Category Archives: Psoriasis

Investopedia

Novartis' Cosentyx Shows Psoriasis Modification Potential (NVS, DERM) Investopedia has reported new data which suggests that its key psoriasis therapy, Cosentyx (secukinumab), has demonstrated the potential to modify the course of moderate-to-severe psoriasis, offering new hope of a more efficient treatment. Disease modification is ... Threats And Opportunities In Psoriasis: What's Next For Novartis?Seeking Alpha Novartis boasts a big new advantage for Cosentyx as data indicate the blockbuster can modify psoriasisEndpoints News Novartis' Cosentyx is first and only IL-17A inhibitor to potentially ...Yahoo Finance PharmaTimes -Healio -pharmaphorum all 11 news articles »

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Novartis' Cosentyx Shows Psoriasis Modification Potential (NVS, DERM) - Investopedia

UPI.com

Severe psoriasis predominantly affects men -- ScienceDaily Science Daily The fact that men are overrepresented in psoriasis registers and consume more psoriasis care have long led researchers to believe that the common skin ... Study shows severe psoriasis mostly affects men - UPI.comUPI.com all 2 news articles »

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Severe psoriasis predominantly affects men -- ScienceDaily - Science Daily

Psoriasis is both a common and an age-old problem that affects about five percent of people worldwide. It presents as red, scaling plaques on the skin that often itch and bleed.Most commonly psoriasis occurs on the elbows and knees, but it can be found anywhere on the body, including the face and scalp.

For centuries, it has affected people in all walks of life and all nationalities.It can be progressive and may appear at any time during ones life.It is one of the most common skin diseases, striking an estimated five percent of the worlds population.

Of those affected, approximately 25 percent can develop an associated psoriatic arthritis, which is both progressive and degenerative.Psoriatic arthritis can be debilitating. Psoriasis is not contagious, but it can interfere with normal life and social relationships and cause many sufferers to isolate themselves from friends and family.

Heredity plays a part in the disease, with approximately 10 percent of all sufferers being able to identify a genetic relative with the disease.Stress, injury, infection, medication, or trauma can trigger an initial episode or cause a flare-up of psoriasis.

There are many varieties of psoriasis, including guttate psoriasis, pustular psoriasis, plaque psoriasis, scalp psoriasis, and inverse psoriasis.Inverse psoriasis occurs in the armpit, under the breasts, and in the skin folds around the groin, buttocks, and genitals.

Scalp psoriasis is often mistaken for dandruff.Guttate psoriasis can affect anyone, but it often starts after a sore throat associated with streptococcal infection.

Pustular psoriasis is a painful condition that is limited almost exclusively to the palms and soles.Pustular psoriasis can be quite debilitating, and can even prevent walking and the ability to work with the hands.Psoriasis can also affect the nails, imitating a fungal infection and causing pits in the nails or producing brown spots under the nails known as oil spots.

What causes psoriasis?

Psoriasis is a genetic disease involving both autoimmune and inflammatory components.The standard skin growth cycle requires approximately 28 days for skin cells to go from the basal layer to the top.In psoriasis, this growth rate is dramatically increased and occurs every three to five days.As a result, the skin cannot shed normally and instead piles up, forming thick scaling plaques.

In the past it was believed that psoriasis was a disorder of the skin cells, where the cells were unable to grow at a healthy rate.However, it is now understood there are many contributing factors, such as the immune system.

Often, immune cells can leave the blood stream and produce compounds that interact with cells in the skin to produce this rapid growth phase.Biologic treatments are targeted at the immune cells to interfere with their ability to produce the rapid growth and inflammatory phase associated with arthritis.

How is psoriasis diagnosed?

Dermatologists diagnose psoriasis by examining the skin, nails and scalp.If the diagnosis is in doubt, a skin biopsy may be helpful.

How is psoriasis treated?

My philosophy is to use a combination approach, utilizing many different compounds in the treatment of psoriasis to achieve an effective and synergistic result.At Crutchfield Dermatology, we are recognized as a Psoriasis Treatment Center of Excellence. I employ both topical medicines, light treatments (ultraviolet light and lasers), and systemic medicines.

Topical treatments include steroid creams, tar-based products,Vitamin A treatments, Vitamin D treatments, and our exclusive, patented, and very effective CutiCort1 steroid spray.In addition to topical medicines, I also prescribe phototherapeutic measures, including narrowband ultraviolet B phototherapy and targeted laser treatments.

Phototherapeutic treatments can be performed by using a full-body and hand-and-foot light box to treat resistant hand and foot psoriasis.Finally, oral/systemic medications including methotrexate, cyclosporine, oral retinoids, and the latest, most advanced generation of medicines that combat psoriasis known as biologic agentscan produce exceptional results.

Future of psoriasis

More and more research is being done every day giving us better insight into psoriasis.This research will allow the disorder to be treated even more efficiently in the future.

