Manchester is today celebrating success after securing £12.5million of Government funding for clinical research.

Three leading hospital trusts, working closely with the University of Manchester, have been awarded the money to carry out research into many of the major diseases and illnesses that affect the population of Greater Manchester and the wider North West.

The three Clinical Research Facilities that will receive funding are:

#1 Central Manchester University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust who will use the £5.5 million funding to support studies for people with diseases such as arthritis, psoriasis, depression, addiction, and diabetes.
   
#2 The Christie NHS Foundation Trust who will use the £4.5million funding to support early-stage trials of treatments for people with cancer.
   
#3 University Hospital of South Manchester NHS Foundation Trust who will use the £2.5million funding to support early-stage trials of treatments for people with lung diseases such as asthma, fungal infection, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and also food allergies.

Researchers believe the success of these bids reflects the scale of expertise in conducting clinical trials in NHS organisations in Manchester and the University of Manchester which collectively form MAHSC (Manchester Academic Health Science Centre).

Professor Ian Jacobs is Director of MAHSC and Vice President of the University of Manchester. He believes this is a Red Letter Day for Manchester and further enhances the reputation of the city as a leading international centre for healthcare and health science.

He explains: “An extraordinary level of collaborative joint working has been achieved which makes it possible to conduct trials of the highest quality, on a large scale in a broad range of health areas including cancer, respiratory, neurological, cardiovascular, musculoskeletal and inflammatory disorders. This funding will lead to new healthcare innovations which will be rapidly applied for the benefit of our population through the MAHSC partnership.”

NHS Trusts and Foundation Trusts with clinical research facilities submitted bids for the funding, which were judged by a panel of UK experts in both medical research and in running clinical research facilities. Winning bids were selected on the basis of the quality and volume of world-class medical research they support as well as other criteria including the strength of their partnerships with universities and industry

Secretary of State for Health, Andrew Lansley says: “Both public and patients think it’s important that the NHS should support research into new treatments, and we agree. That’s why we’re investing over £100m in research facilities, nurses and technicians to help make the NHS a world-class place to do research.

Source: mahsc.ac.uk

Researchers have found that ustekinumab (Stelara, Janssen Biotech, Inc.), a novel interleukin 12 (IL-12) and IL-23 antagonist, has a favorable benefit–risk profile for up to 3 years of treatment for moderate to severe psoriasis.

Because many patients with psoriasis require decades of treatment, researchers are particularly concerned with finding therapies that will retain their efficacy without causing serious adverse effects. "Chronic use of conventional systemic therapies has been associated with a hazard of cumulative end-organ toxicities (e.g., hepatotoxicity with methotrexate and nephrotoxicity with cyclosporine)," the authors write.

Ustekinumab is a fully human monoclonal antibody that works by binding to the shared p40 subunit of IL-12 and IL-23. The current report is a long-term extension of the Psoriasis Followed by Long-Term Extension (PHOENIX) 1 study, a phase 3, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial that initially evaluated ustekinumab through 76 weeks of treatment. The report focuses on efficacy through 3 years because 4 other trials have reported detailed information on the drug's safety during that period.

The researchers performed analyses of clinical efficacy in the following groups:

# the overall study population,
# early responders who maintained dosing every 12 weeks through 3 years,
# responders who were withdrawn from therapy and who were subsequently retreated, and
# partial responders who had the dosing interval changed from every 12 weeks to every 8 weeks.

The First 76 Weeks

The PHOENIX 1 study included 766 patients with moderate-to-severe psoriasis who were randomly assigned to receive placebo or ustekinumab 45 mg or 90 mg at week 0, week 4, and every 12 weeks after that (period 1: week 0 - week 12). At week 12, patients in the placebo group crossed over to receive ustekinumab 45 mg or 90 mg at week 12, week 16, and every 12 weeks after that (period 2: week 12 - week 40). Starting at week 28, treatment was based on treatment response:

Responders were participants whose scores on the Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI) improved by at least 75% (PASI75) at both week 28 and week 40.
Partial responders were patients whose PASI scores improved by from 50% to 74% (PASI50-74) at week 28, or by less than 75% (< PASI75) at week 40.
Nonresponders were patients with less than 50% PASI (< PASI50) improvement at week 28.

