigger psoriasis responses.

Still, some people may find that reducing their consumption of nightshades may help reduce their psoriasis symptoms.

Learn whether nightshades worsen inflammation here.

During a 2017 study on the effects of certain foods on psoriasis flares, researchers found the following foods had a positive result on the skin symptoms of participants:

The National Psoriasis Foundation notes that no specific diet will cure psoriasis but may reduce the severity of the symptoms. They also note that eating healthier foods may help a person avoid other conditions, such as obesity and type 2 diabetes. They recommend eating:

Some people may find keeping a food journal helpful.

A food journal can help people look for patterns in what they eat and improve their psoriasis symptoms.

Learn more about how diet can affect psoriasis here.

Several environmental factors, or triggers, can cause psoriasis symptoms to flare.

Some potential psoriasis triggers include:

Some people may find they have other triggers. Others may be unable to identify their triggers.

A person should talk with their doctor about what may trigger their psoriasis flares if they have any questions.

Learn more about psoriasis triggers and how to avoid them here.

Certain foods may trigger psoriasis flares in some people.

A person can take steps, such as keeping a food journal, to help determine what foods may help and which may cause triggers.

Generally, the most helpful diets for psoriasis include fresh fruits, vegetables, lean proteins, low fat dairy, whole grains, and plant-based fats.

These diets may not help prevent a flare, but they may reduce symptom severity and help prevent other conditions, such as diabetes, obesity, or heart disease, from developing.

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Is There an Association Between Psoriasis/PsA and Thyroid Disease? – Rheumatology Advisor

Posted: at 1:49 pm

Several research articles have shown a positive association between psoriasis and thyroid diseases, including Hashimotos thyroiditis (hypothyroidism) and Graves disease (hyperthyroidism), but the limited number of studies do not provide a complete explanation to prove this association, according to a review study published in Cureus.

This review study included 45 articles that featured psoriasis, hypothyroidism, thyroid function tests, propylthiouracil, and psoriatic arthritis as inclusion keywords. Medical Subject Headings keywords psoriasis, hypothyroidism, and autoimmunity were also imputed into PubMed to identify the relevant articles for review.

A total of 39 of the 45 articles included in this review study demonstrated a positive association between psoriasis and thyroid diseases, although 6 articles found no association.

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In 5 articles, researchers showed that thyroid hormones had an effect on the development of psoriasis. Other articles demonstrated that genetic, immunological, and inflammation were involved in the associations. Reactive oxygen species-related pathogenesis was also reported in 2 articles. In 5 articles, there were reports of positive thyroid peroxidase antibodies, thyroglobulin antibodies, and Hashimotos thyroiditis ultrasound features in patients with psoriasis.

Marked improvement was observed in psoriatic skin lesions following thyroidectomy in 2 articles. In addition, the investigators of this review found that first-line propylthiouracil for hyperthyroidism reportedly clears psoriatic lesions, according to findings in 6 articles. Propylthiouracil did not appear to induce clinical hypothyroidism or lead to any serious adverse effects. The researchers of this review study suggest propylthiouracil could be prescribed as an alternative therapy for patients with psoriasis due to its side effects compared with existing psoriasis treatments that are typically toxic and expensive.

The investigators also noted that a higher prevalence of the association between psoriasis and thyroid diseases in women was reported in some of the articles. However, some articles found no sex preference involved in the prevalence of the association.

Limitations of this study included the small number of articles available for review as well as the lack of a pooled meta-analysis of the data.

The investigators concluded that additional studies are required to establish a connection between these diseases because these findings have a significant impact on both the clinical and research sides.

Eapi S, Chowdhury R, Lawal OS, Mathur N, Malik BH. Etiological association between psoriasis and thyroid diseases. Cureus. 2021;13(1):e12653. Published 2021 Jan 12. doi:10.7759/cureus.12653

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Sun Pharma to Present Clinical Data Abstracts for ILUMYA (tildrakizumab-asmn) in Patients with Moderate-to-Severe Plaque Psoriasis at the AAD Virtual…

Posted: at 1:49 pm

PRINCETON, N.J., April 22, 2021 /PRNewswire/ --Sun Pharmaceutical Industries Inc., USA (Sun Pharma) today announced that 12 data abstracts for ILUMYA (tildrakizumab-asmn) in patients with moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis will be presented at the American Academy of Dermatology Virtual Meeting Experience (AAD VMX) 2021, taking place April 23-25. The data to be highlighted at this year's meeting reinforce Sun Pharma's commitment to continuing to research the long-term efficacy and safety of ILUMYA, one of the most studied IL-23 inhibitors in market.

