Category Archives: Psoriasis

Dear Drs. Donohue and Roach Please give me new medicine information for psoriasis. I break out on my scalp very bad and also on my face, back, chest and arms. It's getting worse. M.T.

Answer Psoriasis is another illness you can blame the immune system for. It sends signals to the skin that prompt the lowest layer of cells to rise to the surface so quickly that they lack the maturity to protect the underlying layers of skin cells. Red patches covered with silvery scales result. Often, psoriatic patches itch.

The choice of medicine rests on where the patches are, how severe the outbreak is and the type of psoriasis a person has. Topical medicines are chosen to treat moderate to mild outbreaks. "Topical" indicates that the medicine is applied directly to the skin. Dovonex (a synthetic version of vitamin D) and Vectical ointment are two widely used topicals.

Stronger medicines belong to the cortisone family. Temovate and Diprolene are two examples.

Methotrexate and cyclosporine are two oral medicines that correct the immune system's excesses.

The newest psoriasis treatments are biological agents designed to rein in the wayward immune system. Their names include Enbrel, Remicade, Humira, Amevive and Stelara.

Dear Drs. Donohue and Roach I recently was diagnosed with shingles. I was given a week-long course of Valtrex. Two of the symptoms I experience are some chest pain and mild shortness of breath.

May I still get the shingles vaccine when this clears? P.R.

Answer The chest can be painful if the rash spreads across it. Shortness of breath, however, isn't a common symptom unless the chest pain is forcing you to take shallow breaths.

Let your doctor know what's going on.

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Many options for psoriasis treatments

RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK, N.C., Sept.28, 2012 /PRNewswire/ --Stiefel, a GSK (GSK) company, today announced that the US Food and Drug Administration has approved a supplemental New Drug Application (sNDA) for Sorilux (calcipotriene) Foam, 0.005%. The sNDA expands the indication for Sorilux Foam to include the topical treatment of plaque psoriasis of the scalp in patients aged 18 years and older. It is not known if the product is safe and effective in people under 18 years old.

"Studies have shown that in at least 50 percent of psoriasis cases, the scalp is involved," said Susan Learned, PharmD, MD, PhD, Medicines Development Leader, Dermatology Research and Development, Stiefel. "We believe this additional indication for Sorilux Foam will help meet the needs of both patients and physicians."

The approval of Sorilux Foam for treatment of plaque psoriasis of the scalp was based on a multi-center, randomized, double-blind, vehicle-controlled pivotal Phase 3b study of patients with moderate scalp and body psoriasis. The most common side effects of Sorilux Foam were redness and pain of the treated skin areas. The incidence of these adverse reactions was similar between the body and scalp. It is for use on the skin only. It is not for facial, oral, ophthalmic, or intravaginal use. More information about the clinical trial results can be found in the Full US Prescribing Information at http://www.stiefel.com/content/dam/stiefel/globals/documents/pdf/US_Sorilux_Foam.pdf.

About Plaque Psoriasis

Psoriasis is a chronic (life-long) skin disease. It occurs when the immune system "speeds up" the growth cycle of skin cells. A normal skin cell matures and falls off the body in about a month. For people with plaque psoriasis, it can take only three or four days for new skin cells to develop. Instead of falling off, the cells remain on the skin and form thickened patches (lesions or plaques). While plaque psoriasis is a chronic condition, many patients experience times when their symptoms improve or worsen.

Plaque psoriasis is the most common form of psoriasis. It typically causes raised, red lesions covered with silvery white scales. Plaque psoriasis can occur on any part of the body, but most commonly on the scalp, knees, elbows, and torso. Sometimes, the lesions can appear in the same place on the left and right sides of the body.

Important Safety Information

Patients should not use Sorilux Foam if they have been told by their doctor that they have a high level of calcium in their blood (hypercalcemia). The medicine in Sorilux Foam has been shown to cause hypercalcemia. If hypercalcemia occurs, patients are advised to stop using Sorilux Foam until calcium levels return to normal.

