Irish actress Jenny Kavanagh has revealed details of her 15 year experience with psoriasis at the launch of an educational campaign aimed at dispelling the myths associated with the skin condition. Jenny, better known for her portrayal of the character Cleo in the hit RTE soap Fair City, launched the initiative – which includes the results of a survey on the public's attitudes towards psoriasis – at the 80th Annual National Ploughing Championships in Athy, Co.Kildare.

The educational campaign, entitled 'Psoriasis - Clear as Mud' and supported by LEO Pharma, seeks to create a better understanding of the skin condition among the general public and those living with psoriasis. Dermatology nurses and the Psoriasis Association of Ireland provided information on the condition and educating the public at a dedicated 'Psoriasis – Clear as Mud' stand at the 2011 National Ploughing Championships.

The need to dispel misconceptions was underlined by the survey's results which revealed the extent to which worrying misunderstandings exist on this common skin condition. The campaign title reflects how this 'muddying of the waters' makes living with psoriasis increasingly difficult. An outspoken psoriasis advocate, Jenny urged Irish people with psoriasis to visit their healthcare professional early for treatment and support. "Having had psoriasis since I was eight years old, I understand the frustration and embarrassment that can sometimes be associated with the condition. That's why I am personally happy to be involved in this worthwhile campaign – I want to show people that psoriasis does not have to be restricting, psoriasis is treatable and there is help available so it is important to seek support early", the 23 year old actress said.

Awareness and attitudes research carried out recently by Behaviour and Attitudes suggests that a number of misconceptions concerning the condition still exist. While most respondents recognised that psoriasis was a debilitating skin condition, 9% believed psoriasis was a liver disease. The survey also revealed that 7% of adults actually believe that psoriasis may actually be contagious while another 7% of adults felt that people suffering from psoriasis should be banned from certain occupations, particularly those working with foods, such as chefs, or personal care In addition, 39% of male and just 18% of female sufferers say that they don't see healthcare professional in relation to their psoriasis which emphasizes the need to educate the public, particularly men with the condition, on the advances in treatments available.

Also speaking at the launch of the campaign was former farmer Ronan Farrelly, a committee member of the Psoriasis Association Ireland and a sitting board member of EUROPSO, the federation of psoriasis patients' associations based in Europe. "This campaign sets out to remove the stigma surrounding psoriasis and educate the public on this condition. The public need to know that psoriasis is a common skin disorder affecting more than 100,000 people in Ireland. It is not contagious and anyone can develop it.

"This initiative will seek to dispel the myths surrounding psoriasis. Those of us with the condition often feel frustrated with the treatment they receive from people who do not understand the condition. This can often lead to a sense of hopelessness. The understanding that will come from this campaign coupled with information about support networks will help people with their treatment and improve overall care of this condition" he added.

Sorce: waterford-today.ie

Janssen Biotech, Inc. announced today that STELARA® (ustekinumab) has been awarded the prestigious 2011 Prix Galien USA Award in the category of Best Biotechnology Product.  The Prix Galien USA Award recognizes extraordinary efforts in biopharmaceutical and medical technology research and development by honoring biomedical advances impacting both individuals and public health in the past decade. 

Approved in the United States by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in September 2009 for the treatment of adults with moderate to severe plaque psoriasis who are candidates for phototherapy or systemic therapy, STELARA is a human monoclonal antibody that selectively targets two cytokines, interleukin-12 (IL-12) and interleukin-23 (IL-23), naturally occurring proteins that are believed to play a role in the development of psoriasis. 

"It is a tremendous honor to have STELARA recognized by the Prix Galien Committee as the Best Biotechnology Product," said Jay P. Siegel, M.D., Chief Biotechnology Officer and Head, Global Regulatory Affairs, Johnson & Johnson Pharmaceutical Research & Development, L.L.C. (J&JPRD), one of the Janssen pharmaceutical companies.  "This achievement is representative of the drive, dedication and commitment of a global team of scientists spanning discovery, research, development and manufacturing."

