A new drug for the treatment of severe chronic plaque psoriasis is to become available on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) soon, federal Health Minister Tony Abbott said.
The drug Raptiva will become available on April 1 for those patients who have exhausted other treatment options or had an inadequate response from them.
Mr Abbott said so-called refractory chronic plaque psoriasis is a disfiguring and disabling condition that affects about 17,000 Australians.
"It has a major impact on the quality of life, social relationships and participation in daily life of these patients," he said in a statement.
Mr Abbott said it was estimated about 6,000 people would start Raptiva in the first full financial year of listing.
He said the annual cost to the PBS for Raptiva would be about $12,700 per patient and its listing would add about $171 million to PBS expenditure between 2005-06 and 2008-09.
Tuesday, February 28, 2006
Friday, February 24, 2006
New Therapies May Offer Psoriasis Sufferers Some Relief
It’s a new era for patients covered in the itchy, scaly skin disease psoriasis. After years with few good treatments, doctors finally have a handful of therapies that promise to help control the incurable condition with fewer bad side effects.
What changed? Scientists learned that psoriasis isn’t just a skin-deep disorder but a dysfunction of the immune system, so the new therapies target the real culprit.
“Five to six years ago, I was telling my patients it was the wasteland,” says Dr. Craig Leonardi of St. Louis University Medical School, who participated in studies of the new treatments. “Now there’s this huge explosion of amazing drugs coming forward.”
The new options don’t help everyone, cautions Dr. Michael Tharp, dermatology chief at Chicago’s Rush University Medical Center. And they’re very expensive, costing $10,000 a year or more.
But, “it’s a great first step,” Tharp says. “Now we’ve got very directed molecules and know where they work and how they work. ... I hope it is just the beginning.”
Two unique psoriasis shots, Amevive and Raptiva, recently won Food and Drug Administration approval. Two drugs already sold to treat other conditions — Enbrel and Remicade — are used against psoriasis, too. A list of other potential treatments is under study.
Keeping symptoms at bayThe four newest options haven’t yet been compared to each other, but because each works somewhat differently, specialists expect hard-to-treat patients to find some relief among the bunch.
Some 4.5 million Americans have psoriasis. Of those, 1.5 million suffer moderate to severe symptoms — their skin covered in red or white scaly patches that burn and itch. It’s triggered when certain immune system cells, called memory effector T cells, run amok, causing skin cells to multiply faster than normal and become inflamed.
It can be life-altering.
“I wouldn’t wear anything but long-legged pants and long-sleeved shirts because I got so tired of people asking me questions,” says Lyle Newcomb, 60, of Milwaukie, Ore., who tried every treatment without success. “You don’t allow yourself to get real close to anybody because you don’t know how they’re going to accept it.”
Then Newcomb entered a study of Raptiva. “I had never been clear of psoriasis in my life, but I was totally clear in three weeks,” and, two years later, weekly shots keep symptoms at bay.
Ointments and light therapy — ultraviolet beams, sometimes with light-sensitizing drugs, a few times a week — are effective for milder psoriasis.
Until now, severely hit patients had two powerful options, each with serious side effects. The immune suppressor cyclosporine, commonly used to prevent rejection of transplanted organs, can destroy kidneys. Inflammation-suppressing methotrexate, also used for cancer and rheumatoid arthritis, can cause liver damage.
Fewer risks and side effectsThe new biologically engineered treatments promise more targeted therapy without those risks:
Amevive and Raptiva interfere with the harmful T cells, dramatically clearing psoriasis lesions in 20 percent to 40 percent of patients.
Amevive causes those T cells to die, explaining why some people’s symptoms don’t return for months after a three-month course of weekly shots. About 3,500 patients have begun Amevive since FDA approval in January, says maker Biogen Inc. The intramuscular shots are given in a doctor’s office.
In contrast, Raptiva keeps harmful immune cells from getting into and inflaming skin, so patients must take it indefinitely. Sales will begin by Thanksgiving, say makers Genentech Inc. and Xoma Ltd. Patients give themselves weekly under-the-skin shots.
That difference means more than convenience; some insurance pays for in-office therapy but not at-home drugs.
Instead of targeting T cells, Enbrel and Remicade inhibit a protein, TNF, that’s crucial to inflammation. FDA-approved for certain types of arthritis, some doctors already use the drugs for psoriasis’ skin lesions. The FDA now is evaluating Enbrel injections for that use; a final-stage study of intravenous Remicade is about to begin.
Specialists call the four new treatments largely safe but acknowledge that even mildly tinkering with the immune system for years might spur infections or cancer. “We’re crossing our fingers,” Tharp says.
That plus their huge cost means the new drugs are reserved for the worst patients. For less severe psoriasis sufferers, “we’re back in the stone ages,” Tharp says, urging companies to study better options for them, too.