Click to TweetNEWS: @SunPharma_Live announces 12 data abstracts revealing long-term sustained efficacy and safety results for its treatment in moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis at #AADVMX2021. Read more: bit.ly/3tu3UmR

"We are proud to be presenting data abstracts on ILUMYA for patients with moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis at this year's AAD VMX," said Abhay Gandhi, CEO, Sun Pharma, North America. "The data being presented underscore our dedication to providing ongoing clinical insights into the long-term efficacy and safety of ILUMYA, an IL-23 inhibitor that helps balance the immune system from the inside out to help patients keep their moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis under control."

ILUMYA abstracts to be presented at AAD VMX 2021

*Abstract sponsored byAlmirallwho marketstildrakizumab-asmnin the EU.

The AAD Virtual Meeting Experience 2021 is accessible via registration here.

About thereSURFACEExtensionStudies

The Phase-3 studies (reSURFACE 1 and reSURFACE 2) were randomized, placebo-controlled, multicenter, three-part studies designed toevaluateefficacyand safetyof ILUMYA100 mg and 200 mgin moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis compared to placebo and comparative drugand to assess safety and tolerability.Participants with at least a PASI 50 response at base study completion who received ILUMYA within 12 weeks of base study end (week52 or64) were eligible to enroll in the extension study andcontinuedonthe same ILUMYA dose once every 12 weeks.Researchers evaluated PASI responses and PGA score of 0 or 1 with 2 grade reduction from baseline, and incidence rates for adverse events, including severe infections, cardiovascular events, and drug-related hypersensitivities.

About ILUMYA(tildrakizumab-asmn)

ILUMYA (tildrakizumab-asmn) is a humanized lgG1/k monoclonal antibody designed to selectively bind to the p19 subunit of interleukin-23 (IL-23) and inhibit its interaction with the IL-23 receptor, leading to inhibition of the release of pro-inflammatory cytokines and chemokines. ILUMYA is indicated for the treatment of adults with moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis who are candidates for systemic therapy or phototherapy, in the United States. ILUMYAhas also been approved for moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis in Australia and Japan, and under the brand name ILUMETRI in Europe.

IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION

ILUMYA is contraindicated in patients with a previous serious hypersensitivity reaction to tildrakizumab or to any other excipients.

Cases of angioedema and urticaria occurred in ILUMYA-treated subjects in clinical trial. If a serious hypersensitivity reaction occurs, discontinue ILUMYA immediately and initiate appropriate therapy.

ILUMYA may increase the risk of infection. Treatment with ILUMYA should not be initiated in patients with a clinically important active infection until the infection resolves or is adequately treated. Consider the risks and benefits of treatment prior to prescribing ILUMYA in patients with a chronic infection or a history of recurrent infection. Instruct patients receiving ILUMYA to seek medical help if signs or symptoms of clinically important chronic or acute infection occur. If a patient develops a clinically important or serious infection, or is not responding to standard therapy, closely monitor and discontinue ILUMYA until the infection resolves.

Evaluate patients for TB infection prior to initiating treatment with ILUMYA. Do not administer ILUMYA to patients with active TB infection. Initiate treatment of latent TB prior to administering ILUMYA. Consider antiTB therapy prior to initiation of ILUMYA in patients with a past history of latent or active TB in whom an adequate course of treatment cannot be confirmed. Patients receiving ILUMYA should be monitored closely for signs and symptoms of active TB during and after ILUMYA treatment.

Prior to initiating therapy with ILUMYA, consider completion of all age-appropriate immunizations according to current immunization guidelines. Patients treated with ILUMYA should not receive live vaccines.

Most common (1%) adverse reactions associated with ILUMYA include upper respiratory infections, injection site reactions, and diarrhea. Adverse reactions that occurred at rates less than 1% but greater than 0.1% in the ILUMYA group and at a higher rate than in the placebo group included dizziness and pain in extremity.

About Sun Dermatology

Sun Dermatology (the branded dermatology division of Sun Pharmaceutical Industries Inc. in the United States) is committed to expanding its dermatology portfolio to bring more treatment options and ongoing support for healthcare providers and patients around the world. For more than 30 years, it has been dedicated to advancing the science of dermatology for a variety of conditions like plaque psoriasis, severe nodular acne, minimally to moderately thick actinic keratoses of the face, scalp or upper extremities, and locally advanced basal cell carcinoma. Sun Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd., along with its subsidiaries, is ranked second in dermatology prescription volume within the U.S. per IQVIA and is the fourth largest specialty generic pharmaceutical company globally.

