Category Archives: Psoriasis

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Dr Reddy's has completed Phase 3 studies, manufactured registration batches, and made preparations for a New Drug Application (NDA) filing for DFD-06, but has chosen to license the drug out rather than pursue commercialization in house.

"We look forward to obtaining NDA approval this fall, enabling Encores management team to quickly deliver this product to the providers and their patients." says Anil Namboodiripad, SVP, Proprietary Products, and president, Promius Pharma.

Dr. Reddy's has had a challenging year. Shares in the drugmaker began a month-long slide following the announcement of its first quarter 2018 results in July 2017, which recorded a 6% decline in revenues and a 53% fall in profits year-on-year. The lackluster results were due, in part, to price erosion from U.S. customer consolidation and a lower contribution from U.S. product launches.

The Indian drugmaker has also had a tough time with manufacturing, running afoul of stepped-up oversight from the Food and Drug Administration. In April, the regulator completed an audit of the company's Srikakulam-based production site, flagging points where the site fell shortof regulatory standards. This inspection resulted in a Form 483, adding to similar letters issued to the company's Miryalguda and Bachupally sites this year.

The rest is here:
Dr. Reddy's sells off psoriasis candidate in out-licensing deal - BioPharma Dive

Most parents arent afraid to show their children affection in public. But Arizona mom Ashley Nagy says she makes a special point to kiss and cuddle her 19-month-old daughter Charlie when the two are out and about because Charlie suffers from psoriasis , a chronic autoimmune disease that speeds up the growth of skin cellsand Nagy says she wants to make sure people know it isnt contagious .

For the most part, Nagy tells SELF that strangers on the playground have been inquisitive, often simply asking, "What does she have? But some of the "ruder comments are Oh my goshyour daughter is sunburned . I cant believe you have her out in public or I dont want to see that, she says. She's also noticed that other kids or mothers will stare at Charlie, and some parents will even keep their kids away from her daughter for fear of catching psoriasis. When that happens, I just pick her up and kiss her neck or cheeks, or rub her arm, Nagy says. Its my way of not confronting them, but showing that shes not contagious.

Nagy says that shes grateful that Charlie is so young that she doesnt realize whats happening. I just hope that Ive done a good [enough] job that when she starts to realize shes different, she has enough confidence to face people and not take what they say to heart, she says. Youre going to have random people who are mean and cruelyou cant control them, but you can control how you react to them.

About 7.5 million people in the U.S. have psoriasis, according to the American Academy of Dermatology . The condition is largely caused by genetics, but having genes associated with psoriasis doesnt mean youll actually develop the condition. In fact, at least 10 percent of people inherit one or more of the genes that can eventually lead to psoriasis, according to the National Psoriasis Foundation , but only 2 to 3 percent of people actually develop the disease.

That's because, in order to actually develop the condition, you need to have a combination of the genes that cause it and to be exposed to particular triggers, such as stress, an injury to the skin (e.g. a sunburn), allergies , diet, an infection, certain medications (including lithium and the heart medication quinidine), and even the weather, the NPF says.

Although people of any age can have the condition, its primarily seen in adults. Charlies symptoms first began soon after she was born, Nagy says, and she was diagnosed with psoriasis when she was 4 months old. People were shocked at how young she was when she was diagnosed, Nagy says.

People who suffer from psoriasis may experience flare-ups in which they have the characteristic red, itchy, scaly skin patches, but in between flare-ups their skin may look normal. Charlie is now on an anti-inflammatory diet that also avoids gluten and dairy to help try to ward off flare-ups. That seems to help a lot, Nagy says. But Charlie still suffers from flare-ups, which cause her to develop red patches all over her body that itch. Shell point to her marks and say, Ouchies, ouchies, Nagy says. When Charlie has a flare-up, shes itchy and uncomfortable all day, and has trouble sleeping at night. But, when shes not suffering from a flare-up, her condition doesnt really impact her, Nagy says.

Psoriasis is caused by inflammation and not an infection, so it's not contagious at all, Gary Goldenberg , M.D., assistant clinical professor of dermatology at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai Hospital, tells SELF. Luckily, there are several treatments for psoriasis, and the best one for each patient depends on how severe their symptoms are. Mild psoriasis can be treated with creams and lotions, or over-the-counter medication like steroid creams, Dr. Goldenberg says.