What changed? Scientists learned that psoriasis isn’t just a skin-deep disorder but a dysfunction of the immune system, so the new therapies target the real culprit.
“Five to six years ago, I was telling my patients it was the wasteland,” says Dr. Craig Leonardi of St. Louis University Medical School, who participated in studies of the new treatments. “Now there’s this huge explosion of amazing drugs coming forward.”
The new options don’t help everyone, cautions Dr. Michael Tharp, dermatology chief at Chicago’s Rush University Medical Center. And they’re very expensive, costing $10,000 a year or more.
But, “it’s a great first step,” Tharp says. “Now we’ve got very directed molecules and know where they work and how they work. ... I hope it is just the beginning.”
Two unique psoriasis shots, Amevive and Raptiva, recently won Food and Drug Administration approval. Two drugs already sold to treat other conditions — Enbrel and Remicade — are used against psoriasis, too. A list of other potential treatments is under study.
Keeping symptoms at bayThe four newest options haven’t yet been compared to each other, but because each works somewhat differently, specialists expect hard-to-treat patients to find some relief among the bunch.
Some 4.5 million Americans have psoriasis. Of those, 1.5 million suffer moderate to severe symptoms — their skin covered in red or white scaly patches that burn and itch. It’s triggered when certain immune system cells, called memory effector T cells, run amok, causing skin cells to multiply faster than normal and become inflamed.
It can be life-altering.
“I wouldn’t wear anything but long-legged pants and long-sleeved shirts because I got so tired of people asking me questions,” says Lyle Newcomb, 60, of Milwaukie, Ore., who tried every treatment without success. “You don’t allow yourself to get real close to anybody because you don’t know how they’re going to accept it.”
Then Newcomb entered a study of Raptiva. “I had never been clear of psoriasis in my life, but I was totally clear in three weeks,” and, two years later, weekly shots keep symptoms at bay.
Ointments and light therapy — ultraviolet beams, sometimes with light-sensitizing drugs, a few times a week — are effective for milder psoriasis.
Until now, severely hit patients had two powerful options, each with serious side effects. The immune suppressor cyclosporine, commonly used to prevent rejection of transplanted organs, can destroy kidneys. Inflammation-suppressing methotrexate, also used for cancer and rheumatoid arthritis, can cause liver damage.
Fewer risks and side effectsThe new biologically engineered treatments promise more targeted therapy without those risks:
Amevive and Raptiva interfere with the harmful T cells, dramatically clearing psoriasis lesions in 20 percent to 40 percent of patients.
Amevive causes those T cells to die, explaining why some people’s symptoms don’t return for months after a three-month course of weekly shots. About 3,500 patients have begun Amevive since FDA approval in January, says maker Biogen Inc. The intramuscular shots are given in a doctor’s office.
In contrast, Raptiva keeps harmful immune cells from getting into and inflaming skin, so patients must take it indefinitely. Sales will begin by Thanksgiving, say makers Genentech Inc. and Xoma Ltd. Patients give themselves weekly under-the-skin shots.
That difference means more than convenience; some insurance pays for in-office therapy but not at-home drugs.
Instead of targeting T cells, Enbrel and Remicade inhibit a protein, TNF, that’s crucial to inflammation. FDA-approved for certain types of arthritis, some doctors already use the drugs for psoriasis’ skin lesions. The FDA now is evaluating Enbrel injections for that use; a final-stage study of intravenous Remicade is about to begin.
Specialists call the four new treatments largely safe but acknowledge that even mildly tinkering with the immune system for years might spur infections or cancer. “We’re crossing our fingers,” Tharp says.
That plus their huge cost means the new drugs are reserved for the worst patients. For less severe psoriasis sufferers, “we’re back in the stone ages,” Tharp says, urging companies to study better options for them, too.
Wednesday, February 22, 2006
The Effects of Psoriasis
Psoriasis is a chronic skin condition affecting approximately 4.5 million people in the United States.
New skin cells grow too rapidly, resulting in inflamed, swollen, scaly patches of skin in areas where the old skin has not shed quickly enough.
Psoriasis can be limited to a few spots or can involve more extensive areas of the body, appearing most commonly on the scalp, knees, elbows and trunk.
Psoriasis is not a contagious disease. The cause of psoriasis is unknown, and there currently is no cure.
Psoriasis can strike people at any age, but the average age of onset is approximately 28 years. Likewise, it affects both men and women, with a slightly higher prevalence in women than in men.
Approximately 30 percent of people with psoriasis are estimated to have moderate-to-severe forms of the disease.
Psoriasis can be a physically and emotionally painful condition. It often results in physical limitations, disfiguration and a significant burden in managing the daily care of the disease.