About Sun Pharmaceutical Industries Inc., USA

Sun Pharma is a wholly owned subsidiary of Sun Pharmaceutical Industries Limited (SPIL). SPIL is the world's fourth largest specialty generic pharmaceutical company and India's top pharmaceutical company. A vertically integrated business and a skilled team enables it to deliver high-quality products, trusted by customers and patients in over 100 countries across the world, at affordable prices. Its global presence is supported by manufacturing facilities spread across 6 continents and approved by multiple regulatory agencies, coupled with a multi-cultural workforce comprising over 50 nationalities. SPIL fosters excellence through innovation supported by strong R&D capabilities across multiple R&D centers, with investments of approximately 6% of annual revenues in R&D. For further information, please visit http://www.sunpharma.com & follow us on Twitter @SunPharma_Live.

DisclaimerStatements in this "Document" describing the Company's objectives, projections, estimates, expectations, plans or predictions or industry conditions or events may be "forward looking statements" within the meaning of applicable securities laws and regulations. Actual results, performance or achievements could differ materially from those expressed or implied. The Company undertakes no obligation to update or revise forward looking statements to reflect developments or circumstances that arise or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated developments/circumstances after the date hereof.

Contact:

Media:

Gaurav Chugh

Tel

+91 22 4324 4324, Xtn 5373

Tel Direct

+91 22 4324 5373

Mobile

+91 98104 71414

Email

[emailprotected]

SOURCE Sun Pharma

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Sun Pharma to Present Clinical Data Abstracts for ILUMYA (tildrakizumab-asmn) in Patients with Moderate-to-Severe Plaque Psoriasis at the AAD Virtual...

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Arcutis Biotherapeutics to Present New Roflumilast Data at The American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) Virtual Meeting Experience (VMX) – GlobeNewswire

Posted: at 1:49 pm

WESTLAKE VILLAGE, Calif., April 19, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Arcutis Biotherapeutics, Inc.(Nasdaq: ARQT), a late-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on developing and commercializing treatments for unmet needs in immune-mediated dermatological diseases and conditions, or immuno-dermatology,will present new data from three studies evaluating the safety, efficacy, and tolerability of its once-daily, topical roflumilast cream and foam at the American Academy of Dermatology Virtual Meeting Experience (VMX) April 23 - 25,2021.

Patients suffering from plaque psoriasis, scalp psoriasis, and seborrheic dermatitis have significant unmet needs given the lack of efficacious, safe, tolerable topical options for long-term use, said Patrick Burnett, M.D., Ph.D., FAAD, Chief Medical Officer, Arcutis. We are pleased to share these new data that further reinforce the potential of roflumilast cream and foam in various inflammatory skin diseases. If approved by the FDA, our therapies could change the treatment paradigm for patients and their providers in addressing challenging inflammatory dermatological conditions that can significantly impact quality of life.

The data include positive results from a Phase 2b study of roflumilast foam for the treatment of scalp and body psoriasis, as well as a Phase 2 study of roflumilast foam in patients with seborrheic dermatitis.

Two additional poster slide presentations will feature sub-analyses from the previously published Phase 2b study of roflumilast cream in the treatment of chronic, mild-to-severe plaque psoriasis: 1) the correlation of itch response toroflumilast creamwithdisease severity andpatient-reported outcomes, and 2) the treatment of steroid-sensitive areas of the body including the face, neck, and intertriginous areas.

Finally, Dr. Kim Papp will present results from a new measurement, PASI-HD, which he developed in conjunction with the Arcutis medical team and which was used in the Phase 2b study of roflumilast cream in plaque psoriasis. In areas where the affected body surface area is low (<10%), PASI-HD better distinguishes disease severity than the traditional Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI), which is a gold standard measure in psoriasis clinical trials.

Details of Arcutis AAD Virtual Congress presentations include:

Roflumilast is a highly potent phosphodiesterase-4 (PDE4) inhibitor in development for plaque psoriasis (PsO). Arcutis is investigating roflumilast as a once-daily, nonsteroidal, topical treatment for plaque psoriasis, atopic dermatitis, seborrheic dermatitis, and scalp psoriasis.

For more information, visithttps://www.arcutis.comor follow the company onLinkedInandTwitter. Join the conversation with the hashtag #AADVMX2021.

About PsoriasisPsoriasis is a common, non-contagious, immune-mediated skin disease that affects approximately 8.6 million patients in the United States. About 90% of patients develop plaque psoriasis, which is characterized by raised, red areas of skin covered with a silver or white layer of scale. Psoriatic plaques can appear on any area of the body, but most often appear on the scalp, knees, elbows, trunk, and limbs, and are often itchy and sometimes painful.