"The unique mechanism of action of STELARA and the extensive psoriasis clinical program conducted underpin our continued commitment to innovation and developing additional treatment options in immunology," added Susan Dillon, Ph.D., Global Therapeutic Area Head, Immunology, J&JPRD.   

The Prix Galien Award recognizes the technical, scientific and clinical research skills necessary to develop innovative medicines and devices, and is considered the industry's highest accolade.  Prix Galien was first established in 1970 by French pharmacist Roland Mehl and was inaugurated in the United States in September 2007.  The Prix Galien USA award committee comprises eleven individuals including Nobel Laureates, founders of major biotech companies and editors of world-renowned biology journals.

"STELARA represents our company's commitment to patients by bringing innovative solutions to market for the treatment of immune-mediated diseases like psoriasis," said Robert Bazemore, President, Janssen Biotech, Inc.  "We are honored to be recognized for the significant contribution STELARA has made to the biopharmaceutical community, and importantly to patients in the U.S. who have benefited from this biologic medicine."

Source: .prnewswire.com

A PROJECT to raise the profile of a painful skin disease has received a boost from an influential former MSP.
Ex-Wester Hailes GP Dr Ian McKee chaired a briefing for politicians on psoriasis, which was attended by scores of patients and nurses.

It is estimated the condition, which can cause difficulties with arthritis, affects more than 20,000 people in the Lothians.

The stigma attached to having a skin condition is also putting pressure on patients, adding to the challenges of the illness.

The charity PSALV wants more attention paid to it and support given to sufferers, and its bid has been backed by Dr McKee.

He said: "Psoriasis is one of the most common of all conditions yet one which most people know very little about. Part of the reason for this general ignorance is the sad fact that many people with this skin condition go to great lengths to keep it a secret because of the cruel reaction they often experience."


Source: edinburghnews.scotsman.com

This database was compiled in 2004 and the statistics are derived from official causes of death by psoriasis detailed on certificates of death by each country.

# 1      United States:        33 deaths 
# 2      Brazil:                  13 deaths 
# 3      Canada:                6 deaths 
= 4      Hungary:              4 deaths 
= 4      Thailand:                  4 deaths 
= 4      Spain:                    4 deaths 
= 4      Netherlands:        4 deaths 
= 8      Chile:                         3 deaths 
= 8      Japan:                  3 deaths 
= 8      Uruguay:              3 deaths 
= 8      New Zealand:          3 deaths 
= 12      Venezuela:            2 deaths 
= 12      Costa Rica:            2 deaths 
= 12      Peru:                         2 deaths 
= 12      Croatia:                 2 deaths 
= 12      Argentina:            2 deaths 
= 12      Moldova:              2 deaths 
= 12      Poland:                 2 deaths 
= 12      Norway:              2 deaths 
= 12      United Kingdom:    2 deaths 
= 12      Slovenia:                 2 deaths 
= 22      South Africa:          1 deaths 
= 22      Colombia:            1 deaths 
= 22      Lithuania:              1 deaths 
= 22      Cuba:                  1 deaths 
= 22      Israel:                  1 deaths 
= 22      Denmark:                 1 deaths 
= 22      Romania:                 1 deaths 
= 22      Dominican Republic: 1 deaths 
= 22      Australia:                 1 deaths 
= 22      Egypt:                         1 deaths 
= 22      Latvia:                  1 deaths 
= 22      Estonia:                 1 deaths 
= 22      Mexico:                 1 deaths 
= 22      Finland:                 1 deaths 
= 22      Puerto Rico:                 1 deaths 
= 22      Germany:                 1 deaths 
= 22      Sweden:                 1 deaths 

Total: 117 deaths 

Compiled 2004
Source: nationmaster.com

-Cellceutix Corporation, a biopharmaceutical company focused on discovering and developing small molecule drugs to treat unmet medical conditions, today released pictures of its mice study with KM-133, the Company’s small molecule acting on the principles of immune stimulation and PRINS reduction as a new treatment for psoriasis. The pictures are available for viewing at " cellceutix.com/product-candidates/km-133---psoriasis-compound.html " The pictures show a dramatic response to treatment with KM-133. In the studies 100% of the mice responded to the treatment.