We know that psoriasis is a genetic disease and is much more than a cosmetic concern. Physicians now recognize that having psoriasis is associated with an increased risk of developing cardiovascular disease, arthritis, obesity, intestinal diseases, kidney disease, high cholesterol, hypertension, diabetes and gum disease.

However, with the correct diagnosis and modern treatment program, psoriasis can be very successfully managed, as well as the many complications of psoriasis.If you have psoriasis, you dont have to suffer. Talk to your dermatologist about the many new and significantly effective treatments now available.

Charles E. Crutchfield III, MD is a board certified dermatologist and Clinical Professor of Dermatology at the University of Minnesota Medical School.He also has a private practice in Eagan, MN.He received his M.D. and Masters Degree in Molecular Biology and Genomics from the Mayo Clinic. He has been selected as one of the top 10 dermatologists in the United States byBlack Enterprise magazine.Dr. Crutchfield was recognized by Minnesota Medicine as one of the 100 Most Influential Healthcare Leaders in Minnesota. He is the team dermatologist for the Minnesota Twins, Vikings, Timberwolves, Wild and Lynx. Dr. Crutchfield is an active member of both the American and National Medical Associations.

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Psoriasis: new treatments, excellent results - MSR News Online

By Howard Chang

No, its not an actual cornfield. Howard Chang checks out an exhibitor booth for skincare products at this years AAD meeting.

I attended the annualAmerican Academy of Dermatology (AAD) meeting in Orlando, Florida, earlier this month. AsI approachedthe Orange County Convention Center,ahuge AAD logo over the entryway stairs signified thatI had arrived. I felt both excited and nervous at the prospect of joining thousands of physicians and hundreds of exhibitors at a medical meeting focused on skin and, in my case, psoriasis.

My journey to AAD started decades earlier, when I was first diagnosed with psoriasis as a child. Those characteristic red psoriatic lesions made their first appearance after I slept in a new, unwashed sleeping bag. I figured the chemicals in the bag triggered the first rashes. Up to that moment, my family never heard of psoriasis. Only months later, I would be the subject of a dozen physicians and medical students at the UCSF Dermatology department. They made the life-changing diagnosis: psoriasis.

I entered the AAD Exhibit Hall thinking about that scared child who would come to learn much about living with a severe skin disease. [Disclaimer: While JanssenGlobal Services sponsored me to attend the AAD meeting , all views and thoughts from my attending the meeting are all my own.]

The top physicians reported their newest research findings here in the halls of the conference, including some who saw me as a child. Companies revealed their latest treatments, promising a better future for patients. Their work continues to impact my daily life as I switch to new treatments and therapies over the years.

As a psoriasis patient, I never knew what happened behind the scenes.

Attending the conference as a psoriasis patient advocate gave me an opportunity of a lifetime: to receive updates on state-of-the-art treatments and hear what doctors and the dermatology industry heard for the first time. I naturally focused on psoriasis, attending sessions like Translating Evidence into Practice: Psoriasis Guidelines and Comorbidities in Psoriasis: What You Need to Know, and scrutinizing scientific posters presenting research results for biologic medications in psoriasis treatment.

My lasting impression from AAD is the tremendous amount of effort and focus on psoriasis research and treatments. Just in my lifetime, treatments went from topical creams, tar applications, and phototherapy to biologics that block inflammation where it begins on the molecular level. But all the medical language, scientific reports, and pharmaceutical industry booths made me wonder if I landed in the wrong place.

What kind of positive impact could attending a medical conference have on a psoriasis patient like me? Here are three things that continue to influence the way I approach managing psoriasis effectively.

At the conference, I saw dermatology news made before my eyes. Researchers presented their latest findings in scientific sessions and short presentations in the exhibit hall. I learned about the latest medications and treatments, including ones I hope to try soon.

Of course, not everyone with psoriasis will attend medical meetings. At the same time, patients should understand the importance of staying educated about their medical conditions.Thanks to the Internet, anyone can learn about the latest research and treatments, psoriasis and otherwise. For example, the AAD produced news reports from the conference that you can access here.

Another great way to keep up to date on whats happening in the dermatology/psoriasis world is to set-up simple web searches. Each evening I receive a Google alert via email with links to todays psoriasis articles. If you dont want those alerts in your emails, a simple search engine query with any terms related to psoriasis yields similar results. Certain organizations, such as the National Psoriasis Foundation, update relevant news to patients on their sites too. If Im interested in an article or report I need a subscription to read, I ask my dermatologist who can print those for me at my clinic visit.

As patients take more active roles in their own care, they ultimately benefit from preparation before appointments. Armed with the latest information, the empowered patient goes to appointments with their healthcare providers knowing their options. They actively collaborate in treatment decision-making as partners with their physicians.

A clear message I heard from presenters to fellow dermatologists is to take time to treat the whole patient and get to know their history. The list of conditions associated with psoriasis continues to grow, including cardiovascular disease, diabetes, obesity, arthritis, and liver disease, among other things. No longer should anyone consider psoriasis as just a rash on the skin or a minor cosmetic concern as compared to other more serious conditions.

