Category Archives: Psoriasis

In a recent study1, tyrosine kinase 2 (TYK2)/janus kinase 1 (JAK1) inhibitor brepocitinib was significantly more efficacious in reducing signs and symptoms of psoriatic arthritis (PsA) than a placebo.

Researchers sought to evaluate the oral drugs safety, efficacy, and dose-response in patients with the condition over a long-term period, citing its current in-development role in treating immunological diseases, including prior research evaluating its use in treating dermatomyositis, lupus, ulcerative colitis, alopecia areata, and hidradenitis suppurativa. Furthermore, they noted prior phase 2a study research demonstrating the drugs involvement in significantly reducing Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI) scores in patients with plaque psoriasis.

The phase 2b study, which was dose-ranging, parallel-treatment group, placebo-controlled, and randomized in nature, involved patient participation across 11 European countries. Participants (n=218) were required to be ages 18 to 75 years old, fulfill the classification criteria for PsA, and have a PsA diagnosis for equal to or greater than 6 months prior to inclusion. Additionally, they were expected to meet the following inclusion criteria:

Patients were excluded from participation if they were breastfeeding; presented with critical laboratory abnormalities; electrocardiogram abnormalities indicative of an underlying heart disease; had a history of any autoimmune rheumatic disease other than PsA, any lymphoproliferative disorder, chronic or recurrent infection, disseminated herpes infection or a recurrent localized dermatomal herpes zoster, infection requiring hospitalization within 6 months of baseline, or pulmonary embolism or recurrent deep vein thrombosis; had non-plaque psoriasis, were pregnant, or demonstrated risk factors for torsade de pointes.

Patients underwent an up to 5-week screening period following by treatment group randomization. Participants were randomly assigned to 1 of 4 groups: brepocitinib 10 mg, brepocitinib 30 mg, brepocitinib 60 mg, or a placebo. During phase 1 of the 52-week double-blind treatment period, the placebo-controlled phase, participants took their assigned dosage from day 1 to week 16.

At week 16, participants receiving 10 mg brepocitinib or the placebo were advanced to a different dosage groupeither the 30 mg or 60 mg brepocitinib groups. This was known as the extended active treatment phase, which lasted from week 17 to week 52. Afterwards, participants underwent a 4-week safety follow-up period.

Researchers defined sufficient progress as a predefined proportion of participants achieving:

Throughout the study, researchers used the above scales to determine efficacy, while also recording data related to treatment-emergent adverse events (TEAEs), study adverse events (SAEs), serious infections, laboratory abnormalities, electrocardiogram findings, and changes in vital signs. In total, 50 participants withdrew from the study or were excluded as a result of AEs or independent withdrawal.

At week 16, 43.3% of participants in the placebo group achieved ACR20, whereas 64.5%, 66.7%, and 74.6% in the brepocitinib 10 mg, 30 mg, and 60 mg groups, respectively, with higher proportions of patients in the brepocitinib 30 mg and 60 mg groups achieving that metric. These higher proportions were also consistent in the brepocitinib 30 mg and 60 mg groups against the placebo with respect to achievements of PASI75/90, ACR50, and baseline change in Health Assessment Questionnaire Disability Index (HAQ-DI). Achievement rates of ACR70, PASDAS, and Minimal Disease Activity (MDA) were also higher among all brepocitinib groups when compared to the placebo.

Participants in the higher brepocitinib dosage groups also more frequently experienced resolutions or greater numerical improvements in enthesitis and dactylitis. In all brepocitinib groups, participants reported improvements in arthritis pain, fatigue, and acute 36-item Short Form Health Survey Version 2 Physical Component Summary (SF-36 PCS) score.

11 TEAEs and SAEs were reported during weeks 16 and 52 of the study, including coronavirus infection, pneumonia, varicella, herpes zoster/varicella, anogenital warts, basal cell carcinoma, and uterine leiomyoma.

Study limitations, as noted by investigators, included restricted geographical location and ethnic/racial makeup containing predominately white participants.