Petrolatum-based moisturizers are often the most helpful because they form a protective seal over the skin to keep it hydrated while also minimizing the appearance of flakes on the skin, Joshua Zeichner , M.D., a New York City-based board-certified dermatologist, tells SELF. People can also develop psoriasis on their scalp, which can be treated with over-the-counter medicated shampoos, such as Neutrogena T/Gel shampoo , Dr. Zeichner says.

For people with more severe cases, there are biologic immune-modifying medications that alter the immune system reactions that lead to psoriasis, Cynthia Bailey, M.D., a diplomate of the American Board of Dermatology and president and CEO of Advanced Skin Care and Dermatology Inc. , tells SELF. That includes infliximab, for instance, which reduces the effects of substances in the body that can cause inflammation.

While it can be treated, it cannot be cured, Dr. Goldenberg says. Some patients can experience a remission of their disease that can last years, but this is unpredictable and rare. In most cases, patients need to keep treating their psoriasis for the rest of their lives to avoid flare-ups. We can help reduce signs of the disease on the skin, however the rash often reappears if you stop treating it, Dr. Zeichner says.

If psoriasis runs in your family, you can develop it at any point in your life, Dr. Bailey says, and its more likely to show up as you age. Although we don't know exactly why, it "probably has something to do with the process of aging and how it impacts the immune system, Dr. Bailey says. If psoriasis runs in your family, she recommends limiting your alcohol intake, maintaining a healthy diet, and getting regular exercise to lower your odds of developing the condition.

Charlie used to have to see her doctor every two weeks to have her blood drawn for testing and monitoring purposes, Nagy says, but now she goes to the doctor every four months for her condition. Weve been keeping it at bay with her diet and bath regimen, she says. Nagy has started a GoFundMe to help pay for her daughters medical bills. A lot of people see ads on TV for psoriasis medications, but they dont actually know what psoriasis is, Nagy says. I want them to see what it looks like firsthandand to show that its not contagious.

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This Mom Always Kisses Her Daughter in Public to Show That Psoriasis Isn't Contagious - SELF

For years, psoriasis suffers have battled patches of rough, reddened, and intensely itchy skin that can cause pain as well embarrassment, with little hope of relief.

But major breakthroughs have been logged in the treatment of this potentially debilitating disorder that affects almost 10 million Americans, including small children. And if you are suffering from the disease, its time to take action.

To spotlight the treatments that have emerged in recent years, the National Psoriasis Foundation is observing National Psoriasis Action month in August.

The NPF Foundation wants to spread the word that there have been tremendous advancements in the number of treatment options for people living with the condition. The NPF has even launched a website to educate patients, caregivers and health care professionals about the resources to treat psoriatic disease.

Throughout August, people impacted by psoriasis can participate in interactive quizzes that will help them better understand and manage their disease, Dr. Michael Siegel, Ph.D, vice president of Research Programs at the NPF tells Newsmax Health.

Psoriasis often develops between the ages of 15 and 35, but it can develop at any age. While scientists do not know exactly what causes psoriasis, it is known that the immune system and genetics play major roles in its development.

Usually, something triggers the condition to flare. The skin cells in people with psoriasis grow at an abnormally fast rate, which leads to painful lesions on the body.

The genetic link is clear, says Siegal.

If one parent has psoriasis, there is about a 10 percent chance of a child contracting it. If both parents have psoriasis, the chance increases to 50 percent, he notes.

Dr. Kenneth Beer, associate clinical professor of dermatology at the University of Miami, tells Newsmax Health that the No. 1 myth about psoriasis is that it is just dry skin.

Its far more than that, he says. Psoriasis is an immune disease in which the body stimulates growth of skin cells in an abnormal way. It is largely genetic and may be associated with stress, infection medication or a range of other issues. In addition to affecting the skin, it can frequently affect the joints of the body.

Another myth is that the condition is contagious. Not so, says Beer. And while it is not curable at this point in time, it is manageable and treatable. But if you dont take care of your psoriasis, it can lead to serious medical conditions.

According to the Mayo Clinic, people with psoriasis are at a great risk for Type 2 diabetes as well as vision problems and heart disease. About 30 percent of people who have psoriasis will develop psoriatic arthritis, according to the NPF.