Inflammation affects the whole body. Dr. Nehal Mehta of the National Institutes of Health, a cardiologist, presented his research on the link between psoriasis and inflammation. (You can see his webcast Inflammation and psoriasis: Seeing is Believing at the National Psoriasis Foundation website.) Recent studies point to the possibility of cardiovascular inflammation being independently associated with psoriasis. In fact, reducing psoriasis by one-third coincided witha six percent reduction in cardiovascular inflammation, the equivalent of taking low-dose statin medication.

Another presenter would not go so far as to say that reducing psoriasis would reduce cardiovascular risk. But with the current data, the clear message pointed to the importance of monitoring not just skin symptoms. He suggested all psoriasis patients be screened for cardiovascular risk factors starting at age eighteen and every five years thereafter. Those 40 and over should be screened annually.

I learned more about how my different conditions might impact my overall health. This knowledge tells doctors to look past the skin. But it also tells those with psoriasis to do the same. Besides making sure my doctors monitor health risk factors, I immediately started making lifestyle changes such as choosing the salad when eating out, restarting my exercise program, and making sure I get enough sleep.

I told my dermatologist about going to the AAD conference, which he wholeheartedly supported. During my trip home from Orlando, we messaged each other about a scientific poster presented by his resident and my next treatment.

I expect my newfound knowledge to positively affect the partnership we have in treating my psoriasis and atopic dermatitis. The Food and Drug Administration is currently evaluating one new medication my dermatologist and I discussed a couple of months ago. At one presentation, a researcher answered the exact question I had posed to my doctor. In my next appointment, I hope to share what I learned, which should help steer the direction of my futuretreatment.

Meetings like these partly exist for medical professionals to further their education. Some are experts in an aspect of their field, which may or may not be psoriasis. But since I have psoriasis, I know tools exist for me to be an expert on my body and condition. AAD empowered me to continue to advocate for myself and my care.

Patients no longer need to feel left in the dark when it comes to their own treatment. While those with psoriasis should find healthcare providers they trust, providing valuable input to them goes a long way toward finding successful solutions.

My final takeaway from AAD is to seriously consider the risk of not treating psoriasis effectively. Over the years, Ive grown more cautious about aggressively treating with the newest medications. I feared the risks and all those warnings you read on the labels. I still wont necessarily demand the latest and hyped injection or pill. But I certainly will explore every option, including continuing in those lifestyle changes, if it means slowing down psoriasiss impact on my quality of life and longevity.

I didnt need to go to AAD to know that psoriasis puts up quite a fight. Yet, the arsenal available to those who live with psoriasis to fight back continues to grow too. If you add in a stubborn desire to live as fully and productively as possible, then psoriasis doesnt stand a chance.

For more of my thoughts on attending AAD 2017, see my new website PsoHoward.

Last Updated: 3/22/2017

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How My Psoriasis Journey Continues to Evolve - Everyday Health (blog)

In 2010, actress Katie Lowes was having an incredible year: She just booked her first major acting gig on a buzzy new drama called Scandal, and she got engaged to her boyfriend, Adam Shapiro. "I was the happiest Ive ever been in my life," Lowes tells SELF. But the year also proved stressful. "I was planning a wedding, and I was also working this job where all eyes were on me for the first time," she says. "The stress really triggered my skin to flare up." Her skin started to become itchy and scaly in spots, spreading from her scalp to behind her ears and eventually down to her back. "It was getting to a place where you definitely couldnt ignore it and pretend like this was something small," she says. That's when she saw her doctor, and she was diagnosed with psoriasis .

Psoriasis affects approximately 7.5 million people in the United States, according to the American Academy of Dermatology . It's a chronic autoimmune disease that speeds up the growth of skin cells. Several types of the disease exist, but the most common formwhich Lowes hasis plaque psoriasis. This type of psoriasis can cause patches of dry, raised red skin that's covered with silvery scales, the CDC reports. Plaque psoriasis can occur on any part of the body, and the affected areas can be itchy and even painful for people. The skin disease's unique appearance can also make people self-conscious. A common misunderstanding is that psoriasis is contagious, but it's not. The severity of psoriasis can vary from person to person and even from month to month, changing from affecting small discreet areas of the body to impacting large patches of skin.

Related: 5 Things People With Psoriasis Want You to Know

When Lowes found out she had the skin disease, she initially went into denial and didn't aggressively pursue treatment. "It brought out a lot of embarrassed and ashamed feelings. Theres such a pressure in Hollywood to feel perfect and feel like nothings wrong, and that was definitely not my case," she says. It affected her confidence on set, too. "I'd be sitting in the hair chair [on the set of Scandal ] and I'd say, Its just really bad this weekI cant have my hair up; I cant show anything back there,'" she says. "Luckily, there were a lot of days where Quinns hair is down."

Lowes finally got serious about treating her psoriasis in 2012 when the skin disease derailed her wedding plans. "I had an session booked to take photos with Adam to announce our engagement, and I actually canceled and didnt show up because I was having a terrible flare-up," she says. "I had nothing to wear, and I just felt so ugly. I canceled it and I said to myself, This has gone too far. Im actually canceling huge, awesome things in my life because of this disease, and I cant be alone in this.