Sorilux Foam is flammable. Patients should avoid fire, flame, or smoking during and right after applying Sorilux Foam to the skin.

Patients should avoid excessive exposure of the treated skin to natural or artificial sunlight (including tanning booths and sun lamps). Patients are advised to wear a hat and clothes that cover the treated areas of the skin if they have to be in sunlight.

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Stiefel receives US FDA approval of Sorilux™ Foam, 0.005% for topical treatment of plaque psoriasis of the scalp

DUBLIN--(BUSINESS WIRE)--

Research and Markets (http://www.researchandmarkets.com/research/sn7nsz/psoriasis_event) has announced the addition of Decision Resources, Inc's new report "Psoriasis (Event Driven)" to their offering.

Despite the major impact psoriasis has on patients' quality of life, physicians believe many patients are untreated or undertreated, offering important commercial opportunities for current and emerging agents targeting this indication. During our ten-year forecast period, intense competition between the TNF-a inhibitors etanercept and adalimumab and the interleukin inhibitor ustekinumab has the potential to transform current treatment algorithms and define new market leaders. These current therapies will vie for share with several emerging agents with novel mechanisms of action and distinct risk-benefit profiles.

Key Topics Covered:

Executive Summary

What are the key parameters of the psoriasis market?

What factors are driving the market for psoriasis therapies?

What factors are constraining the market for psoriasis therapies?

What are the drug development activities of note in psoriasis?

What do the experts say?

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Research and Markets: Psoriasis (Event Driven)

COPENHAGEN, Denmark, September 30, 2012 /PRNewswire/ --

Data from the Burden of Psoriasis patient research were presented this weekend at the 21st EADV Congress in Prague, Czech Republic. The results from the research, which included a quantitative online survey completed by 3,822 patients with psoriasis, showed 73% of patients surveyed scored their psoriasis as having a moderate to high impact on their lives[1].

To view the Multimedia News Release, please click:

http://multivu.prnewswire.com/mnr/prne/leo-pharma/56611

People living with psoriasis experience flare-ups that can result in the appearance of thick, red, scaly skin lesions on any part of their body[2]. The skin is often sore and itchy[2],[3], but the current study emphasizes that the psychological impact of psoriasis can have an even greater impact on patients' everyday lives[1].

Factors analysed in the research included the influence of symptom burden, healthcare professional (HCP) relationships, patient factors and the psychosocial impact of psoriasis on how much the patient's psoriasis "dictates how they live their life"[1]. Factors that were most strongly associated dealt with daily activities, stigmatisation, isolation and anxiety. However, diagnosed symptom severity was not a significant indicator[1].

Commenting on the research Dr Anthony Bewley, Whipps Cross University Hospital & Barts & the London NHS Trust, UK, said, "The reality for patients is that the reactions of other people, real or perceived, can make life a real struggle. We need to ensure that we actively question our patients about these issues, and modify management accordingly. We plan further analysis of this comprehensive data set, which we believe will help to individualise care".

"The physical, psychological and social effects of psoriasis can have a serious impact on people's lives," said LEO Pharma President and CEO Gitte P. Aabo. "To give people with psoriasis the best chance of improving their quality of life, we need to address the issues that affect them individually. The Burden of Psoriasis patient research will help healthcare professionals learn more about the impact that psoriasis has on peoples' lives and hence inform and help evolve the way the disease is treated."

References

1. Bewley A, Ersser S, Hansen M, Pevac C. Psychosocial and symptomatic burden of psoriasis for patients in Europe, the USA and Canada. Abstract presented at: EADV Congress, Prague, 27 - 30 September 2012 (ID number PRA12-0920).

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International Study Highlights Need to Support Patients With Psoriasis Suffering Feelings of Isolation, Stigmatisation ...