Reality TV star Kim Kardashian revealed that she suffers from the condition and that stress plays a key role in her flare-ups of psoriasis. Two-time Grammy winning songstress LeAnn Rimes kept her struggle hidden until 2008 when she decided to open up about her experience as part of the Stop Hiding, Start Living awareness campaign sponsored by Abbott, which makes the psoriasis drug, Humira.

Other celebs with psoriasis include comedian Jon Lovitz and Leave it to Beaver star Jerry Mathers, who admits that the condition is no laughing matter.

Siegel says that treating psoriasis involves good disease management and paying attention overall health.

With advances in the number of treatment options available today for people living with psoriasis its easier than ever to treat the condition, he says. The biggest breakthrough came 10 years ago with the introduction of injectable biologics which changed the lives of patients and their providers.

By targeting specific pathways in the immune system, these biologics have demonstrated remarkable outcomes in clinical trials. Moving forward, scientists are likely to reveal even more effective treatments and will be able to harness the same targeted therapy for oral and topical treatments as well.

Some examples of biologic drugs to treat psoriasis include Humira, Enbrel, and Remicade.

Siegel says that some people believe that eliminating certain foods from their diet, such as gluten, dairy, sugar, or red meat can reduce inflammation and therefore lower their chances of a psoriatic flare.

Others believe that consuming certain vitamins, herbs and supplements, such as fish oil or turmeric, can do the same, he says. The truth is that there is not enough scientific evidence to substantiate these claims, and the medical community doesnt know for sure how diet impacts psoriatic disease.

What the medical community does agree on, however, is that people with psoriatic disease should maintain a healthy weight, and thats where diet and exercise can play and important role. Research has found that maintaining a healthy weight lowers the risk of developing co-morbidities or related health conditions like diabetes or cardiovascular disease.

Siegel says that another big myth about psoriasis is that there isnt a treatment available for patients to achieve clear or nearly clear skin.

This is simply not true, he says. There have been tremendous advancements and there are currently a number of safe, effective and affordable options. The first step people living with psoriasis should take is to work with their health care provider to discuss a treatment strategy. By following a goal-oriented, trackable treatment strategy, people living with psoriasis should expect to begin seeing results in three to six months.

Adds Beer: Psoriasis is now one of the most researched skin diseases and each year we get better and better treatments. See your dermatologist to get more information.

2017 NewsmaxHealth. All rights reserved.

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Psoriasis: New Treatments Help Millions Manage Common Skin Condition - Newsmax

PSORIASIS is a common skin condition that causes skin cells to grow too quickly and build up, leaving thick, red, silvery, or scaly patches (plaques) on the surface of the skin. Psoriasis is not contagious so you cant get it from touching someone who has it. Its an accepted fact, but not proven, that men are more prone to suffering from psoriasis than women.

Symptoms

Skin patches with raised edges that are red with silvery-white scales (called plaques), rashes on genitals, scalp, or in skin folds (such as the folds you have on your knees and elbows), itching, pain, dry, cracked skin that may bleed, thickened, pitted, or discoloured nails, swollen, painful joints (psoriatic arthritis).

For most people, psoriasis patches vary in size. They can range from small spots with dandruff-like flakes to wide patches that cover large areas of skin. Mild psoriasis can be annoying, but severe cases can be disfiguring, painful, and sometimes disabling. Flares (when psoriasis gets worse) occur in cycles, with symptoms that last for weeks to months and may then lessen for some time before coming back.

Causes

Medical researchers believe that psoriasis is a chronic autoimmune skin disease; however, it has also been linked to genetic and environmental factors.

There are certain things that can trigger a psoriasis flare-up (when the psoriasis becomes worse). Such as: Certain infections (such as strep throat), certain medicines (for high blood pressure), stress, smoking, cold, dry weather, alcohol and injury to skin (insect bites/cuts/burns, etc.)

There isnt a cure for psoriasis, but there are many good ways to keep the symptoms under control with the most important being general cleanliness of the skin.

Excerpt from:
Psoriasis symptoms and causes - RTN Newspaper

Dr. Reddy's Laboratories announces the out-licensing of DFD-06 to Encore Dermatology.

Dr. Reddys Laboratories Ltd., through its wholly owned subsidiary Promius Pharma, LLC, announced today that it has out-licensed the future development, manufacturing, and commercialization rights of DFD-06, a topical high potency steroid, to Encore Dermatology Inc. The drug is intended to be used for treatment of moderate to severe plaque psoriasis.