At week 40, responders who were randomly assigned to receive ustekinumab at baseline were rerandomized either to keep receiving ustekinumab every 12 weeks or to withdraw from treatment (period 3: week 40 - week 76), with follow-up through 3 years (period 4: week 76 - year 3).

Responders who were randomly assigned to receive placebo at baseline were withdrawn from treatment at week 40, with follow-up through 3 years.

At the time of psoriasis recurrence (loss of ≥50% of PASI improvement achieved at week 40), patients who had been withdrawn from therapy were retreated with 2 doses of ustekinumab 4 weeks apart, followed by administration every 12 weeks thereafter.

The dosing interval was shortened to every 8 weeks in partial responders, and treatment was withdrawn in nonresponders.

Weeks 77 Through Year 3

Of the 766 patients enrolled in the study, 753 received at least 1 dose of ustekinumab, and 601 (79.8%) of those continued in the study through year 3.

At week 76, PASI75 response was achieved by 61.2% (45 mg) and 72.4% (90 mg), and these results remained consistent through year 3.

In the overall population, PASI90 responses remained stable through year 3 with stable maintenance dosing and no evidence of decreasing response (45 mg: 33.9% at week 76 and 36.1% at year 3; 90 mg: 44.9% and 45.5%, respectively). Similarly, the median PASI improvement was relatively stable (45 mg: 82.4% at week 76 and 83.6% at year 3; 90 mg: 87.2% and 88.4%, respectively), and PGA response of 0 or 1 remained consistent as well (cleared or minimal; 45 mg: 43.6% and 42.6%; 90 mg: 54.9% and 52.5%).

Among initial responders who received treatment every 12 weeks, more than 80% maintained PASI75 response through week 76 (45 mg: 81.8%; 90mg: 86.6%). This response rate was sustained through year 3 (45 mg: 80.9%; 90 mg: 82.7%). Most (93.3%) of these patients had PASI50 improvement or greater through year 3. Significant proportions of patients experienced PASI90 (45 mg: 42.6%; 90 mg: 58.0%) and PASI100 (45 mg: 22.1%; 90 mg: 38.3%) responses through year 3.

Approximately 50% of the patients withdrawn from treatment lost PASI75 response within approximately 16 weeks of their last treatment.

Scores on the Dermatology Life Quality Index paralleled clinical improvements for the most part.

Initial partial responders had their dosing interval shortened from every 12 weeks to every 8 weeks, and about half of those achieved and maintained (45 mg: 50.9%) or improved (90 mg: 52.0%) PASI 75 response through year 3.

"Ustekinumab was generally well-tolerated through up to 3 years of follow-up, as most [adverse events] were mild, non-serious, and did not require treatment discontinuation," the authors write.

"The safety profile of ustekinumab through up to 3 years of treatment appears generally favorable, is consistent with previous observations through week 76 and compares favorably with other biologics," they add.

"Importantly, no evidence of cumulative organ toxicities that may limit the long-term utility of conventional systemic agents was observed."

"These results continue to support the favorable benefit-risk profile of ustekinumab in the treatment of moderate-to-severe psoriasis with continuous, stable maintenance dosing through 3 years of therapy. High level efficacy and a consistent safety profile were sustained over time," write the authors.

Jeffrey Weinberg, MD, director of clinical research in the Department of Dermatology at Beth Israel Medical Center in New York City, commented on the study in a telephone interview with Medscape Medical News. He explained that the biggest question dermatologists have is whether a drug is safe to use long-term, and that although this is a small cohort of people, it is "a good thing to see is that there are no new side effects, and no increase in side effects that are noted as time goes on."

