Latest Psoriasis Association News

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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

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