To get an idea of Solbecs competition on psoriasis here is some...

To get an idea of Solbecs competition on psoriasis here is some info on the new drug Raptiva . Just approved by the FDA for use on psoriasis . Check out the side effects .



FDA Approves New Psoriasis Drug
Raptiva joins growing list of biologic medications
First posted Oct. 27, 2003
Last updated Nov. 11, 2003


More than 5 million Americans and their families are affected by psoriasis and/or psoriatic arthritis. Moderate psoriasis is defined as affecting between 2 percent and 10 percent of the body's surface, and psoriasis covering more than 10 percent of the body is considered severe. (The area of skin that can be covered by the palm of the hand is considered to be 1 percent of the body.)

How is Raptiva different?
Raptiva is an antibody that blocks the activation of certain immune cells, called "T cells," and the migration of those cells into the skin. T cells are a type of white blood cell in the body that normally help us ward off foreign invaders and fight infection. In psoriasis, however, these T cells are mistakenly activated and trigger other immune responses that fuel the development of psoriasis lesions.

How will patients use it?
Raptiva is given by injection under the skin; patients give themselves a shot once per week at home. Genentech recommends that patients use it as a continuous treatment for best results.

How effective is Raptiva?
Researchers presented findings that 44 percent of patients treated continuously with Raptiva for 24 weeks saw the severity of their psoriasis improve by 75 percent or more. A longer study monitored patients for 21 months who had improved significantly and continued to take Raptiva weekly. Of those patients, 67 percent of patients achieved a 75 percent improvement in psoriasis severity.

What are the side effects?
The most common side effects reported from the phase III studies were:
headache
infections (usually upper respiratory infections)
chills
nausea
flu syndrome
fever
back pain
acne