"This is what we need with a new drug. We need to observe a new drug as it continues to be used in individuals and as it's used in practice, and be very observant for long-term safety," Dr. Weinberg said.

"What they have provided so far is very encouraging. It just needs longer-term follow-up and analysis of how the drug does as it's used in more and more people," concluded Dr. Weinberg.

Source: medscape.com

Proximagen Group plc (AIM: PRX), the rapidly growing company with a focus on the treatment of disorders of the central nervous system (CNS) and inflammatory diseases, announces that it had commenced dosing in a Phase I clinical trial of PRX167700, a Vascular Adhesion Protein-1 (VAP-1) antagonist, for the treatment of inflammation in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and psoriasis.

Proximagen’s PRX167700 is an oral drug candidate that is expected to work by regulating the movement of immune cells from the blood into sites of inflammation, thereby modulating the underlying inflammatory process and relieving the symptoms of inflammation. This mode of action provides the potential for a disease modifying effect, whereby modulating the movement of the damaging immune cells to the sites of inflammation also stops further damage caused by the disease.

In addition to efficacy shown in models of RA, PRX167700 has demonstrated efficacy in models of multiple sclerosis and inflammatory pain. Regulating the movement of immune cells is also important in these two diseases, indicating that PRX167700 has potential utility in multiple disease areas of high unmet medical need.

This Phase I trial is a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled study to assess the safety, tolerability and pharmacokinetics of single and multiple ascending oral doses of PRX167700 in healthy male subjects, and the effect of food on the pharmacokinetics of a single oral dose of the drug. The study will also investigate the relationship between the pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic effects of single and multiple ascending oral doses of PRX167700. The first results are anticipated in 2012.

Source: proximagen.com

Creabilis SA, a European biotechnology company specialising in the development of treatments for dermatology, inflammation and pain, today announced the start of the Phase IIb global clinical trial of its lead product CT327 in patients with psoriasis vulgaris. Recruitment is progressing well.

CT327 is a novel topically applied TrkA kinase inhibitor developed using Creabilis' LSE (Low Systemic Exposure) technology. LSE technology creates new chemical entities which allow high local concentrations combined with low systemic exposure; these are ideal characteristics for medicines designed for topical applications.

The Phase IIb study is a randomised, double-blind, placebo controlled dose finding study of the efficacy and safety of a new CT327 ointment formulation (0.05%, 0.1% and 0.5% w/w) administered for up to eight weeks in patients with psoriasis. A total of 160 patients are expected to complete the trial and results are anticipated towards the end of 2012.

Creabilis announced positive results from a Phase IIa study of CT327 in psoriasis in March 2011. CT327 (0.1% w/w cream formulation) produced a good efficacy response across multiple endpoints including PGA (Physician Global Assessment) and mPASI (modified Psoriasis Area and Severity Index). CT327 was also well tolerated with no reported application site irritation. Pharmacokinetic analysis showed no detectable plasma CT327, as anticipated with the LSE technology.

Dr David Roblin, Chief Medical Officer of Creabilis said: "Our Phase IIb trial of CT327 is another important step in the development of a product that we believe has exciting potential in the treatment of psoriasis and other important skin diseases. This study uses the new and proposed commercial ointment formulation and in three concentrations of CT327 to ensure that the best dose is selected for Phase III start. We look forward to building on the very promising Phase IIa results already generated." 

Source: prnewswire.com

I’m a big fan of Coconut Oil and yesterday I stocked up from an ethnic cooking store in the city. I buy it there because it costs less, and it is just good quality pure coconut oil and nothing else.
The one I buy comes in a big plastic jar or small bottles, when it’s cold it is a white solid a bit like candle wax, and once melted it is a clear liquid. It melts on body contact or you can always warm it up. DO NOT mistake it for coconut milk; you’re looking for Pure Coconut Oil

Coconut Oil is a fantastic natural moisturiser for any dry skin and is especially helpful for psoriasis leaving your skin feeling and looking great. It has been reported to help with wrinkles but there is no good evidence. It’s also one of the most nutritious products you can put on your hair, as it provides the essential proteins required for nourishing damaged hair. Coconut oil speeds up the healing process of bruises by repairing damaged tissues, and rubbing it on cuts will form a protective barrier against infections.