TYK2/JAK1 inhibition with brepocitinib 30 and 60 mg QD significantly improved the signs and symptoms of PsA, study authors wrote. These clinical benefits across multiple domains of PsA disease activity were observed over 16 weeks, with sustained or further improvements in disease measures out to week 52. Overall, the safety profile of brepocitinib was consistent with that previously observed in other brepocitinib clinical trials and with that of approved JAKis, and no new safety signals were identified.

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A psychosocial intervention and public exhibition improved the overall wellbeing and self image of individuals with birthmarks.

In a recent study,1 researchers sought to determine the impact of a public exhibition and professional photoshoot on the wellbeing of individuals with congenital melanocytic nevi (CMN). Furthermore, they sought to evaluate the exhibitions impact on the public perception of people with birthmarks. They cited a lack of existing studies examining the psychosocial aspects of having a birthmark, including the potential impact of therapeutic interventions.

Study authors described a patient recruitment effort led by Caring Matters Now, a United Kingdom-based charity supporting individuals with CMN, in 2016. Caring Matters Now partnered with a UK-based photographer to take patient portraits. Individuals with extensive and/or visible CMN were eligible for participation, and participation was not limited to geographic location, amassing participants from 5 continents. Prospective participants were required to meet with the photographer virtually and provide written consent.

Before and after photographing participants, researchers asked the 30 participants (or their parents, if under the age of 18) to complete a survey describing their photoshoot experience and behaviors pre and post photoshoot completion. The questionnaire asked participants whether the photoshoot made them feel:

They also asked participants whether they considered what they wore in relation to their CMN, their level of confidence in crowded places, and their level of confidence about showing their CMN.

All photos were publicly displayed in London, UK, for a 10-day duration in March 2019. Members of the public who visited the exhibition were asked to complete a survey; of the more than 8000 visitors, 464 agreed to complete the survey. The survey asked visitors whether the exhibition made them feel:

More than 90% of photoshoot and exhibition participants with CMN responded positively, agreeing or strongly agreeing, with all points of the questionnaire. Furthermore, responses from participants following the photoshoot and exhibition were positive and demonstratedsignificantly increased confidence. 33% of parents representing their older children described the experience as inspiring, while 57% of parents representing their young children described the experience as beautiful.

While only 51% of exhibition visitors described hearing of CMN prior to viewing the photos, more than 85% agreed or strongly agreed with all points of the questionnaire. 74% of attendees were individuals with CMN who described the exhibition as being very helpful in their appreciation and self-perception of their difference.

Study limitations, as noted by study authors, included the studys self-selective nature and a lack of collection of demographic data from exhibition visitors, aside from gender.

In the era of social media, where the negative psychological effects of posting self-photographs are frequently reported, the positive effect of this exhibition on the views of the general public is a perhaps surprising demonstration of the power of this novel approach. In particular, the general public not only looked more positively on the participants with visible difference, but felt better regarding their own appearance, study authors wrote. These data supportthe impression of the UK support group Caring Matters Now Charity, that non-hiding of visible difference on the skin can have beneficial psychological effects. Further studies will be required to assess whether this approach works in the context of other forms of visible difference, and whether the effects can be replicated using the exhibition book.

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For Patients With Birthmarks, Psychosocial Interventions Improved ... - Dermatology Times

Robert Hariri, MD, PhD

Credit: Celularity

Stem cell pioneer Celularity (CELU) shared exciting results from a recent clinical trial investigating the efficacy of CYNK-001, the company's proprietary natural killer cell therapy.

The trial focused on treating patients with relapsed and refractory acute myeloid leukemia (AML) disease, who face low chances of a cure which has led to the development of a reliable gene manufacturing system that adheres to US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulations and produces substantial quantities of exceptional cellular products, according to CEO Robert Hariri, MD, PhD.

If you can utilize (these placenta cells) and identify the starting point for producing cell therapy products like T cells, natural killer cells, and even mesenchymal stem cells, it gives you a great deal of flexibility in your therapeutic development strategies, he explained.