Scalp psoriasis is a manifestation of plaque psoriasis characterized by plaques in the hair-bearing area of the scalp and sometimes extending to the forehead, back of the neck, or behind or inside the ears. Patients with scalp psoriasis commonly have plaques on other areas of the body as well. Scalp psoriasis is present in nearly half of Americans with psoriasis. As with psoriatic plaques on other parts of the body, scalp psoriasis is often itchy and sometimes painful. It can also be associated with hair loss.

About Seborrheic DermatitisSeborrheic dermatitis affects more than 10 million people in the United States, and is a common, chronic, or recurrent inflammatory skin disease that causes red patches covered with large, greasy, flaking yellow-gray scales, and persistent itch. Seborrheic dermatitis occurs most often on the scalp, face (especially on the nose, eyebrows, ears, and eyelids), upper chest, and back.

About Topical Roflumilast Cream and FoamRoflumilast Cream and Foam are once-daily, topical formulations of a highly potent and selective PDE4 inhibitor (roflumilast). The foam formulation was developed to treat inflammatory dermatoses in hair-bearing areas of the body, such as the scalp, although it is usable in all areas of the body. Roflumilast has been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for oral treatment to reduce the risk of exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) since 2011. Roflumilast has shown greater potency (25- to 300-fold) than the two other FDA-approved PDE4 inhibitors for dermatology. PDE4 is an intracellular enzyme that increases the production of pro-inflammatory mediators and decreases production of anti-inflammatory mediators and has been implicated in a wide range of inflammatory diseases including psoriasis, atopic dermatitis, and COPD. PDE4 is an established target in dermatology, and other PDE4 inhibitors have been approved by the FDA for the topical treatment of atopic dermatitis and the systemic treatment of plaque psoriasis.

About ArcutisArcutis Biotherapeutics, Inc. (Nasdaq: ARQT) is a late-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on developing and commercializing treatments for unmet needs in immune-mediated dermatological diseases and conditions, or immuno-dermatology. The company is leveraging recent advances in immunology and inflammation to develop differentiated therapies against biologically validated targets to solve persistent treatment challenges in serious diseases of the skin. Arcutis robustpipelineincludes four novel drug candidates currently in development for a range of inflammatory dermatological conditions. The companys lead product candidate, topical roflumilast, has the potential to revitalize the standard of care for plaque psoriasis, atopic dermatitis, scalp psoriasis, and seborrheic dermatitis. For more information, visithttps://www.arcutis.comor follow the company onLinkedIn andTwitter.

Forward Looking StatementsThis press release contains "forward-looking" statements, including, among others, statements regarding the potential for roflumilast to revolutionize the standard of care in plaque psoriasis and other inflammatory dermatological conditions. These statements involve substantial known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause our actual results, levels of activity, performance, or achievements to be materially different from the information expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements and you should not place undue reliance on our forward-looking statements. Risks and uncertainties that may cause our actual results to differ include risks inherent in the clinical development process and regulatory approval process, the timing of regulatory filings, and our ability to defend our intellectual property. For a further description of the risks and uncertainties applicable to our business, see the "Risk Factors" section of our Form 10-K filed with U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) on February 16, 2021, as well as any subsequent filings with the SEC. We undertake no obligation to revise or update information herein to reflect events or circumstances in the future, even if new information becomes available.

Investor and Media Contact:Heather Rowe Armstrongharmstrong@arcutis.com805-418-5006 ext. 740

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Investigating the Relationship Between Inflammatory Skin Diseases and COVID-19 – Rheumatology Advisor

Posted: at 1:49 pm

Inflammatory skin conditions may be associated with higher risk for COVID-19, study data published in the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology suggests. In a subsequent gene expression analyses, shared genetic components were also identified in certain skin conditions and the immune response to severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2).

Investigators conducted an epidemiological study of patients with COVID-19 followed by an analysis of bronchial epithelial cells infected with SARS-CoV-2. Medical records data were extracted from a health system in Michigan. COVID-19 and inflammatory skin conditions were identified using the appropriate diagnostic codes. Multiple logistic regression was used to identify the medical comorbidities were associated with COVID-19 and with severe disease outcomes. Models were adjusted for age, sex, race/ethnicity, obesity, and socioeconomic status. For the transcriptome analysis, investigators compared gene expression across 9 inflammatory skin conditions and bronchial epithelial cells infected with SARS-CoV-2. Data were also abstracted from a prior genetic meta-analysis of COVID-19 susceptibility to identify potential shared loci between COVID-19 and inflammatory skin conditions.