After that incident, Lowes started working aggressively to find a dermatologist she could trust as well as a treatment that worked for her. Treatment for the disease can vary from person to person, with options including topical creams and ointments, light therapy, and oral or injected medicines, the Mayo Clinic reports. The goal of these treatments is to stop skin cells from growing rapidly and also to remove scales and smooth skinbut finding the right treatment can be challenging, since the disease manifests itself in unpredictable cycles. Lowes says it took a few years to find a treatment that worked for her, but she thankfully did.

Today, Lowes says she feels better than everand she's working as a psoriasis advocate to help others going through a similar experience. She's sharing her story for the first time as part of Janssen Biotech, Inc. and the National Psoriasis Foundation 's new campaign, Psoriasis: The Inside Story . The campaign's website features stories from people with psoriasis, and it aims to start a conversation and offer support to people in the psoriasis community. It's a mission Lowes can get behind.

"I feel like its taken me a long time to get to this place where I feel confident with myself again," she says. "I feel good in my own skin because I was able to find a doctor that I trusted and a treatment that has really helped me with my symptoms. It's important for me to tell people that they too can feel great and get to a place where their symptoms are under control."

Related:

Watch: Iskra Lawrence: How I Learned to Love My Body

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'Scandal' Actress Katie Lowes Is Done Hiding Her Battle With Psoriasis - SELF

Dive Brief:

The psoriasis market is a fast-growing one, but competition is fierce with several blockbuster drugs approved for the condition. And new treatment types such as Cosentyx an IL-17A inhibitor look set to cut out market share for themselves just as biosimilars begin to threaten mainstays like AbbVie's Humira (adalimumab).

Novartis has already shown the superiority of Cosentyx, the first IL-17A inhibitor to be approved for moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis, to both Amgen's Enbrel (etanercept) and Johnson & Johnson's Stelara (ustekinumab) in head-to-head trials. This latest data for could provide Novartis with further evidence of Cosentyx's benefit.

The Swiss pharma's revenue has been hit by generic competition to Gleevec (imatinib) and Lucentis (ranibizumab) and hopes that sales of Cosentyx could help to accelerate growth. The company has projected peak sales of up to $4 billion.

So far,Cosentyxhas impressed commercially with $1.13 billion in 2016 salesits second year on the market. Paul Hudson, head of Novartis Pharmaceuticals,has saidit even may be the company's best new product launch.

But it won't be without competition. Eli Lilly has high expectations for its own IL-17A drug Taltz (ixekizumab), which is approved for the same indication. And J&J is currently moving its promising IL-23 candidate guselkumab through regulatory review.

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Cosentyx could change the course of psoriasis, study suggests - BioPharma Dive

Psoriasis is one of the key growth franchisee for Novartis (NYSE:NVS), estimated by the sell-side brokers to generate at least $4B of sales in 2020 (12% of pharma sales) driven by the excellent launch of Cosentyx, which has been able to generate more than $1B of sales in 2016, after around one year from its approval.

What is plaque psoriasis?

According to the Mayo Clinic:

Psoriasis is a common skin condition that changes the life cycle of skin cells. Psoriasis causes cells to build up rapidly on the surface of the skin. The extra skin cells form thick, silvery scales and itchy, dry, red patches that are sometimes painful.

Psoriasis is a persistent, long-lasting (chronic) disease. There may be times when your psoriasis symptoms get better alternating with times your psoriasis worsens.

Psoriasis signs and symptoms can vary from person to person but may include one or more of the following:

Treatment options for Psoriasis

While there isn't a cure, psoriasis treatments may offer relief. There are different treatment options for patients affected by plaque psoriasis:

You can see here a comprehensive list of all FDA-Approved Medicines for the treatment of Psoriasis. In this article, I will focus on the biologic drugs category to analyze what has driven the excellent performance of NVSs Cosentyx and what will be the key innovations in this space in the foreseeable future which could threaten the leadership of Novartis.

Why Novartis's Cosentyx had an excellent launch in this space

Novartis is one of the key players in the psoriasis space with their leading subcutaneous self-injected drug, called Cosentyx.

There are few reasons behind the successful launch of Cosentyx in this space:

Psoriasis will become soon a crowded market

The psoriasis market is likely to become increasingly crowded over the next couple of years. I analyze the main players that have recently entered in the psoriasis space and that will enter in 2018 and 2019:

Eli Lillys (NYSE:LLY) Taltz: In March 2016, Lilly has received the approval of Taltz in psoriasis by the FDA and the clinical profile of the drug looks comparable to Cosentyx. In fact, according to a press release from Eli Lilly:

The FDA approval of Taltz was based on findings from the largest Phase 3 trial program approved to datemore than 3,800 patients with moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis from 21 countries.5 This number includes patients who began the trial on Taltz or placebo, or active comparator (U.S.-approved etanercept). This clinical program included three double-blind, multicenter, Phase 3 studiesUNCOVER-1, UNCOVER-2 and UNCOVER-3which demonstrated the safety and efficacy of Taltz in patients with moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis. In all three studies, at 12 weeks, 87 to 90 percent of patients treated with Taltz saw a significant improvement of their psoriasis plaques (PASI 75). In addition, 81 to 83 percent of patients treated with Taltz achieved sPGA 0 or 1. The majority of patients treated with Taltz, 68 to 71 percent, achieved virtually clear skin (PASI 90) and 35 to 42 percent of patients saw complete resolution of their psoriasis plaques (PASI 100, sPGA 0).