The Company also reported that it has engaged its FDA consultant for the purpose of preparing a regulatory pathway with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (“FDA”) pursuant to Section 505(b)(2) for KM-133, as a new treatment for psoriasis.
Given the fact that the active moiety of KM-133 is an already FDA-approved product, Cellceutix believes that it will be eligible for a 505(b)(2) regulatory pathway, which permits compounds in development to be taken into advanced stages of clinical trials based upon bioequivalence from previously reported filings; saving time and money in the development process.
Research of a human xenograft animal model of psoriasis conducted by Cellceutix on KM-133 measuring it against methotrexate, a commonly used drug today in the treatment of psoriasis, showed a faster reduction of lesion appearance (84% versus 63%), a greater reduction in serum PRINS (96 versus 48%) and a significant reduction in serum IL-20 (87% versus 46%) in models treated with KM-133 as compared to methotrexate. More importantly, psoriasis lesions showed no reoccurrence in models treated with KM-133 throughout the 180-day study whereas psoriasis lesions reappeared in those treated with methotrexate in 61 days.
“Now that we have Kevetrin firmly on course for human trials, we can dedicate resources towards other drugs in our pipeline,” commented Cellceutix CEO Leo Ehrlich. “The psoriasis market is a multi-billion dollar opportunity in which we feel we have a competitive edge based upon our pre-clinical data of KM-133 outperforming today’s standards of treatment. The results on the mice were beyond our most optimistic expectations. Most importantly the study used a ‘human xenograft” animal model of psoriasis. We have signed confidential agreements with some large pharmas who have already shown interest in KM-133. Our belief is that based on the chemistry of KM-133, it meets the eligibility for 505(b)(2) clearance which means that we could have two extremely promising drugs in clinical trials in 2012, with KM-133 potentially being in Phase II/III trials. I am excited about all of the developments happening at Cellceutix and look forward to providing shareholders with frequent updates over the coming weeks.”

Source: cellceutix.com

Warnex Inc. (TSX: WNX) announced today that its Bioanalytical Services division participated in the international External Quality Assessment Scheme (DEQAS) and has received certification from DEQAS for the analysis of vitamin D (25-hydroxyvitamin D).

"With the increased attention on health issues related to vitamin D, the demand for vitamin D testing has risen dramatically in the past few years," said Mark Busgang, President and CEO of Warnex. "Warnex provides a highly accurate method for the detection of vitamin D. We are pleased to obtain this certification, which demonstrates our continued commitment to providing quality science and results to our customers".

The analysis of 25-hydroxyvitamin D is one of the most accurate ways to determine the level of vitamin D is the body. Warnex uses high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) combined with mass spectrometry (MS/MS) to measure 25-hydroxyvitamin D2 and D3 in human blood plasma.

By participating in DEQAS, Warnex demonstrated that its HPLC/MS/MS method is reliable with respect to absolute values, assay linearity, as well as assay precision, and can be used with confidence by clinicians to assess vitamin D deficiency in patients.

Vitamin D deficiency, which results from inadequate nutritional intake of vitamin D and inadequate sunlight exposure, leads to bone softening diseases such as rickets in children and osteomalacia and osteoporosis in adults. Vitamin D has also been linked to many other conditions, including certain cancers, type 1 diabetes, multiple sclerosis, tuberculosis, Alzheimer's disease, psoriasis, and all-cause mortality.

Source: warnex.ca

Well I finally managed to get in to say hi, looking very good so far

Quote:Important we do not allow links to affiliation programs, other websites, or miracle cures. if you are joining with the intention of posting such links or any form of Spamming or Trolling you will be banned without question, and your registration details could be listed on stopforumspam.com

Johnson & Johnson (JNJ) won U.S. approval for an expanded use of Remicade to treat children with a chronic inflammatory bowel disease who don’t respond to traditional therapy.