The clinical trial demonstrated that treatment with CYNK-001 was well-tolerated by patients and exhibited no associated toxicities, even at the highest doses administered. Remarkably, the grafts showcased measurable graft-versus-leukemia effects without the need for high doses of chemotherapy commonly used in autologous transplants or the risk of graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) typically associated with standard allogeneic transplants.

Weve been grounded in a technology platform that is highly diversified and leverages the unique source material, the postpartum placenta, which we are credited with discovering over 20 years ago, as an ideal source of cells for the emerging therapeutic space, Hariri said in an interview.

Additionally, the companys manufacturing systems and the inclusion of all usable materials left in the organ for the development of cell therapy products are what sets Celularity aside.

"We want to basically combine the natural killer cells from the placenta, which are completely unmodifiedthese are nonengineered natural killer cellsso their natural anticancer activity is supported by lymphodepletion and administration of the supporting cytokine IL2 or IL15, gave us the answers we were looking at," Hariri said.

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Toby Maher, MD, PhD

Credit: Twitter

In a recent crossover trial, patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) showed reduced cough after treatment with nalbuphine extended-release tablets (NAL ER). The investigators, led by Toby Maher, MD, PhD, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, stated there are currently no cough therapies approved for this population.1

Because IPF is a progressive lung disease that scars the lung tissue, the lung function of these patients is compromised and accompanied by respiratory symptoms, cough is one of the most common.

The study was a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled crossover trial that involved a pair of 22-day treatment periods, with a 2-week washout period in between. NAL ER was administered at an initial dose of 27 mg once daily, which was then titrated up to 162 mg twice daily by day 16.

Investigators assessed the percent change from baseline in hourly daytime objective cough frequency, as measured by an electronic cough monitor, for the primary endpoint of the study. Changes in objective 24-hour cough frequency, cough severity, and breathlessness, based on patient-reported outcomes were secondary endpoints.

The analysis included 41 patients with IPF who received at least one dose of study medication after being randomly assigned. During the NAL ER treatment period, the team observed a significant reduction in daytime objective cough frequency, with a 75.1% decrease compared with the placebo treatment period's reduction of 22.6%.

Investigators reported the finding corresponded to a 52.5 percentage point decrease from baseline (P < 0.001) at day 21, when adjusting for placebo effects. The therapy demonstrated a 76.1% decrease (95% CI, 83.1-69.1) in 24-hour objective cough frequency, while the placebo only showed a 25.3% decrease (43.9-6.7), resulting in a 50.8 percentage point placebo-adjusted change.

Common adverse events exhibited with the treatment included nausea, fatigue, constipation, and dizziness, which were more frequent compared with the placebo group and should be considered when evaluating the overall benefit-risk profile of NAL ER in this population, investigators said.

These safety results are similar to those of a trial of low-dose morphine in chronic cough that reported constipation and drowsiness in 40% and 25% of patients, respectively, the research stated.

Based on the short-term crossover trial results, the team suggested that NAL ER shows promise in reducing cough frequency for individuals with IPF. Given the lack of approved therapies targeting this clinical concern, the findings indicated significant development in the field, according to the study.

However, it was acknowledged that further research is needed to contribute to a better understanding of the treatment's overall efficacy, tolerability, and clinical utility in the management of cough in IPF patients.

Particularly, larger and longer trials evaluating the long-term efficacy and safety of the treatment as a cough therapy. Additionally, the impact of the treatment on cough severity and patient-reported outcomes should also be further explored.

Although our trial was not designed to statistically test other outcomes, the data are encouraging enough to merit further assessment in longer and larger clinical studies. Such trials permit weighing the long-term effects on cough against the adverse effects and loss of efficacy due to habituation associated with chronic opiate use, investigators wrote.