Whilst you can eat Coconut Oil there is no evidence that it helps with psoriasis by ingestion. You should consider its high saturated fat content but some say it helps with cholesterol, high blood pressure, digestion, immunity and infections, and weight loss. It’s used in many South Asian curries.  And was once described in a New York Times article as “having a "haunting, nutty, vanilla flavour" that also has a touch of sweetness”, that could explain its use for making popcorn.

Apparently Coconut Oil will repel Sand Fleas found in the tropical parts of Africa, the Caribbean, Central and South America, and India. The Sand Flea can cause Tungiasis, which is identified by skin inflammation, severe pain, itching, and a lesion at the site of infection that is characterized by a black dot at the centre of a swollen red lesion, surrounded by what looks like a white halo.

So get yourself some Pure Coconut Oil from your ethnic cooking shop, use it daily on your skin especially after a shower or bath and give your skin a treat. You can use it on all parts of your body, but please note that Coconut Oil could possibly damage latex condoms.

EDIT: Since making this post I have tried various brands of coconut oil and found some to be good, some bad, some even contained additives, and some are just to expensive. But now my favourite brand is Biona virgin coconut oil.

Hi all,
I was searching for info and came across the fourms. After looking at alot of the posts I registerd. Awsome job Fred, It is cool to hear other talking about psoriasis and World wide too. Seemed like the only people you can talk to about it is family and not the people who you would really like to talk or hear about. looks like a good group on here and couldnt wait to join in. My name is Mike and im 53, married and in Chicago, IL. My first outbreak was 2000 and it came to me on my genitals and my scalp. (I was single at that time and dating.) I went to the docs to hear what it may have been. It wasnt what I thought... It was Psoriasis, the doc new knew to quick. I went to another doc and for the second opp. he told me the same, still couldnt beleave it, told him to take a sample.. came back pos. so now just had my last flareup in 2011 and it took over 80% of me in three dayz. doing much better now with just light treatment and Clobex lotion. I was offered stelara but turning it down and tryin to stay on topical lotions and light for now. Buying a boat this year, anyone for some sun and tan treatment on Lake Michigan this summer...

Replying on this thread
Methotrexate
the following:

Of course I totally do not agree about what is written in this thread (sorry Fred, it's her again).

Methotrexate, well regarding what I read of it, it is quite heavy stuff. I mean that for instance the rule is that you may not get pregnant, that is not nothing. It at least means that the attack that methotrexate does to your cells and replication mechanism is threatening for new life.

What I than not understand is the sentence: "however you should not worry you to much as it has been prescribed by your dermatologist or arthritis consultant....."
It is as if the opinion, although specialist, of theirs is enough to make it sensible to use the stuff.
What do these people know about you? They see you a few times per year, during 15-20 minutes. They see some blood-tests of yours, but those are just momentarily impressions of the state of your health. And on the basis of that they decide if you can use it or not??

In my opinion, the only real expert, is you yourself. Your contact with your own body lasts from the moment that you wake up till the moment you go to sleep. In fact you are the only one that has a 24/7 impression of how you feel.

I have used methotrexate myself. For about 4 months. In that time I have carefully listened to my body. What I felt is hard to describe in Dutch, let alone hard to describe in English. It was as if my body was ehm.. grinding in all its corners, it was devastating. I really got scared of these feelings.
And after 4 months I, not any "specialist" in arthritic psoriasis, no "I" decided to stop with this. This could not be good for me.