Phase II data show AIN457 given weekly during the first month of treatment improved hand/foot psoriasis at Week 12 (54% of patients vs 19% on placebo)[1] AIN457 selectively binds to and inhibits interleukin-17A, a key driver of immune-mediated diseases and a promising target for the next generation of therapy[2-4] AIN457 pivotal Phase III trials with more than 3,000 psoriasis patients on track with regulatory submissions expected in 2013 Psoriasis on the hands, feet and nails is traditionally difficult-to-treat, causes functional and social disability and can affect up to 55% of psoriasis patients[5],[6]

Basel, September 27, 2012 - Novartis announced today new Phase II data showing AIN457 (secukinumab) may significantly improve moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis on the hands, feet and nails when used every week for the first month of treatment, compared to placebo[1],[7]. Additional analysis on patients with moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis also showed that AIN457 may successfully improve quality of life by Week 12 in the study[8].

"These new AIN457 data are particularly welcome since they demonstrate significant improvement in the signs and symptoms of patients, even when difficult-to-treat areas are involved," said Prof. Kristian Reich, one of the study investigators and Professor of Dermatology, Venereology, and Allergology in Hamburg, Germany. "Many patients with hand, foot or nail psoriasis are restricted in their daily life and work because they may not be able to walk or use their hands, negatively impacting their quality of life."

The results will be presented today at the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology (EADV) 21st Congress, in Prague, Czech Republic. They provide additional insight into the safety and efficacy of AIN457, following the presentation of the study`s primary endpoint at EADV in 2011.

The new data from the sub-analyses undertaken on the Phase II study show AIN457 was nearly three times more effective than placebo at reducing moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis on the hands and/or feet when given every week during the first month of treatment (54.3% of patients vs. 19.2% respectively, p=0.005), as measured by the Investigator`s Global Assessment (IGA)[1]. Patients also benefited if they received AIN457 once every four weeks, with 39.0% experiencing either "clear" or "minimal" psoriasis after 12 weeks of treatment[1]. Another analysis found that these AIN457 treatment schedules also notably reduced the signs and symptoms of finger nail psoriasis compared to placebo[7].

The study safety analysis of these data showed a comparable safety profile between treatment and placebo, with the most common adverse events (AEs) observed being infections[1],[7].

Other new data presented at EADV in the total moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis study population show that AIN457 improved skin-related quality of life in 25 times more patients after 12 weeks of treatment when given every week for the first month, compared to placebo (40.8% vs. 1.6%, p<0.001), as measured by the Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI)[8]. In this same treatment group, significantly more patients experienced improvements in pain and discomfort compared to placebo (36.2% vs. -1.5%) from baseline; and in anxiety and depression versus placebo (16.3% vs. 6.2%), as measured by EuroQol (EQ-5D)[8]. The effect of psoriasis on patients` health-related quality of life has been shown to be similar to diseases such as cancer, heart attack, arthritis, type 2 diabetes and depression[9].

"These encouraging results show that through its novel mode of action, AIN457 may significantly increase treatment success and improve the quality of life of patients suffering from moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis," said John Hohneker, Head of Development for Integrated Hospital Care for the Pharmaceuticals Division of Novartis. "We look forward to receiving the results of the larger-scale and longer-term Phase III studies, which are expected in 2013."

All core pivotal trials for AIN457 in moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis are on track, involving more than 3,000 patients worldwide, and indicating a high interest from both medical and patient communities. Phase III data in moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis is expected in 2013, with regulatory submissions to follow shortly thereafter.

About the study Data are based on a double-blind, parallel group, placebo-controlled Phase II study involving 404 patients, which met its primary endpoint of PASI 75 (Psoriasis Area and Severity Index) responses at Week 12[10]. It was designed to evaluate the safety and efficacy of AIN457 in different regimens (weekly for the first month; once every four weeks; or single dose) of 150 mg given subcutaneously[10].

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Novartis data show AIN457 significantly reduced signs and symptoms in patients with hard-to-treat moderate-to-severe ...

Editor's Choice Main Category: Eczema / Psoriasis Also Included In: Dermatology Article Date: 27 Sep 2012 - 10:00 PDT

Current ratings for: Novartis Psoriasis Drug Shows Promising Results

Novartis added that the patients on secukinumab enjoyed improved quality of life by the twelfth week of therapy.