The only differences between the two products are that Taltz has PASI-100 (complete skin clearance) data on its label, while Cosentyx should benefit from fewer injection site reactions and no neutralizing antibodies. In summary, the two products look pretty similar in terms of efficacy and safety in the psoriasis space.

Valeants (NYSE:VRX) Siliq: In February 2017, Valeant has received the approval for Siliq by the FDA. The efficacy profile of the drug is good, but the safety profile puts the drug at disadvantage compares to Taltz or Cosentyx, given a black box for suicide risk. According to a press release from Valeant:

SILIQ has a Black Box Warning for the risks in patients with a history of suicidal thoughts or behavior. SILIQ was approved with a Risk Evaluation and Mitigation Strategy (REMS) involving a one-time enrollment for physicians and one-time informed consent for patients. The most common adverse reactions were headache, arthralgia, fatigue, oropharyngeal pain, and diarrhea. SILIQ is contraindicated in patients with Crohn's disease. Suicidal ideation and behavior have been reported. Serious infections have occurred therefore caution should be exercised when considering the use of SILIQ in patients with a chronic infection or a history of recurrent infection. Patients should be evaluated for tuberculosis infection prior to initiating treatment.

This issue has not been seen for the competitors, thus I think Valeant will have only a marginal role in the psoriasis space.

J&J's (NYSE:JNJ) Guselkumab: A further threat to Cosentyx will come from the likely approval Guselkumab in late 2017. According to a press release from Janseen:

Data from the VOYAGE 1 trial showed significantly higher proportions of patients receiving guselkumab achieved cleared/minimal disease compared with patients receiving placebo, as defined by at least a 90 percent improvement in the Psoriasis Area Severity Index (PASI 90, near complete skin clearance) and an Investigators Global Assessment (NYSE:IGA) score of cleared (0) or minimal disease (1) at week 16, the study co-primary endpoints. The VOYAGE 1 trial also included an active comparator arm evaluating guselkumab versus Humira (adalimumab), and showed the superiority of guselkumab across major study endpoints and through 48 weeks of treatment.

Its worth noting that, even if efficacy for this drug seems comparable to Cosentyx or Taltz, Guselkumab has the potential for superior patient convenience with self-administered injection every eight weeks compared to every four weeks with Cosentyx/Taltz.

Lastly, J&J could b a formidable competitor in the psoriasis space given its strong presence in the Immunology market with some old drugs as Remicade, Simponi and Stelara.

Abbvie/Boehringer Ingelheim's (NYSE:ABBV) Risankizumab: A further threat to Cosentyx will come from the potential launch of Risankizumab in late 2018/2019. According to a press release from Boehringer Ingelheim:

New results from a Phase II head-to-head psoriasis study showed superior efficacy of Boehringer Ingelheims investigational biologic compound BI 655066*, over ustekinumab. After nine months, 69 percent of patients with moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis maintained clear or almost clear skin (PASI 90) with BI 655066 in the higher dose group compared to 30 percent of patients on ustekinumab. Patients also achieved this skin clearance significantly faster (approximately eight weeks versus approximately 16 weeks) and for more than two months longer ( 32 weeks versus 24 weeks) than those on ustekinumab. In addition, completely clear skin (PASI 100) was maintained after nine months in nearly triple the percentage of patients on BI 655066 compared with ustekinumab (43 percent versus 15 percent).

Thus, potentially, Risankizumab could be a transformational new therapy in psoriasis, with potential best-in-class efficacy in terms of PASI90 and PASI100 and with an attractive injection regimen (every 12 weeks).

Conclusion

Psoriasis is clearly one of the strongest franchises of Novartis right now, but some new treatment options will be launched over the next couple of years and could threaten NVSs leadership. From my analysis, its evident that, over 3 years, there will be many products in this space with similar profile in terms of safety and efficacy, which will allow the PBMs to use formulary exclusions tools to put pressure on pricing in this space, and consensus estimates for Novartis have not reflected this risk.

Disclosure: I/we have no positions in any stocks mentioned, and no plans to initiate any positions within the next 72 hours.

I wrote this article myself, and it expresses my own opinions. I am not receiving compensation for it (other than from Seeking Alpha). I have no business relationship with any company whose stock is mentioned in this article.

