National Psoriasis Foundation Collaborates on Treatment Comparison Research Study

PORTLAND, Ore., Oct. 23, 2017 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The National Psoriasis Foundation (NPF) announces that the Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI) Board of Governors has approved $8.6 million in funding for a new study comparing psoriasis phototherapy treatment options. The NPF is collaborating with principal investigator Joel M. Gelfand, MD MSCE, of the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania on this grant, which will study the effectiveness of home-based phototherapy for psoriasis, compared to phototherapy that requires visiting a doctor's office.

"Comparative effectiveness research is critical to provide health care providers, patients, payers and other stakeholders with the information needed to provide the most appropriate treatments for patients living with psoriatic disease," said Michael Siegel, Ph.D., senior vice president of research and clinical affairs, NPF. "NPF is thrilled that PCORI supports Dr. Gelfand and his team on this ground breaking research, and we are honored to collaborate on the study."

Conducted as a randomized, controlled study of 1,050 patients age six and older, the study will compare the effectiveness and safety of 12 weeks of home-based versus office-based phototherapy. The study will include 20-40 sites across the country and will assess the benefits and risks of home phototherapy in patients with skin types ranging from fair to dark. The data resulting from this trial will help address the uncertainty often faced by patients, dermatologists and payers regarding this treatment approach. 

Psoriasis is a common, chronic, immune-mediated, inflammatory disease effecting more than eight million Americans. Psoriasis symptoms and response to treatments vary from patient to patient; therefore, it is critical that various treatment options are available. Phototherapy is an important part of the treatment armamentarium and one the NPF has been advocating for years to reduce the barriers and access issues related to this safe and effective therapy.

The study is funded through PCORI's Pragmatic Clinical Studies Initiative, an effort to produce results that are broadly applicable to a diverse range of patients and care situations, and can be quickly integrated into routine clinical practices. NPF has also received funding through PCORI's  Pipeline to Proposal program, which enabled the NPF to establish Citizen Pscientist, an online patient research community, and the Eugene Washington PCORI Engagement Award, which funded the creation of the NPF Psoriatic Disease Research Ambassador program– both initiatives support the mission of driving comparative effectiveness research in support of patients living with psoriatic disease.

PCORI is an independent, nonprofit organization authorized by Congress in 2010. Its mission is to fund research that will provide patients, their caregivers, and clinicians with the evidence-based information needed to make better-informed healthcare decisions. For more information about PCORI's funding, visit www.pcori.org.

Over the last 50 years, the National Psoriasis Foundation (NPF) has become the world's leading nonprofit patient advocacy organization fighting for individuals with psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis. NPF leads this fight by driving efforts for a cure and improving the lives of the more than 8 million Americans affected by this chronic disease. To date, NPF has funded more than $17 million in research grants and fellowships, and to commemorate 50 years, NPF plans to raise an additional $2 million for early scientific career research programs in 2017 alone. Each year, NPF strives to support, educate and advocate on behalf of more individuals living with or caring for someone with the disease than ever before. As part of that effort, NPF established the Patient Navigation Center to offer personalized assistance to everyone with psoriasis or psoriatic arthritis. Join our community today and help drive discovery and create community for all living with psoriatic disease.

SOURCE National Psoriasis Foundation

Related Links

http://www.psoriasis.org