Under the terms of the agreement, Encore will be responsible for the commercialization of DFD-06 in the United States. Promius Pharma is eligible to receive certain pre- and post- commercialization milestone payments of up to $32.5 million, followed by fixed royalty payments on net sales.

We believe Encore and its management team are well positioned to realize the full potential of this asset DFD-06. We look forward to obtaining NDA approval this fall, enabling Encores management team to quickly deliver this product to the providers and their patients, says Anil Namboodiripad, Ph.D., senior vice president, proprietary products, and president, Promius Pharma.

(Source: Business Wire)

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Dr. Reddy's Out-Licenses Plaque Psoriasis Drug to Encore Dermatology - Pharmaceutical Processing

Summit, NJ, August 21, 2017 --(PR.com)-- Arteric (http://arteric.com), a digital healthcare marketing agency that fuses exceptional software development skill with healthcare marketing expertise to help brands connect patients, caregivers, and healthcare professionals with the health information and tools that patients need to live longer, healthier lives proudly announces that the patient activation campaign Rise Up Against Psoriasis won a coveted Golden Scalpel award. In collaboration with McCann Health London and McCann Wien, Arteric developed and implemented the campaign's website centerpiece (riseagainstpsoriasis.com/de) for Celgene sterreich (Celgene Austria). The strategic process behind this award-winning collaboration is described in detail at arteric.com.

Presented by Pharma Marketing Club Austria, the Golden Scalpel awards represent best-in-class pharmaceutical advertising in Austria. Two juries of industry experts - one with general marketing expertise and the other with digital marketing expertise - selected award recipients. Rise Up Against Psoriasis received a Golden Scalpel in the category Digital Media non-RX/non-OTC.

Psoriasis poses risks that go far beyond skin lesions. Research findings point to an increased risk of depression, anxiety, and risk of suicide in people with psoriasis. [1] The Rise Up Against Psoriasis campaign was developed to activate patients who had disengaged from the healthcare system.

The website accomplishes this through 4 tactics:

1. A short movie follows 3 people through their daily struggles to help psoriasis sufferers recognize that they are not alone. 2. A quiz helps psoriasis sufferers quantify the impact of the disease on their daily lives. 3. A physician finder connects psoriasis sufferers to local dermatologists. 4. A discussion guide creates the foundation for a successful conversation with the physician.

These tactics are delivered through a beautifully designed responsive website that is instrumented to track engagement and provide insights about visitors, to guide future campaign development.

Arteric's president, Hans Kaspersetz, explains, "Rise Up Against Psoriasis has been successful because it authentically speaks to the psoriasis sufferer's daily struggles with the disease - it calls out to all those directly and indirectly affected by psoriasis, sending the essential message that help is available. The website invites site visitors to complete the Dermatology Life Quality Index survey to assess the impact of psoriasis on their quality of life, helping to build context for a conversation with their doctor."[2]

Mr. Kaspersetz continues, "Arteric has a robust global digital marketing practice with clients in North America, the EU, Asia, and Australia. For more than a decade, we've created websites and digital campaigns for audiences all over the world. Our team has delivered digital assets in 28 languages in 35 markets. We're especially pleased to create locally recognized best-in-class work with international partners like McCann Health London."

Jonathan Kukathasan, General Manager of McCann Health London, concurs. "While developing the Rise Up Against Psoriasis campaign, we worked alongside key partners to ensure it was a success. As the creative agency, we enjoyed working with Arteric, which played a critical role. It was great working alongside them to create this campaign and we look forward to working with them in the future."

Mr. Kaspersetz summarizes the effort this way. "The award validates the years of effort we've invested in understanding global needs and local markets. Whether in the US or in Austria, our goal is to connect people with the health information and resources they need to live longer, healthier lives."

For two decades, Arteric has worked directly with healthcare clients and partnered seamlessly with their service providers to develop award-winning websites, mobile apps, and Web applications that work everywhere and every time to help brands win. Contact Hans Kaspersetz at 201.558.9910 to put Arteric's digital marketing expertise to work for your brand.

Learn more about Rise Up Against Psoriasis at http://www.riseagainstpsoriasis.com/de.