I am glad I stopped... I restarted my search for something better and now I am quite happy and healthy again, it's not perfect, but it is way better.

Caroline

If you are thinking of using Methotrexate (MTX) for Psoriasis or Psoriatic Arthritis, you may find this information of use. When you look at all the information about Methotrexate it can be very worrying especially concerning the side affects. however you shouldn't let it worry you to much as long as it has been prescribed by your dermatologist or arthritis consultant, and you are getting and will continue to receive regular check ups.

Methotrexate was originally developed and continues to be used for chemotherapy either alone or in combination with other agents. It is effective for the treatment of a number of cancers. It is also used as a treatment for some autoimmune diseases including: rheumatoid arthritis, psoriasis, psoriatic arthritis, lupus and Crohn's disease. It is commonly taken orally, but can also be given via injection. Although Methotrexate was originally designed as a chemotherapy drug (in high doses), in low doses Methotrexate is a generally safe and well tolerated drug in the treatment of psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis.

Dosage: It is recommended that a test dose of 5-10 mg should be administered, one week prior to therapy to detect idiosyncratic adverse reactions.

In most cases of severe uncontrolled psoriasis, unresponsive to conventional therapy, 10-25 mg orally once a week and adjusted by the patient's response is recommended. The prescriber should specify the day of intake on the prescription.

When shouldn't I use Methotrexate?

• It has not been prescribed by a specialist.
  
• If you're not getting regular blood and liver check ups.
  
• If you're trying for a baby (male & female), pregnant, or breast feeding.
  
• If you have an impaired renal function or impaired hepatic function.
  
• If you have marrow hypoplasia, leukopenia, thrombocytopenia or anaemia.
  
• You should also try to limit you're alcohol intake or preferably give it up all together.
  
• If you have suicidal thoughts.
  
• This is not a complete list but they are the basics, if you are not sure you should consult a specialist!
  

My dermatologist just told me about HUMIRA today and said that's where I would start if I started biologics. What are some of the side effects that have been tested for? This is the first time I've considered something other than topicals, but I don't know much about it. Any knowledge would be appreciated.

He said it would weaken the immune system, any clarity would be great in the form of numbers or anything!

I just wanted to share (and have a positive 100th post)
Tomorrow (23rd) I am going to be reviewed by my dermatologist and hopefully my UVB treatment will come to an end.
I'm over the moon with the results, I have changed my psoriasis score from 22 to a 3.
I haven't even got that much 'staining' and my legs have never been so clear in the past 10 years :-) 

I am really hoping that with my change in diet and quitting smoking plus a bit of positive attitude that my remission will last longer than usual or that when it does come back it won't be as bad!!!

Hope everyone else finds some relief too

x 

The U.S. Supreme Court rejected Johnson & Johnson's request to reinstate the largest patent- infringement verdict in American history, a $1.67 billion award it won against Abbott Laboratories over arthritis treatments.

The high court today declined to review a lower court ruling that a patent on a method to make antibodies was invalid because it inadequately described what J&J’s Janssen Biotech said it invented. J&J and patent co-owner New York University want to collect on the verdict they received over the drug Humira, which accounts for about 20 percent of Abbott’s annual revenue.

A U.S. appeals court said inventors must describe clearly their work to show they conceived the invention, and that failure to do so may lead to the patent being tossed out. J&J contends that requirement is too onerous when it comes to patents on basic research or discoveries that have broad applications.

“The directive has become unhinged from statutory text, is judicially unadministrable, and is erratic and unpredictable in outcome,” J&J said in its petition.

The dispute centers on a method to create antibodies that block the action of tumor necrosis factor, or TNF. When the body produces too much TNF, it can cause the immune system to attack healthy tissue and leads to inflammation.

J&J’s original research focused on mouse antibodies, and moved to chimeric antibodies that combine mouse and human. The company, whose own Remicade arthritis drug is based on chimeric technology, said its patent also covered a method of making fully human antibodies.