Prof. Kristian Reich, one of the study investigators said:

The AIN457 (secukinumab) trial results were presented today at the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology (EADV) 21st Congress, in Prague, Czech Republic.

According to new data on the Phase II trial, AIN457 is almost three times as effective than placebo in alleviating moderate-to-severe plague psoriasis on the hands, feet and nails during the first month of treatment (54.3% versus 19.2% on placebo). Novartis added that "patients also benefited if they received AIN457 once every four weeks, with 39.0% experiencing either "clear" or "minimal" psoriasis after 12 weeks of treatment. Another analysis found that these AIN457 treatment schedules also notably reduced the signs and symptoms of finger nail psoriasis compared to placebo."

The most common adverse events reports were infections.

Other data include:

John Hohneker, Head of Development for Integrated Hospital Care for the Pharmaceuticals Division of Novartis, said:

The AIN457 pivotal human studies for the treatment of moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis are "on track", the company says. The trials, involving over 3,000 participants, are attracting interest among both patients and health care professionals. Novartis says it will be releasing data on the Phase III trials in 2013. Soon after, if the data is favorable, submissions to regulatory authorities will be presented.

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Novartis Psoriasis Drug Shows Promising Results

Walk to be held for psoriasis sufferersWASHINGTON, D.C.On Sept. 30, the National Psoriasis Foundation is hosting its annual Walk to Cure Psoriasis in Washington, D.C.at the Franklin Delano Roosevelt Memorial (1850 W. Basin Dr. SW). The event aims to raise funds for the Foundations research, education and advocacy programs. Registration is at 8 a.m.; the walk is at 9 a.m. Walkers of all ages can choose between 1K and 5K routes.To register or for more information, visit walk.psoriasis.org/wdc-walk, or call (877) 825-WALK (9255).

Taste of Stafford to be held AQUIA The Aquia Evening Lions and 17 local restaurants will host an afternoon of delicious food samplings at Taste of Stafford on Oct. 7 from 2 to 4 p.m. Tickets are on sale now for $15 or $20 at door; call Bea at (540) 659-6124 or Dottie at (540) 659-2885. The event will be held at The Clubhouse Restaurant, 204 Bow Cove, Aquia Harbour in Stafford, and will raise funds for eye exams, eye glasses and hearing exams and aids for children.

National Public Lands Day to be held LORTON On Sept. 29, volunteers around the nation will visit their favorite parks, beaches, wildlife preserves, or forests and chip in to help improve these treasured places. Theyll be taking part in National Public Lands Day, the largest, single-day volunteer event for public lands in the country. Bureau of Land Management employees will participate, with volunteers to repair fences, control vegetation and provide boundary surveying. The event will be held Sept. 29 at 10 a.m. at Mustang Trail Head, 10702 Harley Road, Lorton. Call (202) 912-7715 for information.

RAA to hold plant sale FREDERICKSBURG Rappahannock Adult Activities is now hosting a fall plant sale with pansies and chrysanthemums. The sale started Sept. 24 and runs through Oct. 5 at their750 Kings Highway,Fredericksburg location (approximately 3 miles East of theChathamBridge).Sale hours are Monday through Saturday 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Wax center, therapy center open this week FREDERICKSBURG The grand opening of the European Wax Center took place Wednesday. The center is located at1935 Carl D. Silver Pkwy, inFredericksburg. The same day, the Physical Therapy of Central Virginia celebrated its grand opening. The physical therapy center is located at10524 Spotsylvania Ave., Suite 102, inFredericksburg.

September is Action Hunger MonthGAITHERSBURG, Md. September is Hunger Action Month. Its no secret that for many families food has become the greatest household expense, and often, there simply isnt enough food. Local elementary school students considered at risk of hunger, however, have come to depend on the weekend Smart Sacks packed by residents with memory loss at the Wilson Health Care Center at Asbury Methodist Village, a Gaithersburg continuing care retirement community.