The Food and Drug Administration cleared the medicine chemically known as infliximab for pediatric ulcerative colitis, the company said today in a statement.

Remicade was approved in 1998 as the first anti-tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha treatment in the U.S. It is used in Crohn’s disease in adults and children, and ulcerative colitis, rheumatoid arthritis and psoriasis in adults. Most children with ulcerative colitis are first treated with anti-inflammatory drugs and with steroids, according to the Pediatric IBD Foundation.

“Ulcerative colitis can be a devastating disease and previously, there had been no approved therapeutic options for pediatric patients who had an inadequate response to conventional therapy,” Jeffrey Hyams, head of digestive diseases and nutrition at Connecticut Children’s Medical Center, said in the statement from New Brunswick, New Jersey-based J&J.

Hyams, also a professor of pediatrics at the University of Connecticut School of Medicine, was the lead investigator in a company-sponsored study that showed 73 percent of children with ulcerative colitis responded to the drug within eight weeks.

About 150,000 children younger than age 17 are living with the symptoms of inflammatory bowel disease, J&J said. Ulcerative colitis can slow growth in children and delay sexual maturation, according to the Mayo Clinic based in Rochester, Minnesota.
Serious Risks

While the drug’s approval provides a new treatment option for children with moderate to severe ulcerative colitis, there are “serious risks” associated with its use because it suppresses the immune system, Donna Griebel, director of the FDA’s Division of Gastroenterology and Inborn Errors Products, said in a statement.

The drug carries a boxed warning, the FDA’s strongest caution, for increased risks of cancer and viral, fungal or bacterial infections.

A rare, often fatal type of cancer called Hepatosplenic T- cell Lymphoma is among malignancies that have been reported in adolescent and young adult patients using TNF blockers, the agency said in the statement.

An FDA advisory panel on July 21 backed Remicade for pediatric ulcerative colitis to induce and maintain clinical remission and induce mucosal healing. The panel didn’t recommend the therapy to maintain mucosal healing or eliminate corticosteroid use. The medicine generated $4.6 billion in revenue last year, according to data compiled by Bloomberg.

Source: bloomberg.com

Psoriasis is a stronger predictor of elevated cholesterol in children than is body weight, according to an analysis of electronic medical records from Kaiser Permanente Southern California (KPSC). The findings reinforce the need for physicians to address the condition as a systemic metabolic disorder rather than as a superficial skin disease.

The study examined the records of 710,949 children ages 2 through 19 who had at least one visit to KPSC that recorded height and body weight during the years 2007 and 2008. It identified those with a coding for psoriasis or a prescription associated with the treatment of psoriasis; a chart review confirmed the diagnosis in 1,350 patients.

The patient records were stratified into categories of underweight, normal weight, overweight, moderately obese and extremely obese using standard age-adjusted BMI criteria. Excessive body weight was associated with a higher odds for psoriasis. Analyses found the odds ratios for psoriasis were 0.68, 1.00, 1.31, 1.39 and 1.78, respectively.

The odds ratios for severe psoriasis, as assessed by use of systemic therapy or phototherapy by 53 patients, were 0.00, 1.00, 2.78, 2.93 and 4.19, respectively.

Comparing those characterized as overweight to extreme obese to normals, adolescents (ages 12 to 19) with psoriasis had significantly higher mean total cholesterol (P = .020), LDL cholesterol (P = .007), triglycerides (P = 0.14) and ALT (P = .016) than those who did not have psoriasis. The differences were moderate but significant. There was no significant difference between the two groups with regard to HDL.

"I think the most important point for clinicians is that teens with psoriasis have higher cholesterol levels, regardless of their body weight, and this may be a risk factor for cardiovascular disease," says Corinna Koebnick, Ph.D., research scientist at the KPSC's Department of Research & Evaluation and the lead author of the study.

"The second point is that children who are obese have a much higher prevalence of psoriasis. When physicians treat young people for psoriasis, they should monitor for risk factors of cardiovascular disease, especially if the patient is obese," she says.