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Nalbuphine ER Tablets Show Promise as Cough Therapy in ... - MD Magazine

Javed Butler, MD, MPH, MBA

Credit: Boehringer Ingelheim

A post hoc analysis of the phase 3 EMPEROR-Preserved trial suggests empagliflozin treatment in patients with heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) should be independent of diuretic therapy and could reduce the need for diuretics.1

The analysis showed empagliflozin was associated with comparable improvements in time to cardiovascular death (CV death) or hospitalization for heart failure (HHF), first and total HHF, rate of decline in estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR), and health status, regardless of baseline diuretic status or dose.

This is in line with findings from heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) patients in the DAPA-HF trial, where baseline diuretic therapy did not modify the benefit of dapagliflozin on these outcomes, wrote the investigative team, led by Javed Butler, MD, MPH, MBA, at the Baylor Scott and White Research Institute.

Sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitors primarily act through a diuretic mechanism and their benefit may be attenuated in patients already taking other diuretics. It is possible that the combined use of SGLT2 inhibitors with conventional diuretics may increase the risk of volume depletion events, acute kidney injury, and other adverse effects.2 Butler and colleagues indicated that the use of SGLT2 inhibitors could additionally impact the need for conventional diuretic therapy.

As a result, the post hoc analysis of the EMPEROR-Preserved trial aimed to assess the safety and efficacy of empagliflozin in relation to background diuretic therapy, as well as to study the association of empagliflozin with the use of conventional diuretics over time. The phase 3 trial was conducted from March 2017 - April 2021 and included individuals with New York Heart Association (NYHA) class II to IV heart failure and left ventricular ejection fraction 40%. A total of 5988 patients were enrolled and randomized to receive either empagliflozin (10 mg), or placebo.

Of the enrolled population, 5815 (97.1%) had data on baseline diuretic use and were included in the present analysis. Patients were categorized into the following subgroups according to baseline diuretic therapy: no diuretic use and furosemide-equivalent doses of 40 mg, 40 mg, and 40mg at baseline. The main clinical outcomes of interest were the composite endpoint of the first hospitalization for heart failure (HHF) or cardiovascular death (CV death), and its various components. Data were analyzed from November 2021 to August 2022.

Among the 5815 patients with known baseline diuretic use, 1179 (20.3%) were not taking diuretics, 1725 (29.7%) were taking 40mg, 1772 (30.5%) were taking 40 mg, and 1139 (19.6%) were taking 40 mg of furosemide-equivalent doses.

In the placebo arm, compared with the nondiuretic group, the analysis found the diuretic group had a higher risk of HHF or CV death (hazard ratio [HR], 1.81; 95% CI, 1.38 - 2.39; P <.001), total HHF (HR, 3.21; 95% CI, 2.15 - 4.80; P <.001), first HHF (HR, 2.75; 95% CI, 1.85 - 4.07; P <.001), and all-cause mortality (HR, 1.40; 95% CI, 1.06 - 1.85; P = .02). The results were similar after stratification by diuretic dose, with higher diuretic doses associated with a stepwise increase in these clinical outcomes.

Moreover, the analysis revealed empagliflozin treatment decreased the risk of HHF or CV death, regardless of background diuretic status (HR, 0.81; 95% CI, 0.70 - 0.93 for the diuretic group vs. HR, 0.72; 95% CI, 0.48 - 1.06 for the nondiuretic group; P for interaction = .58). There was no treatment by diuretic status interaction observed for CV death or all-cause death endpoints.

Compared with placebo, empagliflozin was associated with a slower rate of decline in the eGFR regardless of baseline diuretic use or dose. Additionally, the therapy was associated with improved Kansas City Cardiomyopathy Questionnaire 23 (KCCQ) clinical summary scores similarly in both the diuretic and nondiuretic groups at 12-week, 32-week, and 52-week follow-up. Results were consistent when patients were categorized by diuretic dose.

Among those taking diuretics at baseline, empagliflozin was associated with a significantly greater probability of de-escalation (HR, 1.15; 95% CI, 1.02 - 1.30), as well as a decreased likelihood of diuretic dose escalation (HR, 0.74; 95% CI, 0.65 - 0.84; P <.001). However, the analysis showed empagliflozin was associated with a higher incidence of volume depletion events in the diuretic group (7.5 vs. 5.6 events per 100 patient-years; HR, 1.34; 95% CI, 1.13 - 1.59).

