News and Events Press Releases

The latest news releases from the National Psoriasis Foundation on research developments into psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis, National Psoriasis Foundation events for its members and the public and other relevant happenings.

Psoriasis Foundation receives gift from Biogen

Portland, Ore., Sept. 10, 2003�The National Psoriasis Foundation received a gift of $20,000 from the biotechnology company Biogen at the International Psoriasis Symposium in late June in New York. The unrestricted gift was presented to the Psoriasis Foundation in honor of Biogen's 25th anniversary and will be used to support the Psoriasis Foundation�s mission.

Doug Abel, vice president of Amevive sales and marketing, Eric Kimble, director of Amevive marketing, and Michael Zuccala, Amevive marketing manager, presented the award to Gail Zimmerman, Psoriasis Foundation president and CEO, and Sheila Rittenberg, Psoriasis Foundation senior director of corporate and foundation relations.

"The National Psoriasis Foundation Board of Trustees, staff and volunteers so appreciate the generosity of Biogen in supporting the mission of the Psoriasis Foundation," Zimmerman said. "This gift in honor of the company�s anniversary is further manifestation of the generous spirit of Biogen and its desire to advance the welfare of the patient community."

About Psoriasis
Psoriasis is a lifelong skin disease that occurs when faulty signals in the immune system cause skin cells to regenerate too quickly-every three to four days instead of the usual 30-day cycle. Extra skin cells build up on the skin's surface, forming red, flaky, scaly lesions that can itch, crack, bleed and be extremely painful. Psoriasis generally appears on the joints, limbs and scalp but it can appear anywhere on the body, covering some people from head to toe. More than 5 million Americans have been diagnosed with psoriasis and/or psoriatic arthritis, a degenerative disease of the joints and connective tissues associated with psoriasis. Psoriasis typically first strikes people between the ages of 15 and 35, but can affect anyone at any age, including children.

About the National Psoriasis Foundation
The National Psoriasis Foundation is the leading nonprofit organization fighting to improve the quality of life of the more than 5 million Americans diagnosed with psoriasis and/or psoriatic arthritis and their families. Sustained by annual contributions from nearly 50,000 members as well as corporate and foundation grants, its mission is to educate people about these diseases and their treatments, raise public awareness, and support ongoing research. The organization is headquartered in Portland, Ore. For more information, please call the Psoriasis Foundation at 800.723.9166 or visit http://www.psoriasis.org.