Source: .modernmedicine.com

Psoriasis is an inflammatory disease that affects women in their reproductive years. Other similar diseases have been associated with adverse pregnancy outcomes. We sought to assess whether pregnant women with psoriasis are at higher risk of developing complications, such as preterm birth (PTB) and low birth weight (LBW).

A retrospective cohort, performed at two large tertiary centers, evaluated the outcomes of 162 pregnancies in 122 women with psoriasis and 501 pregnancies in 290 women without psoriasis.

Univariable and multivariable analyses, adjusting for important demographic factors, comorbidities, or a propensity score, were performed to evaluate the association of psoriasis and a poor outcome composite (POC), including PTB (<37 gestational weeks) and LBW (<2,500 g).

Repeated measures analysis was used to account for the multiple pregnancies per woman. Cesarean delivery, preeclampsia/eclampsia, and spontaneous abortion were also evaluated.

For women with psoriasis, there was a 1.89-fold increase in odds of POC (95% CI 1.06–3.39) in the univariable analysis. This effect remained statistically significant in the multivariable analyses. Psoriasis was not associated with cesarean delivery, preeclampsia/eclampsia, and spontaneous abortion.

This study has shown higher odds of POC in patients with psoriasis. Further larger population-based studies are required to confirm these findings.

Source: Journal of Investigative Dermatology

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Fred.

Janssen Inc. announced today that Health Canada has expanded the approved indication for SIMPONI® (golimumab), in combination with methotrexate, to include the inhibition of progression of structural damage in adult patients with moderately to severely active rheumatoid arthritis who had not previously been treated with methotrexate. Health Canada also approved an expanded indication in the improvement of physical function in adult patients with moderately to severely active rheumatoid arthritis.1  Rheumatoid arthritis is an inflammatory condition that if left untreated, can lead to permanent damage such as joint deformity and disability.2

"This is an exciting and welcome development for Canadians with moderate to severe rheumatoid arthritis," said Dr. Edward Keystone, Professor, Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto and one of the principal investigators of the studies on which the approval was based. "Inhibiting the progression of the disease and improving physical function, allowing patients to retain their ability to carry out daily tasks, are key considerations in managing this potentially debilitating autoimmune condition."

The new approval is based on data from the Phase 3 GOlimumab Before Employing methotrexate as the First-line Option in the treatment of Rheumatoid arthritis of Early onset (GO-BEFORE) trial that showed the efficacy of SIMPONI®, in a methotrexate-naïve patient population, in reducing the rate of joint damage as evaluated by X-ray; and on data from the Phase 3 GOlimumab FOR subjects With Active RA Despite Methotrexate (GO-FORWARD) trial that showed sustained improvement, in physical function as measured by the Health Assessment Questionnaire-Disability Index (HAQ-DI).3,4,5

A chronic inflammatory condition and autoimmune disease, rheumatoid arthritis affects approximately 300,000 Canadians, with three times as many women as men having the disease.2 It most often develops in young adulthood (ages 25 to 50) and is characterized by symptoms of joint inflammation, stiffness and pain that over time involves more joints on both sides of the body.2 SIMPONI® was first approved in Canada in 2009 for the treatment of moderately to severely active rheumatoid arthritis, active psoriatic arthritis and active ankylosing spondylitis. SIMPONI® is a 50 mg once-monthly, subcutaneously-administered anti-tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha treatment.1

Hi there,

I like the looks of the forum.

A new meta-analysis links tumor necrosis factor-alpha inhibitors, also called anti-TNFs or TNF blockers, to a higher incidence of skin cancer, but not to an increase in the risk of other cancers.

A type of biologic drug, all of which interfere with the immune system, TNF blockers are used to treat rheumatoid arthritis, or RA, as well as ankylosing spondylitis, psoriatic arthritis and polyarticular juvenile idiopathic arthritis. Drugs in this class include infliximab, or Remicade; etanercept, or Enbrel; adalimumab, or Humira; certolizumab pegol, or Cimzia; and golimumab; or Simponi.