The investigative team noted the important clinical implications of the analysis, suggesting SGLT2 inhibitors should not be withheld in patients not taking diuretics due to concerns of destabilizing the euvolemic status. Empagliflozin improved clinical outcomes without increasing volume depletion events in this population.

Butler and colleagues noted that at the time of SGLT2 initiation, most patients with HFpEF would not require a change in diuretic dose. However, they suggested that like every patient with heart failure, physicians should be ready to adjust the diuretic dose according to a patients individual needs.

Doing so will minimize the small risk of volume depletion when SGLT2 inhibitors and loop diuretics are combined, investigators wrote. Patient education, daily weights, and monitoring for volume depletion is advisable. In the longer term, as HF status improves in patients taking empagliflozin, the need for diuretics may be reduced.

References

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selectION has reported initial safety results from the single ascending dose (SAD) stage of its ongoing Phase Ib trial of si-544 for the treatment of atopic dermatitis.

si-544 is a selectivity-optimised peptide that blocks the Kv1.3 ion channel and helps in the activation and proliferation of TEM cells.

The placebo-controlled, double-blind, multi-centre study is designed to assess the tolerability, safety, and efficacy signals of the drug candidate in patients with mild to severe atopic dermatitis.

No safety signals or dose limiting toxicities have been observed during the studys first stage.

selectION chief scientific officer and co-founder Andreas Klostermann said: The ion channel Kv1.3 controls the activation and proliferation of auto-reactive effector memory T-cells and has been regarded a key target in T-cell autoimmunity for decades.

So far, it has not been possible to block this ion channel with sufficient selectivity.

The initial analysis of safety and tolerability data from 20 patients confirms that si-544 can be safely administered at dose levels sufficient to achieve virtually full Kv1.3 target engagement.

Based on the initial results, selectION now progresses the multiple ascending dose (MAD) stage of the Phase Ib trial.

Patients in this study will be treated with si-544 for a period of one month and thereafter monitored for three months.

selectION chairman and CEO Antonius Schuh said: The data provide initial clinical validation that we can safely and selectively target autoimmune disease associated chronically activated effector memory T-cells.

We will continue our path to deliver a potent and immune-selective therapy which maintains a patients general immunocompetency, and we believe that si-544 has the potential to significantly improve safety and outcomes for patients suffering from a wide range of autoimmune diseases, including atopic dermatitis, psoriasis, psoriatic arthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, multiple sclerosis, and many others.

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Credit: Unsplash / JAFAR AHMED

Despite a risk of disruption to the microbiome, gastrointestinal tract surgeries are associated with minimal risk of developing psoriasis.1

In new retrospective analysis data from a group of Taiwan investigators, invasive gastrointestinal tract procedures including appendectomy were not significantly associated with increased risk of a new psoriasis diagnosis. The findings additionally elucidated age- and sex-specific risk of new psoriasis diagnoses among such patients.

Led by Dr. Yi-Huei Liu, of the Chung Shan Medical University in Taichung, investigators sought to examine the link between gastrointestinal tract surgery and newly diagnosed psoriasis. Non-genetic psoriasis etiology is not absolutely understood by clinicians, though previous research has pointed to triggers including skin micro-trauma as a potential risk factor for the chronic skin disease.

Whats more, the gut microbiome is a pivotal factor in immune regulation. In a recent interview with HCPLive, dermatologist Karan Lal, DO, MS, described a complex dynamic between chronic skin diseases and microbiota.2

We know that with psoriasis, if they have a leaky gut, they have association with inflammatory bowel disease and a lot of gut issues, Lal said. And so maybe that's why people translate that into the skin microbiome. But again, that's a lot of the people who don't really understand the true relationship with the skin gut axis.

Nonetheless, Liu and colleagues stressed the little-defined association between these potential risk factors and newly diagnosed psoriasis.

