Latest Psoriasis Association News

Click here for psoriasis support group dates and venues

Please note that the Psoriasis Association has moved offices. Our new details can be found on the contact page

The Great British Duck Race 2008.
Sponsor a duck in the Great British Duck Race (31st August 2008 - Hampton Court Bridge) on behalf of the Psoriasis Association, and you could win £10 000! For more information please visit the Great British Duck Race website or to sponsor a duck please follow this link
Thank-you and good luck!

Visit our Facebook Page and Facebook Group!

Doctors!
Research Grants
Applications are now being welcomed for Research Grants, for more information please see the research pages
Essential acute dermatology for General Physicians and GP's - the Royal Society of Medicine, Tuesday 23rd September
The aim of this meeting is to discuss the diagnosis and management of acute dermatological problems at the primary-secondary care interface. The emphasis will be on conditions that may initially present from general practice to acute medical receiving units, and the main focus will be the requirement for referral, diagnosis and differential diagnosis, and the early management and investigation. For further information and the programme for the day, please click here, or to book, please visit http://www.rsm.ac.uk/academ/cuderm.php

Route 66
Congratulations to Dr Kate Condon who has completed her mammouth run of Route 66 in America on behalf of the Psoriasis Association. To read Kate's blog, please visit:-
www.psoriasis-association.org.uk/route66.html
It is not too late to sponsor Kate! If you would like to sponsor Kate, please contact the office

Thank-you to everyone who registered and took part in the Walks for Skin and the British 10K run - your support is vital to the Association.

PsoKids CD-ROM
Lots of things can go wrong with the skin that we can't help happening and psoriasis is just one of them. An important thing is to remember that you're not alone. There are lots of people all over the world who have psoriasis and deal with it every single day! PsoKids is an interactive, fun packed CD-ROM designed mainly for children (although there is a bit on their for parents/carers too!). To order your free copy, please contact us

Treatment / Company / Product Information

NICE issue Guidelines regarding the use of Adalimumab (Humira) for severe psoriasis
The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) have issued their guidelines regarding the use of Adalimumab to treat psoriasis. NICE have recommended Adalimumab be prescribed when "the condition is severe" - defined by a PASI score greater than 10 and a DLQI score greater than 10, and "their condition has not improved with other treatments such as ciclosporin, methotrexate and PUVA (psoralen and long-wave ultraviolet radiation), or they have had side effects with these in the past or there is a medical reason why they should not be given these treatments."
To read the guidelines, please follow the link to the NICE website. For further information on Adalimumab, please click here

NICE issue Guidelines regarding the use of Infliximab (Remicade) for severe psoriasis
The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) have issued their guidelines regarding the use of Infliximab to treat psoriasis. NICE have recommended Infliximab be prescribed when "the disease is very severe as defined by a total Psoriasis Area Severity Index (PASI) of 20 or more and a Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI) of more than 18" and "the psoriasis has failed to respond to standard systemic therapies such as ciclosporin, methotrexate or PUVA, or the person is intolerant to or has a contraindication to these treatments". To read the guidelines, please follow the link to the NICE website. For further information on Infliximab, please click here

Adalimumab (Humira) receives its license for use to treat moderate to severe psoriasis
Adalimumab is the first fully human anti-TNF (tumour necrosis factor) monoclonal antibody approved for the treatment of plaque psoriasis. “The licensing of adalimumab offers a valuable new treatment option for people living with moderate-to-severe psoriasis, a very difficult and often isolating condition,” said Gladys Edwards from the Psoriasis Association. ”We welcome the approval of new therapies such as adalimumab that can significantly improve the quality of life of patients and expand the options available to those who are most in need of treatment.”
Adalimumab is a subcutaneous injection, meaning it can be self-administered at home after suitable training. For further information regarding Adalimumab please click here

MHRA find steroids in an Aloe Vera cream marketed to treat eczema and psoriasis
The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) has found steroids in an intensive body lotion with Aloe Vera called OSAS, which claimed to contain natural ingredients. The lotion which is an unlicensed product illegally claimed to treat eczema and psoriasis and has been found to be sold in a variety of Asian and African beauty shops in London and the West Midlands and over the Internet.
OSAS was found to contain betamethasone (a potent corticosteroid) and clotrimazole (an anti-fungal treatment).
For further information, please visit the MHRA website

Etrivex Shampoo
Galderma (UK) has recently launched a new product for the treatment of moderate scalp psoriasis in adults. Etrivex is a short contact corticosteroid shampoo that is only available on prescription. It is stocked by all wholesalers and most pharmacies. It is important to follow the instructions carefully as the method of application is different to that of conventional treatments - approximately half a tablespoon (7.5ml) should be applied directly to your dry scalp and massaged into the lesions. Etrivex should be left in place for 15 minutes. Then, add water and lather, avoiding contact with the eyes and other delicate areas - rinse thoroughly, condition and style as normal.

Availability of Exorex Lotion
Forest Laboratories have informed the Psoriasis Association that they are currently experiencing difficulties with the manufacture of Exorex Lotion. They assure us they are currently doing everything possible to ensure that the availability of Exorex Lotion is returned to normal as soon as possible. Forest Laboratories anticipate that the availability of Exorex Lotion will be back to normal in September 2008.

Availability of Psorin Ointment and Scalp Gel
LPC Pharmaceuticals have informed the Psoriasis Association that Psorin Ointment and Psorin Scalp Gel are currently out of stock. It is expected that Psorin scalp gel will be available from August 2008.

Availability of Calcipotriol Ointment
As described below, Leo Pharma has discontinued the supply of Dovonex ointment. However, we are pleased to announce that Sandoz Ltd have been granted their UK Marketing Authorisation for generic Calcipotriol Ointment 50 micrograms/g in a 120g tube (the same composition as Dovonex Ointment). In order for you to receive the correct dispense from your pharmacist, your doctor must write your prescription for "Calcipotriol Ointment" - the pharmacist will not be able to dispense this from a prescription for "Dovonex Ointment"
If you currently have Dovonex ointment on your repeat prescription, this will need to be re-written or amended in order for you to continue to receive the medication without disruption.

Discontinuation of Dovonex Ointment
LEO pharma UK have informed us that they are discontinuing the supply of the ointment formulation of Dovonex on 16th April 2007. In view of current and future availability of alternative products for the topical treatment of plaque psoriasis, the clinical usefulness and commercial viability of this product is judged to be too limited to justify its continued supply by LEO Pharma. Alternative formulations such as Dovonex Cream and Scalp Solution will continue to be available. The discontinuation has not resulted from any safety or quality concerns.

Patient Information Leaflets (PIL's)
Do you discard the packaging your medications come in only to find a couple of weeks later that you could do with knowing a little more about your treatment? Well help is at hand! ALL PIL's can now be accessed online at http://emc.medicines.org.uk/



Psoriasis Support Group

To visit our news archive click here.