Report: Winter AAD
65th Annual Meeting of the American Academy of Dermatology
From March/April 2007 Psoriasis Advance
Every year, the National Psoriasis Foundation has the opportunity to connect
with the medical professional community at the annual meeting of the American Academy
of Dermatology (AAD)—the largest professional meeting of dermatologists in the United States.
It's an opportunity to share knowledge,
learn about the latest psoriasis research and
communicate with others about the work we do.
The Psoriasis Foundation played an active role
in AAD's 65th annual meeting held Feb. 2-6,
2007, in Washington, D.C. We announced the
National Psoriasis Victor Henschel BioBank to the
medical community, distributed publications and
educational materials from our exhibit booth and
met with our corporate partners to discuss joint
initiatives for the coming year. We also hosted
a reception thanking members of the medical
community who have supported us throughout
the past year.
An educational session dedicated to psoriasis was
chaired by Steven Feldman, M.D., Ph.D., from
Wake Forest University School of Medicine. This
session focused on treatment options for psoriasis,
including topicals, phototherapy, systemics and
biologics.
Liz Horn, Ph.D., Psoriasis Foundation director of
research, presented our latest patient survey data
at a well-attended psoriasis symposium, reporting
that nearly 40 percent of patients surveyed were
not currently receiving any treatment. Of those
being treated, nearly 60 percent of patients with
severe psoriasis are on topicals alone. (See story
below.) She reported on another Foundation
survey that showed that severe psoriasis was
associated with decreased household income.
Many poster exhibits focused specifically
on psoriasis, including studies of drugs in
development, drugs currently available for
psoriasis and the burden of disease. Highlights
follow, with the name of the drug manufacturer
at the end of each segment. You can continue to
track research by visiting the companies' Web
sites.
Drugs in development for psoriasis
Phase III data was presented for the first time
on certolizumab pegol (Cimzia), the newest
TNF-inhibitor in clinical trials. Participants in
the trial received placebo or one of two doses of
certolizumab pegol, 200 milligram (mg) or 400
mg every two weeks for 12 weeks. At week 12,
75 percent improvement in psoriasis severity
scores was achieved by 75 percent (200 mg dose)
and 83 percent (400 mg dose) of participants,
respectively, compared to 7 percent of those on
placebo. The drug was well-tolerated and the
overall safety profile was similar to other drugs in
this class. (Company: UCB)
Phase III data was released for adalimumab
(Humira) showing adalimumab was effective and
well-tolerated for patients with psoriasis. At week
16, 75 percent improvement in psoriasis severity
scores was achieved by 71 percent of participants
receiving 40 mg of adalimumab every other week
compared to 7 percent of those receiving placebo.
Those who achieved 75 percent improvement
continued with adalimumab treatment every other
week until week 33, and their improvement was
maintained. Adalimumab was well-tolerated, as
adverse events were low during the 52-week study.
(Company: Abbott)
Drugs currently approved for psoriasis
A phase IV study of efalizumab (Raptiva) was
conducted in hand and foot psoriasis. At week
12, approximately 46 percent of patients receiving
1 mg/kg/week of efalizumab were rated as clear,
almost clear or mild compared to 18 percent of
those receiving placebo. Efalizumab was welltolerated
during the study, suggesting it is an
effective option for this difficult-to-treat patient
subpopulation. (Company: Genentech)
Data was presented on the first phase III
trial of etanercept (Enbrel) in children age 4 to
17 years old. This is the first biologic studied
for psoriasis in children. Results of the trial will
be released in the coming months. (Company:
Amgen and Wyeth)
Data was presented from a new analysis of
three clinical trials of infliximab (Remicade),
showing that infliximab is an effective treatment
for severe psoriasis. At week 10, 75 percent
improvement in psoriasis severity scores was
achieved by more than three-quarters of trial
participants compared to 3 percent or less of the
placebo group. In another study examining nail
psoriasis, 45 percent of trial participants achieved
disease clearance at week 50, while only 5 percent
of the placebo group achieved these results at week
24. Infliximab was well-tolerated in these studies.
(Company: Centocor)
Foundation plays role in nurses' convention
The 25th Annual Convention of the Dermatology
Nurses' Association was held Feb.1-4, 2007, in
Arlington, Va. The National Psoriasis Foundation
staffed an exhibit booth to distribute materials to
nurses, and displayed a poster on the burden
of the disease. Working with nurses is essential
to our outreach to the medical professional
community.
Psoriasis Foundation data sheds light on undertreated patients
Nearly 40 percent of people with
moderate to severe psoriasis are not
currently receiving any treatment. This
data from National Psoriasis Foundation surveys
was the topic of talks and a poster presentation at
the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD)
meeting in Washington, D.C.
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Liz Horn, Ph.D., director of research, presents patient survey data
at AAD.
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Psoriasis Foundation Research Director Liz Horn,
Ph.D., who presented the data, said the survey
results came as a surprise to the dermatology
community. "While it's early to say what the data
means, it raises questions," she said. "We don't
know why yet, but we do know that there are
people who aren't in treatment at all and others
who are being treated, but not adequately."
The surveys, conducted from 2003 through 2005,
found that more than half of moderate to severe
patients on treatment are not being treated as
recommended by AAD therapy guidelines. Of
those treated, 57 percent of patients with severe
psoriasis are receiving topical treatments alone.
According to AAD, patients diagnosed with
chronic moderate to severe plaque psoriasis
are candidates for systemic therapy, including
biologic agents or phototherapy. Despite the
increased number of treatment options available
to patients, findings showed no significant change
in treatment patterns across three survey years.
"The data has identified a need, and we will be
working with others in the medical community,
so that we can help patients get appropriate
treatment," said Horn.
The research was funded by the Psoriasis Foundation, and Amgen and Wyeth.
Making treatment decisions
Finding the right treatment for your psoriasis
begins with a visit to a dermatologist. Many
factors should be considered. In discussing
treatment options, you may want to ask your
doctor the following questions:
- How long has this treatment been used for
psoriasis?
- How quickly will the treatment work?
- What are the most common side effects of
the treatment?
- Will I take or apply this drug continuously?
- What are the potential benefits of the
treatment?
- What are the potential risks?
- Can I use/take this medicine for a short
time, just to clear my psoriasis, and then
use something else to control my psoriasis?
- Can this treatment be combined with
another to make it more effective or
decrease side effects?
- Can this treatment be stopped suddenly, or
do I need to stop it gradually?
- What will the treatment cost?
- If I decide against this treatment, what are
my other options?
- Can I take this treatment if I am trying to
get pregnant?
- Do I need to stop treatment if I am pregnant
or nursing?
To learn more about treatments, click here.
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