Even if surgeries are widely considered a risk factor and disrupt the microbiome in the gastrointestinal tract, resulting in psoriasis, no previous studies have investigated the epidemiological relationship between gastrointestinal tract surgeries and subsequent pathogenesis of psoriasis, they wrote. Therefore, we conducted a nationwide case-control study to explore this issue.

Investigators conducted a nested case-control analysis using data from the Taiwan National Health Insurance Research Database, including patients with newly diagnosed psoriasis from 2005 2013. Their retrospective analysis spanned 5 years after the index date of first psoriasis diagnosis. A control cohort of patients who had never been diagnosed with psoriasis or a similar disorder was matched 2:1 by age and sex to compare the association of concurrent gastrointestinal tract surgery.

The final assessment included 16,655 patients with newly diagnosed psoriasis from 2005 2013. Mean age of both cohorts was 32.2 years old. Chronic diseases including hypertension, diabetes, COPD, and hepatitis C were significantly more prevalent in patients with newly diagnosed psoriasis.

Liu and colleagues conditional logistic regression showed an 8% decreased risk of newly diagnosed psoriasis among patients who underwent gastrointestinal tract surgery (condition odds ratio [cOR], 0.92; 95% CI, 0.76 1.12; P = .426), and a 2% decreased risk of psoriasis among patients who underwent appendectomy (cOR, 0.98; 95% CI, 0.76 1.27; P = .896).

In the multivariate regression analysis of age- and sex-related factors, investigators observed only patients aged 20 39 were at an increased risk of newly diagnosed psoriasis following gastrointestinal tract surgery (OR, 1.09; 95% CI, 0.79 1.51; P = .58), though the association was insignificant. Both male (OR, 0.96; 95%, 0.71 1.29; P = .762) and female (OR, 0.90; 95% CI, 0.69 1.17; P = .427) patients were at an insignificantly decreased risk of newly diagnosed psoriasis after surgery.

Regarding appendectomy, each of patients aged <20 years, 20 39 years, and 40 59 years were at an insignificantly increased risk of newly diagnosed psoriasis after procedure, as well as both female and male patients.

In conclusion, our study shows that gastrointestinal surgeries have a limited effect on psoriasis, investigators wrote. Except for gastrointestinal tract surgery, appendectomy did not have significant age- or sex-related effects on psoriasis.

However, the team stressed that their provisional data based solely on the Taiwan population would require further analysis of additional ethnicities and populations to interpret associations between surgery and psoriasis.

References

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No Link Observed Between Gastrointestinal Tract Surgery and New ... - MD Magazine

Lynk Pharmaceuticals has dosed the first cohort of patients in a Phase Ib clinical trial of LNK01004 ointment to treat psoriasis, a chronic inflammatory skin disease.

The study will evaluate preliminary efficacy of LNK01004 in Chinese patients with mild to moderate plaque psoriasis.

It will also assess the safety, tolerability and pharmacokinetic properties of the topical ointment.

Lynk Pharmaceuticals chief development officer Dr Henry Wu said: LNK01004 has already shown good efficacy and safety in preclinical animal studies.

Characterised by scaly erythematous or plaque lesions, psoriasis is an immune-mediated, relapsing skin disease that can be local or widely distributed.

Lifelong treatment is required for psoriasis patients to prevent complications from developing, thereby maintaining their quality of life.

Lynk Pharmaceuticals founder and CEO Dr Zhao-Kui (ZK) Wan said: As a third generation JAK inhibitor, LNK01004 can effectively inhibit psoriasis-related cytokine-induced JAK/STAT signaling pathways in skin tissues by topical application.

Additionally, LNK01004 has the advantage of extremely low exposure in the blood system to potentially avoid safety concerns due to systemic exposure.

In addition to the highly selective JAK1 inhibitor LNK01001, we have also assembled a promising pipeline consisting of multiple third-generation, tissue-restricted soft pan JAK inhibitors in clinical trials including the GI-restricted LNK01003 for UC which is currently in Phase IIa.