Additional disclosure: not investment advice

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Threats And Opportunities In Psoriasis: What's Next For Novartis? - Seeking Alpha

BUFFALO, N.Y. Three studies focused on improving our understanding of the human microbiome were awarded funding through the second round of research pilots supported by the University at Buffalo Community of Excellence in Genome, Environment and Microbiome (GEM).

The projects, which total more than $110,000, will study how the relationship between the human body and the collection of microorganisms that reside on or within it affect our risk for certain diseases.

Understanding the connection these microorganisms have with our bodies may enable the development of personalized medicine and empower individuals to have greater control over their health.

The pilot grants award researchers from a variety of disciplines up to $50,000 to develop innovative projects focused on the microbiome. The funds support up to one year of research.

The awards are provided through GEM, an interdisciplinary community of UB faculty and staff dedicated to advancing research on the genome and microbiome. GEM is one of UBs three Communities of Excellence, a $9 million initiative to harness the strengths of faculty and staff from fields across the university to confront the challenges facing humankind through research, education and engagement.

In this round of pilot projects, we were able to focus on the intersection of the genome and the microbiome. This allows us to understand how microbes affect us and our health. It also starts to answer how our own genes affect the environment in which human microbes have to live and survive, says Jennifer Surtees, PhD, GEM co-director and associate professor in the Department of Biochemistry in the Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences at UB.

We are thrilled that all three funded projects resulted from strong interdisciplinary collaborations that were stimulated by GEM."

Along with Surtees, GEM is led by Timothy Murphy, MD, executive director and SUNY Distinguished Professor of Medicine; and Norma Nowak, PhD, co-director, professor in the Department of Biochemistry and executive director of UBs New York State Center of Excellence in Bioinformatics and Life Sciences.

The funded projects, described below, involve faculty teams from the Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, the School of Public Health and Health Professions, and the College of Arts and Sciences.

Tracking the global spread of Klebsiella pneumoniae, an antibiotic-resistant superbug

A lethal form of the bacterium Klebsiella pneumoniae (hvKP) is spreading across the Asian Pacific Rim. Unlike most Klebsiella infections in Western countries, which typically cause illness in healthcare settings, hvKPcan cause serious life- and organ-threatening infections in healthy individuals living in the community. Worse, hvKP has become increasingly resistant to antibiotics.

Although all ethnic groups have suffered infections from hvKP, people of Asian descent are disproportionately affected. UB researchers will study the density of infections at various geographic locations to understand whether the higher prevalence among Asian ethnic groups is due to more frequent exposure, genetics or another factor.

The results could lend insight into the risk of hvKP infection, assist in understanding how it develops, help identify populations at risk and improve knowledge on prevention.

The study is led by Thomas Russo, MD, professor and chief of the Division of Infectious Disease; and Peter Elkin, MD, professor and chair of the Department of Biomedical Informatics, both in the Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences.

Decoding the genetic evolution of the skin microbiome in psoriasis and eczema patients

Immune responses to the wide range of microbial organisms colonized on and within human skin have led to a number of major genetic adaptions. Yet, researchers have not solved why autoimmune and inflammatory disorders, such as psoriasis and eczema, are common and not eliminated from the general population by natural selection.

The question has led a team of researchers to investigate the role that skin plays in our vulnerability to autoimmune and inflammatory disorders, which affect hundreds of millions of people. The study will analyze the genetic variations and microbiomes of non-affected and affected skin samples from psoriasis and eczema patients.

The principle investigators are Omer Gokcumen, PhD, assistant professor in the Department of Biological Sciences in the UB College of Arts and Sciences; and Animesh Sinha, MD, PhD, Rita M. and Ralph T. Behling Professor and chair of the Department of Dermatology in the Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences.

Additional collaborators include Kristina Seiffert-Sinha, MD, research assistant professor in the Department of Dermatology; Daniel Gaile, PhD, assistant professor in the Department of Biostatistics in the UB School of Public Health and Health Professions; David Tritchler, DSc, research professor in the Department of Biostatistics; and Ran Blekhman, PhD, assistant professor in the College of Biological Sciences at the University of Minnesota.

Solving how genome-shifting fungi adapt to human hosts to cause fatal infections

Over the course of an infection, pathogenic fungi continuously adjust to the human body, changing as it moves to different areas. The microbes sense and adapt to the various nutrient environments within their hosts, and respond with the necessary gene expression patterns.

One way the fungi sense nutrients is through the levels of common metabolites, such as NAD+, which is required by enzymes called sirtuins to repress gene expression. However, it remains poorly understood how NAD+ acts as a signaling molecule.

The researchers will examine three pathogenic fungi that cause serious illness among people with weakened immune systems. Their goal is to determine which genes are regulated by sirtuins and are activated when NAD+ is low, and learn how nutrient availability influences NAD+ concentrations.

The study is led by Laura Rusche, PhD, associate professor in the Department of Biological Sciences. Additional investigators include John Panepinto, PhD, associate professor in the Department of Microbiology and Immunology; and Tao Liu, PhD, assistant professor in the Department of Biochemistry, both in the Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences.