“Doctors can be reassured that there doesn’t look like there’s an increase in [most] cancers,” says the lead author of the analysis, Xavier Mariette, MD, PhD. However, the medical community needs to be cautious about the increased risk of skin cancer – particularly for people who live in sunny climates, says Dr. Mariette, professor of rheumatology and head of the rheumatology department at Bicêtre Hospital and Paris South University, in France.

The findings, published online in September in the Annals of Rheumatic Diseases, add to the body of information about whether TNF blockers increase the risk of cancer, which has been an issue of much concern and debate among patients and doctors. Since biologics are relatively new – dating back to a little more than 10 years – there is no long-term data, and any cancer link could take many years to show up. Clouding the picture is the fact that people with inflammatory arthritis, especially RA, are at higher risk of developing certain cancers.

The meta-analysis pooled the results of almost 30 previously published studies and study summaries on TNF blockers and different types of cancer. Among the studies that looked at skin cancer, the researchers calculated that the risk of developing non-melanoma skin cancer was 45 percent higher among patients who received TNF blockers than those who didn’t. The risk of developing melanoma (the deadliest form of skin cancer) was 79 percent higher among patients on TNF blockers, but the results were based on only the two studies that looked at melanoma.

Among the other findings: There is no increase in cancer risk in patients who used anti-TNF drugs for longer periods or in people who had previously had cancer more than five years before..

Source: arthritistoday.org

A new psoriasis survey in Ireland commissioned by Leo Pharma shows that many are confused.

Despite it affecting some 100,000 people in Ireland, many members of the public remain confused about the skin condition, psoriasis, with almost one in 10 thinking it is a disease of the liver.

The survey of over 1,100 adults nationwide revealed that 7% of people think that the condition is contagious, while another 7% think that those with psoriasis should not be allowed to work in certain jobs, such as jobs involving food.

The survey also noted that among people with psoriasis, almost four in 10 men and almost one in five women do not attend a healthcare professional for it.

Commenting on these findings, Dr Anne Marie Tobin, a consultant dermatologist at Tallaght Hospital in Dublin, urged people with psoriasis to seek medical advice for it.

"People should not be embarrassed by their condition. They should talk to their doctor as psoriasis treatments have improved and new treatments are available that can effectively control the condition," she said.

Also commenting on the findings, Ronan Farrelly, of the Psoriasis Association of Ireland, emphasised that the public ‘needs to know that this is a common skin disorder'.

"It is not contagious and anyone can develop it. Those of us with the condition often feel frustrated with the treatment they receive from people who do not understand the condition. This can often lead to a sense of hopelessness," he explained.

Source:  irishhealth.com

Abstract:
Aim Genes that differentiate patients with psoriatic arthritis (PsA) from those with cutaneous psoriasis (PsC) may serve as markers for the development of PsA in patients with psoriasis. The authors aimed to identify human leucocyte antigen (HLA) alleles that are associated with the development of PsA in patients with psoriasis.

Methods: 712 adult patients with PsA, 335 adult patients with PsC and 713 healthy controls were genotyped for HLA-A, HLA-B, HLA-C, HLA-DR and HLA-DQ alleles. Differences in allelic distributions for each of the HLA loci were compared using a likelihood ratio test. Logistic regression analysis of multiple loci was performed to account for linkage disequilibrium. Haplotype information was inferred using the expectation–maximisation algorithm (given HLA-C and HLA-B genotypes) and analysed similarly.

Results: The following HLA alleles were found to be significantly associated with patients with PsA compared to patients with PsC in multivariate regression analysis: B*08 (OR 1.61, p=0.009), B*27 (OR 5.17, p<0.0001), B*38 (OR 1.65, p=0.026) and C*06 (OR 0.58, p=0.0002). HLA-B*27, HLA-B*38 and HLA-C*06 frequencies were also significantly higher in patients with PsA than in healthy controls (B*27: OR 3.05, p<0.0001; B*38: OR 5.9, p<0.0001; HLA-C*06: OR 1.71, p<0.0001). The following haplotypes were independently associated with PsA compared to PsC: HLA-B*18-C*07 (OR 10.1, p=0.004), HLA-B*27-C*01 (OR 41.1, p<0.0001), HLA-B*27-C*02 (OR 19.9, p<0.0001), HLA-B*38-C*12 (OR 2.9, p=0.01), HLA-B*08-C*07 (OR 2.6, p=0.004) and HLA-B*57-C*06 (OR 0.5, p=0.03).