About Arteric Arteric is a digital healthcare marketing agency built on a foundation of technology expertise - digital strategy, software engineering, search engine optimization, and search engine marketing. Arteric develops the strategy and the software -websites, mobile apps, and Web applications - that drive pharmaceutical and biotechnology digital marketing campaigns and connect the public and healthcare professionals with information about life-changing therapies, technologies, and devices.

References 1. Kurd SK, Troxel AB, Crits-Christoph P, Gelfand JM. The risk of depression, anxiety and suicidality in patients with psoriasis: a population-based cohort study. Arch Dermatol. 2010;146(8):891-895. Available at https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2928071/. Accessed August 18, 2017. 2. Findlay A, Khan G. Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI). 1992. Available at http://www.bad.org.uk/shared/get-file.ashx?id=1653&itemtype=document. Accessed August 21, 2017.

Contact Information: Arteric Ross O'Shea 201.546.9910 Contact via Email http://arteric.com

Read the full story here: http://www.pr.com/press-release/727344

Press Release Distributed by PR.com

Link:
Arteric Develops Website Centerpiece of Award-Winning Psoriasis ... - Benzinga

Summit, NJ, August 21, 2017 --(PR.com)-- Arteric (http://arteric.com), a digital healthcare marketing agency that fuses exceptional software development skill with healthcare marketing expertise to help brands connect patients, caregivers, and healthcare professionals with the health information and tools that patients need to live longer, healthier lives proudly announces that the patient activation campaign Rise Up Against Psoriasis won a coveted Golden Scalpel award. In collaboration with McCann Health London and McCann Wien, Arteric developed and implemented the campaign's website centerpiece (riseagainstpsoriasis.com/de) for Celgene sterreich (Celgene Austria). The strategic process behind this award-winning collaboration is described in detail at arteric.com.

Presented by Pharma Marketing Club Austria, the Golden Scalpel awards represent best-in-class pharmaceutical advertising in Austria. Two juries of industry experts - one with general marketing expertise and the other with digital marketing expertise - selected award recipients. Rise Up Against Psoriasis received a Golden Scalpel in the category Digital Media non-RX/non-OTC.

Psoriasis poses risks that go far beyond skin lesions. Research findings point to an increased risk of depression, anxiety, and risk of suicide in people with psoriasis. [1] The Rise Up Against Psoriasis campaign was developed to activate patients who had disengaged from the healthcare system.

The website accomplishes this through 4 tactics:

1. A short movie follows 3 people through their daily struggles to help psoriasis sufferers recognize that they are not alone. 2. A quiz helps psoriasis sufferers quantify the impact of the disease on their daily lives. 3. A physician finder connects psoriasis sufferers to local dermatologists. 4. A discussion guide creates the foundation for a successful conversation with the physician.

These tactics are delivered through a beautifully designed responsive website that is instrumented to track engagement and provide insights about visitors, to guide future campaign development.

Arteric's president, Hans Kaspersetz, explains, "Rise Up Against Psoriasis has been successful because it authentically speaks to the psoriasis sufferer's daily struggles with the disease - it calls out to all those directly and indirectly affected by psoriasis, sending the essential message that help is available. The website invites site visitors to complete the Dermatology Life Quality Index survey to assess the impact of psoriasis on their quality of life, helping to build context for a conversation with their doctor."[2]

Mr. Kaspersetz continues, "Arteric has a robust global digital marketing practice with clients in North America, the EU, Asia, and Australia. For more than a decade, we've created websites and digital campaigns for audiences all over the world. Our team has delivered digital assets in 28 languages in 35 markets. We're especially pleased to create locally recognized best-in-class work with international partners like McCann Health London."

Jonathan Kukathasan, General Manager of McCann Health London, concurs. "While developing the Rise Up Against Psoriasis campaign, we worked alongside key partners to ensure it was a success. As the creative agency, we enjoyed working with Arteric, which played a critical role. It was great working alongside them to create this campaign and we look forward to working with them in the future."

Mr. Kaspersetz summarizes the effort this way. "The award validates the years of effort we've invested in understanding global needs and local markets. Whether in the US or in Austria, our goal is to connect people with the health information and resources they need to live longer, healthier lives."

For two decades, Arteric has worked directly with healthcare clients and partnered seamlessly with their service providers to develop award-winning websites, mobile apps, and Web applications that work everywhere and every time to help brands win. Contact Hans Kaspersetz at 201.558.9910 to put Arteric's digital marketing expertise to work for your brand.