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UB's GEM awards funding for new studies focused on superbugs, psoriasis, eczema and deadly fungi - UB News Center

A man and a woman are barefoot on a couch, snuggling and smiling. In the background, a guitar starts strumming.

When youre close to the people you love, the television announcer says, does psoriasis ever get in the way of a touching moment?

The minute-long commercial, featuring lots of bare shoulders, midriffs and swimsuits, promotes a new drug by Eli Lilly and Co. called Taltz that treats red, scaly patches of skin caused by moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis.

Its a painful, itchy condition that afflicts more than 5 million Americanswho spend an estimated $5 billion a year on drugs and medical treatments to remedy their discomfort.

In the commercial, couples with smooth skin frolic in swimming pools and take dreamy walks in the woods.

Now is your chance for completely clear skin, the announcer says.

The commercial, and several others like it, are part of one of the most closely watched drug campaigns in recent years. Taltz, which hit the market last year, is taking on an armful of older treatments, including creams, lotions, pills and injectables, such as Amgens Enbrel and AbbVies Humira.

Lilly said the drug helped six times as many patients completely clear up their skin irritations as Enbrel, according to data it collected in two large trials dating back to 2006.

In the meantime, Lilly is also working aggressively to catch up to a competing drug called Cosentyx, which hit the market in 2015, beating Lilly to the punch by a year and already ringing up much higher sales.

For Lilly, the stakes are high. The companys traditional portfolio of once-brisk-selling products has slid into decline in recent years amid patent expirations. Sales of cancer drug Alimta tumbled 8 percent last year, while antidepressant Cymbalta fell 9 percent and antipsychotic Zyprexa plunged 23 percent.

Now, its up to new products like Taltz to pick up the slack. Last year, Taltz rang up worldwide sales of $113 million, the bulk of it in the fourth quarter. The Indianapolis drugmaker has spent millions of dollars and nearly a decade to develop and launch the drug.

Some experts say Taltz could become a blockbustera product that generates more than $1 billion a yearwithin a decade. Jami Rubin, a drug analyst at Goldman Sachs, predicts that sales of Taltz could hit $2.5 billion a year by 2025.

Lilly officials say the drug is off to a good start.

We are pleased with early uptake for Taltz, Dave Ricks, who took over as Lillys CEO in January, recently told analysts.

But Lillys efforts to turbocharge Taltz sales are just getting started. Last month, the company released 14 scientific papers on Taltz at the American Academy of Dermatologys annual meeting, touting the drugs benefits. One paper said Taltz outperformed a competing product, Johnson & Johnsons Stelara, in a head-to-head comparison after 24 weeks of treatment.

Lilly also is seeking approval to market the drug to treat joint pain and back stiffness, which could add billions of dollars more to the market opportunity.

The drug works by attacking psoriasis not just as a skin condition, but as a disorder of the bodys immune system. Psoriasis is caused by certain chemicals when they falsely sense the body is being attacked.

When theres a trigger, these chemicals become very excited, said Dr. Olawale Osuntokun, senior medical director for Lilly. Theyre a bit more active than they ought to be. And this results in the skin lesions that you see in plaque psoriasis.

Taltz works by using an antibody to inhibit a protein called interleukin 17, thus interrupting the chemical inflammation, he said.

Lilly says that up to 90 percent of psoriasis patients using Taltz have a significant improvement in their plaque, and about 40 percent achieve completely clear skin.

Its long-term sales prospects might hinge, in part, on whether doctors gravitate toward Taltz or Cosentyx, which also binds to interleukin 17.

Switzerland-based Novartis International AG won FDA approval for Cosentyx in January 2015, giving Novartis bragging rights for first-in-class.

Both drugs are biologicsgenetically engineered proteins derived from human genesand work well, dermatologists say.

Biologics in general have been highly effective and life-changing for many people with psoriasis, said Dr. Scott Fretzin, a dermatologist and partner at Dawes Fretzin Dermatology Group LLC in Indianapolis.

He and his partner, Dr. Ken Dawes, enrolled patients in clinical trials for Taltz. Fretzin said they were amazed by the results and that the drug provided the highest efficacy rate for treatment of psoriasis.

In my clinical practice, it has been shown to be extremely effective and really does work in almost everybody, Fretzin said.

With its big lead, Cosentyx had sales last year of $1.1 billion, and analysts forecast they might reach $2.9 billion a year by 2020.

Some observers think Lilly has more than a fighting chance to catch up. In November, U.S. dermatologists surveyed by research firm Spherix Global Insights reported a significant increase in familiarity with and use of Taltz.

The research firm concluded that current users of Taltz expected to double their use in the next three months, while one-third of non-users intend to try Taltz.

Though Cosentyx benefits from its first-to-market status and dermatologist comfort, Taltz appears to be making headway as a more efficacious option, with slightly more convenient dosing options and a high-quality patient support program, Spherix reported.