Working in partnership with the Manna Food Center in Gaithersburg, the Smart Sack program provides the children with backpacks full of food every Friday to ensure they have food on the weekends when there are no school meals to sustain them. According the USDAs most recent statistics, approximately 15 percent ofUnited States households experienced some food insecurity during 2011.

Press releases

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Community News: Sept. 28 paper

Kiwi Company Provides Scalp Relief For Coeliac Community

TAURANGA, Thursday 20th September 2012: Psoriasis and dandruff are the lesser known but irritating side effects of coeliac disease - for which New Zealand has one of the highest rates globally and a leading brand of hair formulations is offering the gluten-free community some welcome respite.

Mediceuticals specialist scalp and hair loss formulations proved extremely popular at the recent Auckland and Wellington Gluten Free Food and Allergy shows for those suffering from psoriasis and associated scalp conditions.

Mediceuticals NZ Ltd spokesperson, Geoff Grace says, When your digestive system is out of balance, your scalp and skin can also show sensitivity. For some people a flaky, itchy scalp can be a socially worrying health problem associated with coeliac disease. Our natural plant-based dermatological products have provided welcome relief to coeliac sufferers with scalp concerns.

There are an estimated 14,000 undiagnosed cases of coeliac disease in New Zealand, with Canterbury in particular having one of the highest rates in the world (1.2 per cent).

At the upcoming Christchurch Gluten Free Food and Allergy show on October 27th and 28th, Mediceuticals will be demonstrating its Scalp Therapies range, specifically designed to treat and control a broad spectrum of common scalp and skin disorders.

Both genetic and environmental factors play important roles in coeliac disease and those who attended the recent Gluten Free Food and Allergy shows were a very health-focused, educated audience actively seeking solutions for their health concerns, Grace says.

They quickly understood how Mediceuticals products worked and were excited about the benefits we could offer coeliac disease sufferers who struggle with psoriasis and other scalp and skin conditions.

Grace says Mediceuticals Scalp Therapies range has been developed to treat and control scalp and skin disorders like dandruff, psoriasis, oily scalp and dry scalp. Products within the range are designed to be mixed & matched depending on the specific scalp concern.

X-Folate is a specialist shampoo for persistent dandruff and psoriasis that reduces cell production whilst removing the flaky, yellow dead cells associated with dandruff. It is a gentle cleanser that also provides important UV protection.

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Kiwi Company Provides Scalp Relief For Coeliac Community

Newswise Armed with a new $1.8 million grant from the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases, dermatology researcher Nicole Ward, PhD, assistant professor of dermatology and neurosciences at Case Western Reserve School of Medicine, will lead a study examining the link between psoriasis and heart attack and stroke.

The work will advance research conducted earlier this year in Dr. Wards lab. She and colleagues at the University Hospitals Harrington Heart & Vascular Institute published a major discovery that psoriasis could cause the development of cardiovascular disease in mouse models. The team of researchers also found that aggressive treatment of the skin disease reversed the cardiovascular disease.

Prior to our recent publication, the evidence linking these two diseases was entirely at the epidemiological level and didnt show mechanistic insight for why this occurred, says Dr. Ward, who is also a scientist with the Murdough Family Center for Psoriasis at University Hospitals Case Medical Center. Our goal was to examine whether psoriasis influences cardiovascular disease. Psoriasis was previously thought of as a disease that severely affected skin appearance as well as the patients quality of life. We now know it decreases a patients life span by seven years.

Dr. Ward and colleagues will work to identify intrinsic changes in the skin cells and the subsequent cascade of events that leads to blood-clot formation in either heart attack or stroke. By identifying this trigger, the researchers hope to provide first-ever evidence that cell-specific events in psoriasis can be targeted for treatment.

This preclinical evidence will impact the approach to patient clinical care, as doctors will need to be more aggressive in monitoring for cardiovascular disease and other co-morbidities in those with moderate to severe-plaque psoriasis. By treating and keeping the skin disease in check, the risk for heart-related inflammation is reduced as well. In addition, they will conduct preclinical testing of the efficacy of current psoriasis medication on cardiovascular disease.

