Psoriasis highlights from the World Congress of Dermatology

VANCOUVER, British Columbia — New ways of treating psoriasis, including biologics therapy, were among the research presentations at the World Congress of Dermatology.

Presentations reported by Healio.com/Dermatology included stratified medicine for treating psoriasis, ixekizumab therapy and related quality of life for patients, and the use of Cosentyx for treating palmoplantar psoriasis:

VIDEO: Stratified medicine for managing psoriasis

In this video, Chris Griffiths, BSc, MD, discusses two research presentations he gave on the management of psoriasis at the World Congress of Dermatology.

Chris Griffiths

Griffiths, foundation professor and chair of dermatology at the University of Manchester, UK, discussed stratified medicine in psoriasis treatment, which targets specific therapies for individual patients. He said it “will affect the way all dermatologists prescribe [medication] over the next 20 years.” Watch video

Cosentyx effective in patients with palmoplantar psoriasis

Cosentyx was efficacious and had an acceptable safety profile in patients with palmoplantar psoriasis, with a higher dose more effective, according to research presented at the World Congress of Dermatology.

“Treatment of palmoplantar psoriasis is often difficult and not as easy as other parts of the body to respond to treatments, even biologics,” Alice B. Gottlieb, MD, PhD, professor and chair of dermatology, Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston, said during her presentation. Read more

Ixekizumab leads to plaque psoriasis resolution, improves quality of life

Patients who achieved near complete resolution of plaque psoriasis with ixekizumab treatment had greater improvement in quality of life, according to research presented at the World Congress of Dermatology.

“The majority of patients treated with ixekizumab achieved complete or near complete resolution of plaque psoriasis after 12 weeks,” Chris Griffiths, BSc, MD, reported. “PASI 100 and PASI 90 were associated with greater improvements in symptoms and quality of life compared with patients achieving PASI 75 to PASI 89.” Read more

VIDEO: President discusses ILDS activities, new treatments for psoriasis, melanoma

In this video, Wolfram Sterry, MD, reports on the activities of the International League of Dermatological Societies as well as recent dermatological treatment breakthroughs at the World Congress of Dermatology.

Sterry, ILDS president and professor of dermatology in Berlin, told Healio.com/Dermatology, that among the important therapy breakthroughs for him is as a dermatologist is to “treat patients with chronic inflammatory diseases, such as eczema and psoriasis, with new drugs so then can completely live a new life.” Watch video