Learn more about Rise Up Against Psoriasis at http://www.riseagainstpsoriasis.com/de.

About Arteric Arteric is a digital healthcare marketing agency built on a foundation of technology expertise - digital strategy, software engineering, search engine optimization, and search engine marketing. Arteric develops the strategy and the software -websites, mobile apps, and Web applications - that drive pharmaceutical and biotechnology digital marketing campaigns and connect the public and healthcare professionals with information about life-changing therapies, technologies, and devices.

References 1. Kurd SK, Troxel AB, Crits-Christoph P, Gelfand JM. The risk of depression, anxiety and suicidality in patients with psoriasis: a population-based cohort study. Arch Dermatol. 2010;146(8):891-895. Available at https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2928071/. Accessed August 18, 2017. 2. Findlay A, Khan G. Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI). 1992. Available at http://www.bad.org.uk/shared/get-file.ashx?id=1653&itemtype=document. Accessed August 21, 2017.

Contact Information: Arteric Ross O'Shea 201.546.9910 Contact via Email http://arteric.com

Read the full story here: http://www.pr.com/press-release/727344

Press Release Distributed by PR.com

Link:
Arteric Develops Website Centerpiece of Award-Winning Psoriasis Patient Activation Campaign - Benzinga

THE FRESH TOAST

Monday, August 14, 2017, 11:50 AM

Psoriasis is an autoimmune disease that causes itchy scaling of the skin. It typically affects the elbows, knees, and scalp, but any skin-covered place will do.

About7.5 million Americanshave psoriasis. For most, it will manifest only in patches. But if it extends over more than five percent of your surface area, then you are among the one-in-five who have a severe case.

RELATED STORY: Little-known health effects of medical marijuana

There are many faces of psoriasis. Lesions may be slivery or fiery red, pussy or merely bloody, small or expansive in scale. Fingernails may or may not discolor, crumble, and detach. As many as a third of people with this condition will receive the bonus gift of psoriatic arthritis.

Genetically inherited, psoriasis is yet another trauma we receive from our parents, but its appearance tends to be triggered by physical or emotional stress.

During an outburst, T cells that normally protect us from bacterial incursions mistakenly begin to attack our own skin cells. As white blood cells rush into the fray, the blood vessels dilate, causing inflammation. The body then goes into overdrive to replace the dead and dying skin. New cells push up, as much as ten times faster than normal, accumulating on the surface in thick mounds of dead skin and white corpuscles, intertwined like the corpses of ice-zombies and men of the Nights Watch strewn across the plains of the frozen North.

Because of cannabiss well known anti-inflammatory andimmunosuppressiveeffects, its a natch that it ought to have some ameliorating effect onthe heartbreak of psoriasis. But the medical evidence is thin.

RELATED STORY: Why wont my doctor prescribe medical marijuana for me?

One of the most intriguing findings comes from a2007 studythat tested the effects of five different cannabinoids (including everybodys favorites THC and CBD) on skin cells that were induced to hyper-productivity in vitro. All five cannabinoids inhibited proliferation. (Thats good news!) But heres something that flouted all expectation: Blocking both the CB1 and CB2 cannabinoid receptors had no effect on the outcome. In other words, the cannabinoids were operating by some means other than the two scientifically recognized pathways.

What that means is, however, still unknown.

Link:
Here's how medical marijuana can help with psoriasis - NY Daily ... - New York Daily News

Newswise PHILADELPHIA The National Psoriasis Foundation has announced the winners of its Medical Professional Research Awards, and its a clean sweep for the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania. The NPF honored Joel M. Gelfand, MD MSCE, a professor of Dermatology and Epidemiology, with the 2017 Outstanding Scientific Achievement Award. The second award is for Outstanding New Investigator, and this year it went to Junko Takeshita, MD, PhD, MSCE, an assistant professor of Dermatology and Epidemiology. The two were honored together at this months 2017 NPF Research Symposium.

Gelfand received the award for Outstanding Scientific Achievement, which recognizes his work and takes into consideration independence of thought, originality, significance of discovery, and impact on the area of research. Gelfand is a national leader in research connecting psoriasis to other comorbidities. He is particularly interested in the connection between psoriasis and cardio metabolic disease. He has published hundreds of peer-reviewed papers in academic journals, many on this very topic, and it continues to be a major focus of his work. Gelfand completed his MSCE at Penn, received his MD from Harvard, and holds a B.S. from Tufts.