Dispute Over Claims

In ruling the patent invalid, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit said the claims made in the invention, as written, “constitute a wish list of properties” that a human antibody should have.

Abbott said its researchers discovered ways to create human antibodies and J&J tried to “expand its patent rights to cover a class of antibodies that it did not invent or describe.”

A March 2010 Federal Circuit decision laying out the written description requirement got U.S. support, Abbott said, and J&J “seeks to disrupt the settled expectations of innovators like Abbott by upending decades of precedent.”

Novo Nordisk, the world’s largest insulin maker, and vaccine maker Bavarian Nordic urged the high court to take the case, saying they need broadly written patents to protect their research.

Drug Sales

Sales of Humira were $7.93 billion last year, including $3.43 billion in the U.S., Abbott reported Jan. 25. The drug accounts for about 20 percent of the Abbott Park, Illinois-based company’s revenue.

Abbott has filed its own lawsuit, claiming J&J’s arthritis drug Simponi, made with human antibodies, is infringing an Abbott patent. It also claims a J&J psoriasis medicine, Stelara, violates two other patents. Those cases are pending in federal court in Worcester, Massachusetts.

Arthritis involves the breakdown of the cartilage protecting joints and affects one in seven Americans, or 37 million people, according to the National Institutes of Health. Three of the largest drugs used to treat arthritis are Humira, Remicade and Thousand Oaks, California-based Amgen’s Enbrel.

Source: nj.com

Multiple studies have found that psoriasis has a greater impact on women than men, and a new finding that women with psoriasis are less likely to become pregnant adds to the list of disease-related concerns.

Dr. Jennifer C. Cather and her colleagues recently completed a claims database study that found psoriasis to be significantly associated with lower rates of pregnancy and live births in women aged 35 or younger.

The Abbott-funded study matched 30,733 pairs (1:1) of women with and without psoriasis, said Dr. Cather at the annual Hawaii Dermatology Seminar, sponsored by Skin Disease Education Foundation (SDEF). Overall, women with psoriasis were found to have lower rates of pregnancy (3.1% vs. 3.6%) and live births (1.4% vs. 2.1%), compared with the women without psoriasis.

In the 7,374 matched pairs of women aged 35 or younger, the psoriasis patients had a 22% lower likelihood of pregnancy and a 39% lower likelihood of having a live birth, compared with the patients without psoriasis.

Three other recent studies on pregnancy outcomes in psoriasis offer conflicting findings; however, Dr. Cather noted that the study populations were very different for each.

The first study found that pregnant women with psoriasis are at an increased risk of having preterm delivery and low birth weight infants.

Dr. Cather reported the findings of the U.S. study of 162 pregnancies in 122 women with psoriasis, compared with 501 pregnancies in 290 women without psoriasis. The women with psoriasis were found to have a 1.89 increased risk in odds of having a poor outcome composite, compared with the patients without psoriasis (J. Invest. Dermatol. 2012;132:85-91). Psoriasis was not found to be associated with having a caesarian delivery, preeclampsia/eclampsia, or spontaneous abortion.

However, the opposite was found in a European study of 68 deliveries in 35 women with moderate-to-severe psoriasis, compared with 237 deliveries in 236 women without psoriasis. Psoriasis patients “had a higher mean of past spontaneous and induced abortions than controls,” noted Dr. Cather, who is in private practice in Dallas. The psoriasis patients also had an increased rate of pregnancy-induced hypertension, premature rupture of the membranes, large-for-gestational age babies, and macrosomia (J. Eur. Acad. Dermatol. Venereol. 2011;25:1041-7).

In the third study, 1,463 mothers with psoriasis were compared with 11,704 control patients. Pregnant Taiwanese women with psoriasis were found to have a 1.4 times increased risk of having low birth weight infants, compared with controls. Mild psoriasis did not increase the risk of low birth weight, preterm birth, small-for-gestational age infants, caesarian section, or preeclampsia/eclampsia (J. Am. Acad. Dermatol. 2011;64:71-7).

