Biocon offers psoriasis treatment

Biocon has introduced a therapy for treatment of psoriasis—a skin disease—claiming its offering provides superior safety than other treatments.

Psoriasis—formation of red patches on skin—is a lifelong condition and does not have a cure yet. Through treatments, its symptoms disappear for some time (this duration is known as “remission period”). Announcing the launch of ALZUMAb on Saturday, Biocon CMD Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw said the treatment is an outcome of path-breaking research in India and would usher in a paradigm shift in treating psoriasis.

Rakesh Bamzai, president (marketing), Biocon, said the therapy offers better safety, efficacy, longer remission period and lower infection rate. He said these features would lead to overall reduction in cost burden to the patient.

He said a single dose of ALZUMAb is priced at Rs7,950 and the person suffering from psoriasis has to undergo treatment for 24 weeks. Mazumdar-Shaw was asked if the poor would get concession. She ruled it out, saying the company has to recover the money it pumped in for research and development of the therapy.

Indicated for the treatment of moderate-to-severe psoriasis, ALZUMAb is being introduced in India by Biocon’s immunotherapy division. Formulated as an infusion drug it is manufactured at Biocon’s biopharma manufacturing facility at Biocon Park, in Bangalore.


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Psoriasis, Other Medical Conditions May Be Linked

 People with the skin disease psoriasis may be at increased risk for other major health problems, according to a new study.

The link between psoriasis, which is characterized by irritated, red patches of skin, and other medical conditions has been unclear. In this study, published online Aug. 7  the  researchers analyzed data from more than 9,000 psoriasis patients, aged 25 to 64. They compared them with more than 90,000 age-matched people without psoriasis.

Among the psoriasis patients, the disease was mild in nearly 52 percent, moderate in nearly 36 percent and severe in about 12 percent.

The analysis revealed that people with psoriasis had higher rates of chronic lung disease, diabetes, mild liver disease, heart attack, peptic ulcer, peripheral vascular disease, kidney disease and rheumatologic disease.

The risk of having these types of health problems increased with the severity of psoriasis, said a researcher.

"Physicians should be aware of these associations in providing comprehensive care to patients with psoriasis, especially those presenting with more severe disease,".

Although the study found an association between having psoriasis and increased risk of other diseases, it did not prove a cause-and-effect relationship.

ps- this is only for information, but always consult you physician before having any particular food/ medication.

ps- those interested in recipes are free to view my blog-

http://gseasyrecipes.blogspot.com/

for info about knee replacement, you can view my blog-

http://Knee replacement-stick club.blogspot.com/

for crochet designs

http://My Crochet Creations.blogspot.com/

I've not given details about designs, but those interested are free to mail me for the same.

All you want to know about psoriasis

Psoriasis is a skin condition that causes scaly red patches on your skin. There's no cure for psoriasis, but there are treatments that can help.

Psoriasis causes scaly red patches on your skin.

Our skin is made up of several layers of cells. The top layer is called the epidermis. All the time, new skin cells form inside the epidermis. Then they slowly move to the outside of your skin. When the cells reach the surface of your skin, they fall off. This turnover of skin cells usually happens over three to four weeks.

Those with psoriasis, this  happens much faster. The new skin cells take only three or four days to reach the surface. So the extra cells on your skin’s surface build up and make flaky patches. Sometimes the extra cells cause bad dandruff on your scalp.

the cause of psoriasis is not known as to why it happens to only some people. The genes you get from your parents may play a part. About one-third of people with psoriasis have a relative with the condition. ¹

About half of people with psoriasis have markers on a particular chromosome, where seem to be associated with psoriasis. It isn't necessary that genes may start psoriasis, it may happen when the immune system over-reacts to something or goes hay wire. Some medicines, like lithium salts, beta blockers can also start this condition.

This over-reaction by the immune system seems to cause the inflammation and the quick turnover of skin cells that cause psoriasis symptoms. Hence treatments for psoriasis include drugs that affect the immune system as well as steroid creams that dampen down inflammation.

Some people with psoriasis find that their symptoms come and go. Others have flare-ups, when their symptoms get worse. There’s some evidence that flare-ups of psoriasis may be linked to: 

• Something stressful happening in your life
• Your habits, such as cigarette smoking
• Being overweight
• Not eating enough fruits and vegetables.

You can get different types of psoriasis.  

It's important to know that psoriasis is:

• Not infectious. This means you can't catch psoriasis and you can't pass it on to anyone else
• Not caused by poor skin hygiene
• Not a form of skin cancer.