Congress takes on nation's most prevelent autoimmune disease

Millions of Americans hoping for a psoriasis cure

WASHINGTON, D.C. (March 11, 2009)—Psoriasis, the most prevalent autoimmune disease in the United States, affecting as many as 7.5 million Americans, will get a much-needed federal investment in medical research dollars if U.S. Sen. Robert Menendez (D-N.J.) has his way.

The Psoriasis and Psoriatic Arthritis Research Cure and Care Act (PPARCCA) of 2009, introduced by Menendez today, advances the nation’s efforts to find a cure for this disease and sheds new light on what many people believe is "just a skin rash." U.S. Rep. David Wu (D-Ore.-1st) introduced the House version of the bill in February.

A noncontagious, chronic, painful and disabling genetic disease, psoriasis is now being seen as a serious medical condition warranting sophisticated care and therapies. Up to 30 percent of people with psoriasis develop psoriatic arthritis, which causes pain, stiffness and swelling in and around the joints. "Unfortunately, the nation is not making the progress necessary to improve current treatments and to find a cure," said Menendez.

New research shows that individuals suffering with psoriasis have increased risks for Crohn’s disease, diabetes, metabolic syndrome, obesity, hypertension, heart attack, cardiovascular disease and liver disease. Studies also indicate that individuals with psoriasis often have increased thoughts of suicide. Most startling is that people with severe psoriasis will die an average of six years sooner than those without the disease.

This legislation, first introduced in 2007, calls on the National Institutes of Health to continue to expand biomedical research on psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis, and urges the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to strengthen data collection by establishing a patient registry. The bill also encourages the federal government to convene a summit on psoriasis and direct the Institute of Medicine to issue a report on access to care for people with psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis.

Psoriasis usually strikes between ages 15 to 25 and lasts a lifetime. Treating psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis presents a challenge for patients and their health care providers because no one treatment works for everyone, some treatments lose effectiveness over time, many treatments used are in combination with other treatments, and all treatments may cause a unique set of side effects that prevent people from functioning normally.

Although new and more effective treatments are becoming available, too many people do not yet have access to the types of therapies that may make a significant difference in the quality of their lives.

Each year, Americans with psoriasis lose approximately 56 million hours of work and spend $2 billion to $3 billion to treat the disease. Total direct and indirect health care costs of psoriasis for patients are calculated at $11.25 billion annually, with work loss accounting for 40 percent of the cost burden.

"Of the 7.5 million Americans with psoriasis, there are nearly 219,000 people in New Jersey alone that have psoriasis or psoriatic arthritis," said Menendez. "Psoriasis is not a cosmetic issue, it is a serious autoimmune disease that lasts a lifetime and frequently occurs with a range of other health concerns. We must find a cure."

"While the national investment in psoriasis has increased recently, government funding is still not keeping pace with research needs. With the reintroduction of this bill in the Senate, we are one step closer to finding a cure for psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis," said Dan Farrington, chair of the National Psoriasis Foundation Board of Trustees Advocacy Committee. "I commend Senator Menendez for recognizing the negative impact psoriatic diseases have on the physical, financial and emotional health of millions, and sponsoring this important bill."

Grammy Award-winning artist LeAnn Rimes is on Capitol Hill today to share her personal story about growing up with psoriasis, and encourage lawmakers to pass this important legislation. Rimes was first diagnosed with psoriasis at age 2. Throughout her childhood, her condition worsened to the extent that Rimes was covered with itchy, painful lesions on about 80 percent of her body.

To learn more about the Psoriasis and Psoriatic Arthritis Research Cure and Care Act of 2009, visit the National Psoriasis Foundation Web site, www.psoriasis.org.

The National Psoriasis Foundation is the world's largest nonprofit patient advocacy organization dedicated to fighting psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis, and the voice for millions of Americans who are affected by these diseases. Our mission is to find a cure for psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis and to eliminate their devastating effects through research, advocacy and education. For more information, call the Psoriasis Foundation, headquartered in Portland, Ore., at 800.723.9166, or visit www.psoriasis.org.