It was an honor to receive this award from the National Psoriasis Foundation, and also to share the stage with my colleague Dr. Takeshita, Gelfand said.

Takeshita received the Outstanding New Investigator award, which also recognizes outstanding scientific achievement in psoriatic disease research from a new or early-career investigator. Takeshita spent two years as an NPF fellow, during which time she trained under Gelfand. She has received a grant from the National Institutes of Health to explore racial disparities in the treatment of psoriasis. She has published more than two dozen peer-reviewed papers, including one that identified psoriasis treatment disparities in the Medicare population that is often cited by advocacy groups. Takeshita completed her MSCE at Penn, received her MD and PhD from Washington University in Saint Louis, and completed her B.A. at Wellesley.

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Penn Medicineis one of the world's leading academic medical centers, dedicated to the related missions of medical education, biomedical research, and excellence in patient care. Penn Medicine consists of theRaymond and Ruth Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania (founded in 1765 as the nation's first medical school) and theUniversity of Pennsylvania Health System, which together form a $6.7 billion enterprise.

The Perelman School of Medicine has been ranked among the top five medical schools in the United States for the past 20 years, according toU.S. News & World Report's survey of research-oriented medical schools. The School is consistently among the nation's top recipients of funding from the National Institutes of Health, with $392 million awarded in the 2016 fiscal year.

The University of Pennsylvania Health System's patient care facilities include: The Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania and Penn Presbyterian Medical Center -- which are recognized as one of the nation's top "Honor Roll" hospitals byU.S. News & World Report-- Chester County Hospital; Lancaster General Health; Penn Wissahickon Hospice; and Pennsylvania Hospital -- the nation's first hospital, founded in 1751. Additional affiliated inpatient care facilities and services throughout the Philadelphia region include Good Shepherd Penn Partners, a partnership between Good Shepherd Rehabilitation Network and Penn Medicine.

Penn Medicine is committed to improving lives and health through a variety of community-based programs and activities. In fiscal year 2016, Penn Medicine provided $393 million to benefit our community.

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National Psoriasis Foundation Honors Two Penn Dermatologists - Newswise (press release)

Taltz (ixekizumab), an approved antibody treatment for plaque psoriasis, targets a cytokine that is thought to play a role in the development of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).That connection has caused concerns that administration of the drug might increase occurrence of IBDs in patients with psoriasis. So,Eli Lilly and Company, the maker of Taltz, conducted a study to determine if there was a significant correlation.

Results showed that rates of new IBD cases were observed in less than 1 percent of the psoriasis patients receiving Taltz. They reported that flares of pre-existing disease also were rare.

Titled Inflammatory bowel disease among patients with psoriasis treated with ixekizumab: A presentation of adjudicated data from an integrated database of 7 randomized controlled and uncontrolled trials, the study was published in the American Journal of Dermatology.

Taltz targets the cytokine interleulin-17 (IL-17). Previous studies have suggested a potential role of IL-17A in the pathogenesis (disease course) of IBD, although results have been inconclusive. According to a press releasepublished in theMedical News Bulletin, trials using antagonists of IL-17A have failed to prove effective against IBDs.

The Eli Lilly study study included data from 4,029 patients with moderate-to-severe psoriasis who had received Taltz. Participants previously were enrolled in one of the seven clinical trials for Taltz already underway.

The study did have some limitations, including the fact that the study did not collect any information on the patients family histories before trial initiation, and the fact that there was no information collected on the duration of earlier therapies that could have led to IBD symptoms, namely before exposure to Taltz.

Because the trial is not fully conclusive, the authors recommend that dermatologists monitor patients with concomitant psoriasis and IBD who are receiving IL-17 antibody therapy and advocate for disclosing all the potential risks that IL-17A antagonist treatment could entail.

Plaque psoriasis is an inflammatory skin condition that is characterized by the appearance of raised red scales, which are often itchy and painful. The condition has a significant genetic overlap with IBD and patients often develop certain IBDs, like ulcerative colitis (UC) or Crohns disease, as co-morbidities.

In February 2015, research found that the genetic susceptibility to Crohns and psoriasis persisted for hundreds of thousands of years, dating back to pre-Neanderthals.

Excerpt from:
Study Dismisses Concerns that Psoriasis Treatment Could Trigger IBD - IBD News Today