Singapore, Nov 24, 2009: Singapore has become the first country in Asia region to approve Ustekinumab, a new biologic treatment for psoriasis.

Earlier this ttreatment was available only in North America and Europe.

Psoriasis can significantly affect a person’s quality of life due to the physical discomfort which can interfere with even basic functions like walking or sleeping. In more severe cases, patients may even become immobile.

Psoriasis can make patients self-conscious about their appearance leading to poor self-image. The distress caused by the disease can also lead to depression, loss of identity and social isolation. Dr Colin Theng, President, Psoriasis Association of Singapore and Consultant Dermatologist at the National Skin Center said, “Psoriasis is more than just a skin disease – it can have serious implications on a patient’s emotional, physical and long-term health. What many people don’t know is that psoriasis can also lead to other associated conditions like psoriasis arthritis, cardiovascular disease, hypertension, obesity, diabetes and Crohn’s disease.”

He added, “The approval of Ustekinumab in Singapore provides a meaningful new treatment option for patients living with this chronic inflammatory disease who otherwise have to compromise their quality of life.”

According to a prepared release, Ustekinumab is a novel treatment for psoriasis that selectively targets and blocks the action of two naturally occurring proteins in the body - cytokines interleukin-12 (IL-12) and interleukin-23 (IL-23), believed to contribute to the overproduction of skin cells and inflammation leading to the development of psoriasis. Ustekinumab has demonstrated significant efficacy in clinical studies involving close to 3,000 participants from around the world. The medication was studied in two phase III clinical trials, which demonstrate that the majority of patients with moderate to severe plaque psoriasis were able to achieve sustained, clinically significant improvement in their disease severity.