Turmeric/curcumin tasty, but no psoriasis cure, study finds
Indian food is delicious, but a highly touted spice in this food largely failed in a small trial designed to test its value in treating psoriasis.
Researchers at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine found that despite strong scientific evidence in the laboratory demonstrating the ability of curcumin (the active ingredient in the spice turmeric) to inhibit a critical pathway of psoriasis, the positive response in patients was so low that scientists suggest the placebo effect or the disease's natural remission might be the reason.
We would all love an easy and 'natural' cure for psoriasis, but one does not exist. That's why we need more research.
One problem the researchers note is that most curcumin consumed is not "bioavailable"--instead, it is eliminated by the body's digestive system before it can do any good.
So enjoy that Tandoori chicken, but don't expect it to cure your psoriasis. Then again, the researchers theorize that a topical formulation could potentially still prove helpful. So maybe instead of eating that bird, you should .... nevermind.
Psoriasis Calendar February profile...Tony's (and Jim's) story
If you have not yet seen it, be sure to check out the February expanded profile of Tony and Jim, who appear in our 2008 Psoriasis Patient Calendar. Biologic therapy, has, in his words, "saved his life." It's certainly helped him spend better time with his son.
In retrospect, we should have saved these two for June--Father's Day!
Psoriasis Cure Now applauds record government psoriasis research funding
Psoriasis Cure Now today applauded Congress and the National Institutes of Health (NIH) for delivering a record $10 million in psoriasis research funding during fiscal year 2007. Psoriasis research has traditionally been underfunded at NIH. Since 1995, NIH funding on other diseases has risen 159% (before inflation), but psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis research had been stuck between $5 and $6 million every year from FY 1995 until FY 2006, when it reached $8 million, and now $10 million in FY 2007. [Click on the chart to see a larger version of it.]
"Psoriasis Cure Now was founded in 2005 because it was disturbing to see psoriasis research funding not even keep pace with inflation as research on other diseases more than doubled," said Michael Paranzino, president of Psoriasis Cure Now. "We are thrilled to see Congress and NIH working to reverse this funding shortfall with the second significant funding increase in a row."
Even after two years of strong growth, psoriasis research at NIH remains $40 million short of what would have been invested in psoriasis research had its funding merely kept pace with NIH's growth since 1995. Psoriasis Cure Now has urged policymakers to increase annual psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis research to $20 million by 2010, reflecting the disease's severe impact on millions of Americans and the years that were lost as psoriasis funding languished.
"Many people helped get funding for psoriasis research moving in the right direction," Paranzino added, "from the citizens who wrote letters to and visited with their lawmakers, to leaders like Reps. Rosa DeLauro, Ralph Regula and Jim Gerlach, Chairmen Tom Harkin and David Obey, and Senator Arlen Specter. The NIH and NIAMS leadership also deserve our thanks for supporting valuable research that will lead to treatment breakthroughs in the years ahead. With new research linking psoriasis to increased risk of heart attack and even premature death, continued increases in psoriasis research could not be more timely."
Promising new data released on ustekinumab (CNTO 1275) for psoriasis
One-year data on ustekinumab (CNTO 1275), Centocor's experimental psoriasis treatment, were reported last week at a dermatology conference and showed that the treatment sustained its effectiveness and safety for 52 weeks. (Ustekinumab's 12-week data was reported here.)
In addition, a scientific poster at the conference reported 76 week data consistent with earlier reports. Specifically, of those who were strong responders at week 28 and week 40, the vast majority sustained their improvement through week 76 when maintained on a once-every-12-weeks injection regimen. (In other words, if this treatment works well for you for 40 weeks, it is likely to work at least another 9 months after that.) Nor were any new safety concerns identified.
Ustekinumab is designed to block two inflammatory proteins, Interleukin-12 and Interleukin-23 (IL-12 and IL-23), which makes this treatment different than existing biologics.
The FDA has begun its review of this potential new treatment. A decision is likely near the end of 2008. We'll keep you posted.
When treated with a 20 mg dose of the drug, taken orally twice a day, 24% of patients in the study achieved a 75% improvement in psoriasis symptoms, compared with 10% receiving a placebo. The treatment was also well-tolerated. While that improvement rate (14% better than placebo) is not impressive compared to numerous existing psoriasis treatments, it is statistically significant and has encouraged the company to try a 30 mg dose for up to six months. Also, some psoriasis patients may prefer taking pills to injections or UV treatments.
Apremilast, according to Celgene Corp., the company developing it, is a small molescule "with anti-inflammatory activities that impedes the production of multiple pro-inflammatory mediators by inhibiting PDE4 resulting in reductions in TNF-alpha as well as interleukin-2 (IL-2), IL-17 and IL23, interferon-gamma, leukotrienes, and nitric oxide synthase." (Several of the currently available biologics inhibit TNF-alpha and an IL23 inhibitor is coming before the FDA later this year.)
While apremilast is at least several years away from reaching the market (if at all), it's good news to have additional treatment strategies and methods in the pipeline.