Medical data were available for 1115 patients with COVID-19, of whom 105 (9.4%) had acne, 38 (3.4%) had atopic dermatitis, 36 (3.2%) had psoriasis, and 35 (3.1%) had rosacea. In logistic regression models, atopic dermatitis (odds ratio [OR], 1.48; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.06-2.06; P =.020) and psoriasis (OR, 1.48; 95% CI, 1.06-2.07; P =.0.22) were associated with increased odds of COVID-19. However, inflammatory skin conditions appeared to be associated with lower risk for severe COVID-19 outcomes. Specifically, having any skin condition appeared to substantially decrease the odds for ventilation (OR, 0.22; 95% CI, 0.11-0.47; P = 8.5 10-5).

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In the transcriptome portion of the study, substantial overlap was observed in gene expression between bronchial epithelial cells infected with SARS-CoV-2 and lesion cells with inflammatory skin disease. In addition, epidermal differentiation complex (EDC) genes were found to be upregulated in both SARS-CoV-2 infection and in inflammatory skin conditions. A shared locus in the EDC was also detected between psoriasis and COVID-19 infection (P = 3.3 10-7).

Findings from this multi-omics study underscore a potential association between inflammatory skin conditions and COVID-19. Interestingly, diagnosis with psoriasis or atopic dermatitis appeared to decrease the risk for ventilation with COVID-19. Preliminary genetic data also highlight a potential shared genomic component. [Although] the epidemiological and genetic findings require additional validation and replicationthis work will serve as an important study to reveal individuals that are more susceptible to infection of SARS-CoV-2, and how their pre-existing conditions may affect the course of the disease, investigators wrote.

Disclosure: Two study authors declared affiliations with the pharmaceutical industry

Please see the original reference for a full list of authors disclosures.

Patrick MT, Zhang H, Wasikowski R, et al. Associations between COVID-19 and skin conditions identified through epidemiology and genomic studies Published online January 21, 2021. J Allergy Clin Immunol. doi: 10.1016/j.jaci.2021.01.006

This article originally appeared on Dermatology Advisor

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Rich Insights into Plaque Psoriasis Market, Patient Pool, Pipeline Therapies, Key Companies working in the Space and Emerging Trends Wall Street Call…

Posted: at 1:49 pm

Rich Insights into Plaque Psoriasis Market, Patient Pool, Pipeline Therapies, Key Companies working in the Space and Emerging Trends

DelveInsights Plaque Psoriasis Market Insights Report offers a detailed analysis of disease, its causes, symptoms, diagnostics modalities and treatment options.

The report also offers comprehensive insights into Plaque Psoriasis market size, epidemiology, emerging therapies, market drivers, market barriers, ongoing clinical trials, key collaboration in the space, and key pharmaceutical companies actively pushing the growth of market size forward.

Some of the key highlights from the Plaque Psoriasis Market Insights:

Learn more by requesting for sample @ Plaque Psoriasis Market Landscape

Plaque Psoriasis: Overview

Psoriasis is a common skin condition that speeds up the life cycle of skin cells. It causes cells tobuild up rapidly on the surface of the skin. The extra skin cells form scales and red patches that are itchy and sometimes painful.

The characteristic signs and symptoms of psoriasis are small scaly, red bumps. These bumps generally join together into elevated plaques of skin and most often are visible on the elbows, knees, and scalp, although any area of skin can be involved. Frequently, these plaques are quite itchy. Rarely, most of the patients skin surface is affected.

For more insights into Disease, causes and treatment, reach out @ Plaque Psoriasis Treatment Landscape

Plaque Psoriasis Epidemiology Segmentation

The Plaque Psoriasis Market report proffers epidemiological analysis for the study period 2017-30 in the 7MM segmented into:

Visit for more @ Plaque Psoriasis Epidemiological Insights

Plaque Psoriasis Market

Plaque Psoriasis Market size is expected to expand owing to the launch of several emerging therapies, key companies working in the space, rising prevalence, increment in R&D in the field, medical advancements happening in the Plaque Psoriasis market domain.

Plaque Psoriasis Pipeline Therapies and Key Companies

For more information, visit Plaque Psoriasis Market Analysis, Patient Pool and Emerging Therapies

Plaque Psoriasis Market Drivers

Scope of the Report

Key Questions Answered in the Report

Get in touch with our Business executive @ Plaque Psoriasis Market Landscape Analysis

Table of Contents

Learn more about the report offerings @ Plaque Psoriasis Market Outlook

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