Dr. Ward's research discovery is quite exciting, says Kevin Cooper, MD, professor and chair of the Department of Dermatology at Case Western Reserve School of Medicine and University Hospitals Case Medical Center, It demonstrates for the first time that a mouse model of psoriasis exhibits a cardiovascular co-morbidity often seen in human psoriasis patients. Importantly, the basis of Dr. Ward's grant demonstrates that aggressively treating the skin disease improved the cardiovascular complications associated with psoriasis. The work supported by this grant will help to pinpoint how current therapeutics for psoriasis may also improve co-morbidities associated with chronic skin inflammation.

This research was funded by the National Institutes of Health, National Psoriasis Foundation, and the Murdough Family Center for Psoriasis.

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About Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine

Founded in 1843, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine is the largest medical research institution in Ohio and is among the nation's top medical schools for research funding from the National Institutes of Health. The School of Medicine is recognized throughout the international medical community for outstanding achievements in teaching. The School's innovative and pioneering Western Reserve2 curriculum interweaves four themes--research and scholarship, clinical mastery, leadership, and civic professionalism--to prepare students for the practice of evidence-based medicine in the rapidly changing health care environment of the 21st century. Eleven Nobel Laureates have been affiliated with the school.

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$1.8M Grant Supports Investigation of Psoriasis Link to CVD

Public release date: 20-Sep-2012 [ | E-mail | Share ]

Contact: Jessica Studeny jessica.studeny@case.edu 216-368-4692 Case Western Reserve University

Armed with a new $1.8 million grant from the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases, dermatology researcher Nicole Ward, PhD, assistant professor of dermatology and neurosciences at Case Western Reserve School of Medicine, will lead a study examining the link between psoriasis and heart attack and stroke.

The work will advance research conducted earlier this year in Dr. Ward's lab. She and colleagues at the University Hospitals Harrington Heart & Vascular Institute, published a major discovery that psoriasis could cause the development of cardiovascular disease in mouse models. The team of researchers also found that aggressive treatment of the skin disease reversed the cardiovascular disease.

"Prior to our recent publication, the evidence linking these two diseases was entirely at the epidemiological level and didn't show mechanistic insight for why this occurred," says Dr. Ward, who is also a scientist with the Murdough Family Center for Psoriasis at University Hospitals Case Medical Center. "Our goal was to examine whether psoriasis influences cardiovascular disease. Psoriasis was previously thought of as a disease that severely affected skin appearance as well as the patient's quality of life. We now know it decreases a patient's life span by seven years."

Dr. Ward and colleagues will work to identify intrinsic changes in the skin cells and the subsequent cascade of events that leads to blood-clot formation in either heart attack or stroke. By identifying this trigger, the researchers hope to provide first-ever evidence that cell-specific events in psoriasis can be targeted for treatment.

This preclinical evidence will impact the approach to patient clinical care, as doctors will need to be more aggressive in monitoring for cardiovascular disease and other co-morbidities in those with moderate to severe-plaque psoriasis. By treating and keeping the skin disease in check, the risk for heart-related inflammation is reduced as well. In addition, they will conduct preclinical testing of the efficacy of current psoriasis medication on cardiovascular disease.

"Dr. Ward's research discovery is quite exciting," says Kevin Cooper, MD, professor and chair of the Department of Dermatology at Case Western Reserve School of Medicine and University Hospitals Case Medical Center, "It demonstrates for the first time that a mouse model of psoriasis exhibits a cardiovascular co-morbidity often seen in human psoriasis patients. Importantly, the basis of Dr. Ward's grant demonstrates that aggressively treating the skin disease improved the cardiovascular complications associated with psoriasis. The work supported by this grant will help to pinpoint how current therapeutics for psoriasis may also improve co-morbidities associated with chronic skin inflammation."

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This research was funded by the National Institutes of Health, National Psoriasis Foundation, and the Murdough Family Center for Psoriasis.

Original post:
$1.8 million grant supports investigation of psoriasis link to cardiovascular disease