Last week, Lynk reported that the Phase II study of LNK01001 for rheumatoid arthritis treatment demonstrated statistically significant differences in efficacy against placebo in primary and key secondary efficacy endpoints. It is actively seeking a partner for developing LNK01001 in markets worldwide.

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In patients with psoriasis and psoriatic disease, metabolic inflammation is a cause of comorbid depression, according to new research.

A research article1 reported that specific inflammatory patterns within IL-6, IL-8, IL-23, IL-17 family cytokines, and tumor necrosis factor (TNF) can cause neuroinflammation, ultimately leading to anxiety and/or depressive behavior or depression in patients with psoriatic disease. According to authors, prior knowledge of psoriasis and comorbid depression linked burden of disease, psychological stress, and stigmatization to the origins of depression.

Authors noted that non-cutaneous diseases such as diabetes, heart failure, and hypertension were first identified as comorbidities of psoriasis in 1995, with cardio-metabolic consequences related to psoriatic disease being more thoroughly understood over time. Risk of myocardial infarction, for example, was previously found to be significantly higher in patients with psoriasis than in members of the general population.

Other conditions such as dyslipidemia and endothelial dysfunction were also linked to psoriatic disease. Like depression, article authors noted that both comorbid conditions are linked to inflammation.

In western countries, authors note that 1 in 5 people with psoriatic disease, as much as 20%, also experience depression. Previous studies have also demonstrated that rates of depression are higher in patients with psoriatic conditions than in the general population.

Citing recent brain structure research,2 authors described research demonstrating increased right precuneus thickness in people with psoriasis, only in cases where depression was present. Additionally, further research3 demonstrated a positive correlation between psoriasis area and severity index (PASI) and the Zung self-rating depression scale (SDS) in cases of comorbid depression and psoriasis.

Considering that depression is an inflammatory condition with neuroinflammatory events with a similar signature as in the major domains of psoriatic disease, people with psoriasis-associated depression are no longer responsible for their perceived lack of coping with psychological threads, articleauthors wrote. In the practical management of people with psoriatic disease, screening for depression by using simple clinical questions or respective tools needs to be implemented.

References

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Metabolic Inflammation Contributes to Depression in Psoriatic Disease - Dermatology Times

In an interview with HCPLive Rheumatology, Soumya Chakravarty, MD, PhD, FACP, FACR, Senior Director, Strategic Lead, Janssen Rheumatology, and Daphne Chan, PhD, Head of Dermatology Medical Affairs, Janssen, discussed Janssens commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion for patients with psoriatic disease.

It has been a fantastic opportunity to emphasize our dedication to advancing care for patients with immune-mediated diseases, especially those with psoriatic disease who belong to communities of color, Chakravarty emphasized. The determination platform we discussed is just one of many ongoing efforts, where we collaborate with various partners to develop specific solutions. It's important to note that this is just the beginning.

Their efforts are accompanied by extensive data generation in patients of color and the creation of a diverse workforce. They strive to deliver culturally competent care and promote progress in this area.

At Janssen, they have undertaken an extensive analysis of the dermatology and rheumatology landscapes to identify unmet needs so they can take meaningful actions as an industry leader and partner. They make an effort to acknowledge the problems the world faces and are realistic about what they can address. Therefore, they focus on the areas where they can make a difference.

Regarding the VISIBLE study, Chan emphasized that simply conducting the study opens doors to demonstrating how it is possible and why it should become the new standard in trial conduct.

Initially, we were apprehensive and doubted whether it could be done, Chan stated. However, I am pleased to report that even taking that first step has yielded tremendous results and rewards. We surprised ourselves by completing the trial's enrollment 7 times faster than projected, concluding 6 months ahead of schedule.

With the trial recruiting so quickly, they expect to have results available sometime next year.

We will be delighted to re-engage in a conversation about the results and what we are learning about people of color living with psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis, Chan emphasized. This experience sets a new chapter for inclusive research and medical practice, defining how it should be in the future.

This transcript was edited for clarity.

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