Psoriasis

VBL has initiated a Phase 2 efficacy and safety study evaluating its lead compound VB-201 for the treatment of patients with psoriasis. VB-201 is a first-in-class, orally administered immune response modifier expected to reduce inflammation in a broad range of diseases such as psoriasis.

About psoriasis

Psoriasis is a chronic non-contagious immune system disorder that affects an estimated 125 million people worldwide. According to the U.S. National Institutes of Health, as many as 7.5 million Americans have psoriasis.

Psoriasis appears on the skin when the immune system sends out faulty signals that speed up the growth cycle of skin cells. Psoriasis generally appears as patches of raised, red skin covered by flaky, white buildup of dead skin cells. It affects both genders equally and can appear at any age, although it is most common between the ages of 15 and 25. People with psoriasis have an increased risk of developing other serious diseases, such as psoriatic arthritis, heart disease, diabetes and cancer.

There are five types of psoriasis: plaque, guttate, inverse, pustular and erythrodermic. The most common form, plaque psoriasis, appears as raised, red patches or lesions covered with a silvery white buildup of dead skin cells, called scale. Psoriasis can occur on any part of the body and is associated with other serious health diseases, such as diabetes, heart disease and depression.

Treating psoriasis is challenging because it is unpredictable. A wide range of treatments for psoriasis is available, although no single treatment works for everyone. Treatments include topical creams or ointments, exposure to ultraviolet light and oral or injected medications.

The following sites offer useful information about psoriasis:

The world's largest nonprofit patient advocacy organization dedicated to fighting psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis.

An information and support site for patients with psoriasis and their families.

A comprehensive online psoriasis information resource from the American Academy of Dermatology.