Psoriasis sufferers may feel embarrassed, angry, frustrated, fearful, depressed and, in some cases, even suicidal.
New skin cells grow too rapidly, resulting in inflamed, swollen, scaly patches of skin in areas where the old skin has not shed quickly enough.
Psoriasis can be limited to a few spots or can involve more extensive areas of the body, appearing most commonly on the scalp, knees, elbows and trunk.
Psoriasis is not a contagious disease. The cause of psoriasis is unknown, and there currently is no cure.
Psoriasis can strike people at any age, but the average age of onset is approximately 28 years. Likewise, it affects both men and women, with a slightly higher prevalence in women than in men.
Approximately 30 percent of people with psoriasis are estimated to have moderate-to-severe forms of the disease.
Psoriasis can be a physically and emotionally painful condition. It often results in physical limitations, disfiguration and a significant burden in managing the daily care of the disease.
Psoriasis sufferers may feel embarrassed, angry, frustrated, fearful, depressed and, in some cases, even suicidal.
Tuesday, February 14, 2006
Aging Population Drives Prescription Dermatological Growth
The aging of the worldwide population and a focus on lifestyle treatments that revitalize youthfulness and stave off skin damage are the driving forces behind a healthy prescription dermatological drug market, which should see sales jump to $11.1 billion by 2010, according to
a new study from the market research firm Kalorama Information, a division of MarketResearch.com, the leading provider of industry-specific market research reports.
With 2005 sales reaching $8.4 billion, The Worldwide Market for Prescription Dermatological Drugs predicts that sales in the antiaging, photodamage, hair treatment, psoriasis, and skin cancer segments will grow further at a rate of 5.7% over the next four years as consumer demand for newer and better derma drugs continues to increase as the aging population struggles to deal with a myriad of skin disorders and diseases.
While sales of prescription acne, Rosacea, dermatitis, seborrhea, and hyperpigmentation/melasma products have continued to perform well-although with slower growth rates during the last five years as many of these drugs are older or have lost patent protection-the overall market has been bolstered by recent trends in cosmeceuticals, a favorite among aging Baby Boomers.
"The aging population is better educated and wants to see results-whether they have wrinkles, skin cancer, or psoriasis. Today's consumers are savvy to innovative dermatological treatments, derma drug delivery developments, and new prescription drug information which is widely available on the internet," notes Mary Anne Crandall, RN, the author of the final report. "This has changed the face of dermatology as cosmetic dermatology is now in vogue and manufacturers are racing to find new treatments to satiate public demand."
With 2005 sales reaching $8.4 billion, The Worldwide Market for Prescription Dermatological Drugs predicts that sales in the antiaging, photodamage, hair treatment, psoriasis, and skin cancer segments will grow further at a rate of 5.7% over the next four years as consumer demand for newer and better derma drugs continues to increase as the aging population struggles to deal with a myriad of skin disorders and diseases.
While sales of prescription acne, Rosacea, dermatitis, seborrhea, and hyperpigmentation/melasma products have continued to perform well-although with slower growth rates during the last five years as many of these drugs are older or have lost patent protection-the overall market has been bolstered by recent trends in cosmeceuticals, a favorite among aging Baby Boomers.
"The aging population is better educated and wants to see results-whether they have wrinkles, skin cancer, or psoriasis. Today's consumers are savvy to innovative dermatological treatments, derma drug delivery developments, and new prescription drug information which is widely available on the internet," notes Mary Anne Crandall, RN, the author of the final report. "This has changed the face of dermatology as cosmetic dermatology is now in vogue and manufacturers are racing to find new treatments to satiate public demand."
Tuesday, February 07, 2006
Options In Psoriasis Skin Care
Dermatitis-Ltd III. is a great option for individuals whose skin has been left sensitive and delicate by over-the-counter or prescription medications which often are messy, smelly, stain clothing, or thin the skin such as steroids. Skin appears more conditioned, even, elastic, and calm with Dermatitis-Ltd III. The ingredients of Dermatitis-Ltd are: zinc oxide, sodium chloride, magnesium stearate, polyethylene glycol, iron oxide, copper oxide, and sulfur. Zinc oxide is well known for its ability to protect and heal the skin.
Friday, February 03, 2006
Psoriasis Has Been Around For Thousands Of Years
Psoriasis has been around since the days of Greek mythology, more than 2,500 years ago. It was considered a curse from the gods.The Bible refers to psoriasis but mistakenly calls it leprosy. For hundreds of years, people with the disease were ostracized and forced to wander as homeless beggars. Some had to wear warning bells so others could avoid their paths. Some suffered the same fate as lepers, who were burned at the stake in the 14th century."Amazingly, psoriasis was a disease that had been misunderstood for more than 2,000 years before it was clearly defined (in the early 1800s) and named what we know it as today."
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