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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
Research Grants
Applications are now being welcomed
for Research Grants, for more information please see the research
pages
Walk for Skin 2008
We
are delighted to announce the return of "the Walk for skin"
in 2008. The walks will take place on
Sundays throughout April, May and June
this year and in various locations around the UK:-
• London Regent's Park - Sunday 27th April
• Bristol
Ashton Court Estate - Sunday 11th
May
• Glasgow
Pollok Country Park - Sunday 11th
May
• Birmingham
Sutton Park - Sunday 18th May
• Manchester
Heaton Park - Sunday 18th May
• Southampton
Itchen Valley Country Park - Sunday
8th June
• Newcastle
Tyne Riverside Country Park - Sunday
15th June
•
Leeds Temple Newsam - Sunday 22nd June
•
Cardiff Bute Park - Sunday 29th
June
For
information regarding The Walk for Skin or the venues, please visit the
website www.walkforskin.org
or contact the British Skin Foundation office on 020 7391 6341 or email
bsf@bad.org.uk. When you register,
don't forget to state that you wish to donate 50% of your sponsorship
money to The Psoriasis Association!
Are
you a runner? Would you like to help raise funds and awareness of psoriasis
and the Association?
We have free spaces in the British
10K Run for people who would like to run on our behalf. The run takes
place on Sunday July 6th, commencing at Hyde Park Corner, passing through
Trafalgar Square, past St. Paul's Cathedral, the London Eye, Big Ben and
Parliament and finishes in Whitehall. Runners must be over 15 years
of age. For an application form or more information, please contact Laura
either via email mail@psoriasis-association.org.uk
or telephone 08456 760076.
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 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.
Silkis Ointment (Calcitriol Ointment)
Galderma (UK) Ltd would like to inform patients that this
product is available! Some
patients have reported that they had been incorrectly advised by pharmacies
that the product had been discontinued. Patients experiencing any issues
fulfilling their prescriptions for Silkis Ointment can report this to
the company at the address below: -
Galderma (UK) Ltd
3rd Floor
Meridien House
69-71 Clarendon Road
Watford
WD17 1DS
Tel: 01923 208 950
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 June
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 and will not be available for 6 months whilst they source an
alternative dithranol supplier.
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
| Belfast
Support Group |
Second
Monday of every month in the Board Room, City Hospital, Belfast |
| Plymouth
Psoriasis and Eczema Support Group |
Last
Wednesday of every month, Southway Community Centre, Plymouth |
| Suffolk
Local Group |
Saturday
12 April, 11am. Bury St Edmunds Cathedral |
To visit
our news archive click here.
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