Novartis, of course, isnt backing down. This month, it released an analysis concluding that plaque-psoriasis patients treated with Cosentyx rapidly regained clear or almost clear skin following a short relapse caused by a treatment pause.

For patients, completely clear skin could be an expensive proposition. Lilly said the list price for Taltz is about $4,460 a month, or more than $53,000 a year. To make prices affordable, Lilly said, it has instituted a co-pay program for commercially insured patients that will cost $5 to $25 a month for the first two years.

Cosentyx is similarly priced. Its list price is $56,000 for an annual, 13-dose maintenance package. But Novartis said it offers financial assistance, and that patients without third-party insurance might qualify to receive the drug free through a company foundation.

Even so, plaque psoriasis is a chronic condition that needs regular attention, so treatments can last many years. For patients, that could mean years of expensive payments. For Lilly, it could mean a road to financial success.

Excerpt from:
Eli Lilly chasing psoriasis jackpot with Taltz - Indianapolis Business Journal

Asking questions, being your own advocate and not becoming complacent are just a few things that actress Katie Lowes wants to instill in those suffering from psoriasis, or any other disease for that matter.

The "Scandal" star, 35, spoke out for the first time on Thursday about her personal battle with the autoimmune disease that may be visible on the skin and publicized in treatment commercials, but something that most people don't know much about -- even those suffering from it. In fact, around 7.5 million Americans suffer from some form of the disease, according to the American Academy of Dermatology.

"You're not alone," she told ABC News of the disease, which is often characterized by often painful and itchy red blotches on the skin. "It's embarrassing. It's a chronic disease but it affects everyone differently."

Lowes was 28 when she was diagnosed and it interrupted an exciting time in her life.

"It was the best year of my life, I just booked 'Scandal,' I got engaged to my then-boyfriend, now-husband [Adam Shapiro] and I think the stress of that year, planning a wedding and having a high-pressure job, really triggered it," she said.

While some cases can be minor, Lowes said some cases can cover up to 90 percent of a person's body. In her case, psoriasis started on her scalp, went behind her neck and down her back. She felt uncomfortable on red carpets because of pictures, and even in hair and makeup for "Scandal," afraid somebody could tell what was going on.

"It can be incredibly painful. It can be limit your life and your lifestyle," she said, adding that some of those with the disease can't go to certain places because of the pain or even out of embarrassment.

One of the worst moments came when she had booked engagement photos and "I didn't show up ... that was kind of the straw that broke the camel's back." Right then and there she said she decided to kind of "Olivia Pope fix this situation."

With this in mind, Lowes has gotten together with the National Psoriasis Foundation for a campaign "Psoriasis: The Inside Story" to help educate and connect people.

"It's just a place where people can get on the site, further down the road, people will be able to share their own stories, it'll be a place where people can come and see what treatments are working for other people, who are being really brave and outspoken," she said.

Lowes also shared some wisdom from her experience, a yearlong journey, to help others. The first was, "Ask questions."

"I rode my doctor, man," she said, laughing. But on a serious note, she said that she tried creams first to combat the symptoms, but that wasn't enough. So, she says challenge your doctor, so that you can get to an even better place.

If your doctor isn't working out, she says, "be your own advocate."

"Be like, 'I've heard of this other doctor and I'm going to try them out,'" she added. "As somebody who has psoriasis, it's your job to constantly stay on top of these things. Talking to your doctor and talking to your doctor and just being proactive about your specific case."

The actress also eventually found a biologic treatment that works for her and that some foods act as a trigger or flare-ups.

"When I have any sort of diet that's high in sugar or yeast, I would find that my body would be very much out of wack," she added. "For me, it's also weather, it's also water. If you go somewhere on vacation and the water quality is different. But my biggest trigger is stress."

Finally, she said don't put your health second.

"A lot of times, I put my own personal health to the side, focusing on work or family or getting ahead," she said. "At the end of the day, you're just exhausted on your couch and haven't made that doctor's appointment, didn't make that phone call and feel terrible. No matter how small or large your symptoms are, you have to take time out of your day and make this a priority."

Though she obviously couldn't reveal any plot points, she shed a little light on what it's like to be on such a high-pressure, successful show.

"I have no idea what the end of this season is gonna bring," she said. "I do know Quinn [her character] is engaged to Charlie, a lot of personal life stuff happening with her, which I find very interesting, because the past couple seasons have been about her work life."

And there's always the fear of losing a character at any time.

"George Newbern, who plays Charlie, and I are constantly are like, 'Please, we'll break up, stay together, we just don't want to die,'" she joked. "I'm on a show where characters die and this is the best job in the world. It's just so scary."

As far as the future tone of the season, the current political landscape in Washington, D.C., may come into play, but not how you would think.

"It did affect our season in that it changed the tone of our season," she said. "The writers were possibly going down and exploring very dark sides of characters and I think they are now more interested in exploring hope. In our political landscape with a lot of ups and downs, people just need a little bit more of a hero. So, it's just changing the tone a bit."

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'Scandal' star Katie Lowes opens up about her personal battle with psoriasis - ABC News