Conclusions: Certain HLA-B and HLA-C alleles confer susceptibility to PsA among patients with psoriasis and may be used to identify patients with PsC who may develop PsA.

Source: ard.bmj.com

There is a thread on the old forum about Stelara. It was mainly me talking about my time using it, and it had received a lot of hits. so I thought it could be of interest to someone if I gave a run down of my past 16 months.

I started Stelara in May 2010 after Humira failed. I have also tried Remicade & Enbrel but I have to say that Stelara has been the best for me. I noticed a change within a week as my skin started to improve, and within 4 weeks the scales had gone and my skin started to feel smooth again. you could still see the patches but it wasn't flaky / red / & sore. this progress has continued to the stage of you could hardly notice any sign at all.

Stelara has not been so good at helping with the Psoriatic Arthritis as the other biologicals, and I do get a bit of pain when it's damp and cold. having said that it's not been bad enough to stop me getting about to much and I did manage to get through the winter without to many problems.

Side Affects: I have noticed a few mild side affects that come and go. After the injection I can feel tired, I sometimes get a Flu feeling, and some mild headaches. this usually lasts for a week or two and it is not severe enough to put me off, and I have got used to it now. Apart from that I have had no side affects, although my blood tests have been showing a high reading for the Eosinophils. they are keeping a good eye on me and say it's not to much of a problem but I must let them know if I get any infections.

The Stelara Tail Off: I have noticed that the Stelara is not working for the full 12 weeks, It seems to tail off after about week 8. I sometimes get a small flare up but it soon goes away again when I have my injection. I have also noticed that it's not working as well as it used to but I guess after 16 months I suppose your body gets used to it. it's still working but just not as good as it did when I first started. I often get chapped lips and sometimes have to resort to Dovobet between my toes.

All in all though I have been pleased with it and will just have to see if it gets me through another winter, or if they decide my blood tests have been to high for to long they may take me off it! got an appointment next month so will update after that.

I hope this has helped someone and if I can I will answer your questions.

Fred.

Rena Ramani is a young woman from north London who has battled with the disease since her early teens. Now, at what she describes as the lowest physical and emotional point of her life, Rena shares with us her journey to better understand this illness. She hears the moving stories of fellow sufferers from around the country, and gets the chance to talk to the healthcare community directly – even challenging one GP to spend some time in her shoes. In this groundbreaking film by acclaimed director James Routh, we are given access to the intimate thoughts and feelings of a young woman whose life has been turned upside down by psoriasis. And, as Rena Ramani’s journey draws to an end, we watch as this brave woman is left to face one of her greatest fears.

Pharmaceutical company Pfizer is to invest €145m at its site in Clondalkin in Dublin. The company said it would expand its production and product testing facilities at the plant.

It is thought up to 400 construction jobs will be created during peak construction periods.

The site currently employs approximately 1,100 full time staff. It is one of the largest biotech manufacturing sites in the world and produces two of Pfizer's main drugs, Enbrel and Prevenar 13.

The news has been welcomed by the Taoiseach and the IDA. Taoiseach Enda Kenny said the investment is a further demonstration of the company's continuous commitment to Ireland.

''This investment gives a substantial boost to Ireland's Life Sciences sector and is a vote of confidence in Ireland's attractiveness as a location for bio-pharmaceutical manufacturing,'' commented IDA Ireland's chief executive Barry O'Leary.

Pfizer has about 4,300 workers across eight locations in Cork, Dublin, Kildare and Limerick.

Source: rte.ie