Dr. Cather noted that more studies are needed to assess the true impact of psoriasis on pregnancy.

Source: skinandallergynews.com

I just found this forum while browsing reddit and I'm excited to have a group of individuals who help and know what I am going through.

My name is Josh I'm 25 and I have been suffering from psoriasis since the age of 17. It is generally difficult to talk about because it mostly effects my genital region. As of late quarter sized flares have appeared on my lower leg and since the beginning I have had pitted and yellowed nails. Although treatment for those sensitive regions seems to be more difficult.

I have only tried topical solutions like Fluocinonide, Taclonex and over the counter Hydrocortisone 1%. They all seem to work for periods of time but if I slack at all it comes back stronger.

Hard to write this thread without sharing a lengthy health saga. Ill try to be brief...GL

I know intellectually the benfits of biologics. However, I am on call for a lymph node removal, thyroid cancer screening - ongoing...polycyctic ovaries and and bladder nerve conduction issues. Notwithstanding several back surgeries. And an overdo hip replacement.
I have flare up and my face is presenting now as lupus and MS. Wow one big mix.
I had 4 doctors tell me I will have cardio vascular disease.
Ironically, had shortness of breath and chest pain and landed up being screened for blood clot last Friday night in my emergency room.

Bottom line I had a panic attack for fear of using a biologic- I think. I was calm had no idea and I had anxiety.

Apparently you breathe in so much and you get dizzy, shaky and faint and your blood pressure goes up and you feel like you are dying.
I am still on hold for remicade....in the mean time....

I am trying a new version of skin cap Ps Val?, kalawalia?
and maybe as a last resort a Dr. no names mentioned- protocol....

I took 60 blood tests last week for his asessment. My friend who has breast and ovarian cancer genectics. and had near death issues with lymph leaking in her body
... found him, pleaded with me to try it out.
plus the BHIH hormones etc....I m kind burnt on the alternative thing,
but I figured why not she looks fabulous lost 25 pounds.. radiant... at 51 and sufferred....

I also got a virus after giving lots of blood last week....... and that was part of the whole dam nightmare.
It gets better.....I gave the virus to it to my husband, who is on bed rest with his automine disease. (two peas in a dam pod).
Trying to not feel sorry at all. I just got very anxious and it is embarassing; not good at having stiff upper lip - no kidding.
I am not taking xanax or tranquilzers.

I have work to do and this has been quite debilitating on many levels. Making the most of a scary situation that could be worse...trying to not catastrophize....
Ill be in touch
Battling myself

LL

UCB announced today that it intends to submit regulatory applications for Cimzia® (certolizumab pegol) in psoriatic arthritis, by end of 2012.

Top-line results from the RAPID-PsA™ phase 3 study evaluating the efficacy and safety of Cimzia® (certolizumab pegol) in patients with adult onset active psoriatic arthritis (PsA) demonstrated a clinically relevant and statistically significant improvement at week 12 in the signs and symptoms of psoriatic arthritis. Initial analyses suggest that no new safety signals were observed in this study and adverse events were consistent with those seen in other trials of certolizumab pegol.

"We are pleased that Cimzia® has the potential to also benefit patients living with psoriatic arthritis and we are currently preparing for submissions to the regulatory authorities later this year," said Professor Dr Iris Loew-Friedrich, Chief Medical Officer and Executive Vice President UCB. "We shall discuss the study results with the regulatory authorities and present them at upcoming major rheumatology congresses."

In this 48 week, multicenter, double-blind, parallel-group, phase 3 study, 409 patients were randomized to receive certolizumab pegol (200 mg every two weeks or 400 mg every four weeks) or placebo.

