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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.
National Psoriasis Foundation statement on biologics and JAMA coverage
Portland, Ore., Dec. 21, 2003—The National Psoriasis Foundation today issued the following statement in response to psoriasis coverage in the Journal of the American Medical Association published on December 17:
The National Psoriasis Foundation is pleased to see that another biologic medication is showing promise for the 5 million Americans with psoriasis. Every new treatment option gives psoriasis patients hope. For too long, many people have not been able to find satisfactory relief from this challenging, incurable and often debilitating disease.
We certainly agree with the editorial that long-term monitoring of the safety of biologics, as with any new medication, is highly important, and we stand ready to encourage our members to participate in such long-term studies.
While we expect ongoing debate within the medical profession about the "ideal" treatment regimen for patients with psoriasis, we continue to believe that those decisions are best made by each patient together with the patien's physician. There are simply too many variables unique to each patient to make blanket characterizations that presume one treatment approach is appropriate for all cases. Physicians and patients need as many therapeutic options as possible, particularly for treating moderate to severe psoriasis, taking into consideration all factors, including (but not limited to) effectiveness, safety, cost and lifestyle restrictions.
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 involves 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.
Media inquiries:
Marketing and Communications Department
National Psoriasis Foundation
503.244.7404, ext. 413
pfasano@psoriasis.org
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