In the European Union, Cimzia® in combination with methotrexate is approved for the treatment of moderate to severe active RA in adult patients inadequately responsive to disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs) including methotrexate. In the U.S., Cimzia® is approved for reducing signs and symptoms of Crohn's disease and maintaining clinical response in adult patients with moderately to severely active disease who have had an inadequate response to conventional therapy and for the treatment of adults with moderately to severely active rheumatoid arthritis.

Source: ucb.com

Hello,

I'm a bit of a newbie, but have had psoriasis (scalp and body) for as long as i can remember, so maybe that makes me more of an oldie?...

Anyway, always been in and out of these forums reading other peoples 'miracle cures' and going off and trying them for myself and nothing happening. have come to the conclusion that different things work for different people. 



But recently (only been 2 weeks now so it is still early days) i started using a new one called Salcura DermaSpray Intensive and the moisturiser that goes with it. Only decided to give it a go cos they give away free samples on their website but i have already seen a massive difference. -still slight redness where a few of my bigger patches were, but its nowhere near as red, raised, itchy or angry-looking as it was. my scalp is starting to feel a lot smoother too -can't feel any big clumps like i could before and i'm noticing less and less flakes.



I don't want to count my chickens before they've hatched but its made such a phenomenal difference already that i cant help but feel really optimistic.



Obviously, i still believe different things work for different people but I thought i'd share this with all of you, in case this one works for you too. Hope it does xx

Anyone else using it or tried it before?

The FDA has approved the addition of a secondary supplier of Methoxsalen USP, an integral component of a treatment for the relief of moderate to severe psoriasis prescribed under the brand name Oxsoralen-Ultra® (methoxsalen) Capsules, USP, 10mg.

"We are pleased to obtain FDA approval of an additional manufacturer of Methoxsalen, the key active ingredient for this important drug," said David Mullarkey, senior vice president and general manager of Valeant Dermatology, a division of Valeant Pharmaceuticals North America LLC. "This approval enables us to ensure a steady supply of Oxsoralen-Ultra and is a key step in restoring the supply of our other Methoxsalen containing drug products."

Patients can obtain Oxsoralen-Ultra® with a prescription from their physician.  Oxsoralen-Ultra, in combination with a special type of phototherapy called PUVA (Psoralen plus UVA light) therapy, has been shown to improve severe, recalcitrant, disabling psoriasis.

Did you know as a member of Psoriasis Club you have a Personal Notepad?

To access your Personal Notepad click "Control Panel" in the green menu bar when logged-in, then scroll down and there it is. Put in your content and click "Update Notepad"

Your Personal Notepad can only be seen by you and is not seen by other members (but please remember it is stored on the forum database) the database is protected, but it wouldn't be wise to include personal information like bank details etc just in case!

You can make changes as and when you like. It's handy for keeping notes about your treatments and what is working, or maybe make a note of your next rendezvous. or just put a note in to remind yourself to buy me cake for my birthday.

What's in your Personal Notepad ?

Hi my daughter is 8 and had psoriaisis since june last year,she went to a dermatoligist in december and had been issued with light treatment 3 times per week since then has palmaplanter pustulor psoriasis on feet and hands,guttate,cronic plaque,scalp, she has it everywere including face etc,light treatment has been working on face i must admit and we were sent back early to the consultant as she was getting more psoriasis etc,he said give her another 4 weeks which 3 more to go and if not cleared putting her on systemics which sounds serious for an 8 year ol.also she has special bath,steroid for face,scalp substance,creams,etc about 7 different products to use to,can anyone give me advice on this i just dont know where to turn or speak with as its worrying me,dont know what else to do for her any help or has anyone been in this situation and do you think lights will clear her in time thankyou to all who will read this post

Hello to everyone - just found this site whilst googling( a dangerous pastime I know )

Have only had my last flare up for 5 months but is already causing me difficulties.

Have palm/sole psoriasis with 3 nails on their way out as I write.

Last had same form over 10 years ago- now wishing I hadn't taken all those years so forgranted!