Psoriasis

We recently completed dosing of our lead compound, VB-201, in a Phase 2 efficacy and safety study evaluating VB-201 for the treatment of patients with psoriasis. VB-201 is a first-in-class, orally administered disease-modifying agent expected to reduce inflammation and limit the frequency and severity of flare-ups in psoriasis and a broad range of other inflammatory diseases. 

About psoriasis

Psoriasis is a chronic, non-contagious immune system disorder that affects an estimated 125 million people worldwide, according to the National Psoriasis Foundation.

Psoriasis appears on the skin when the immune system sends out faulty signals that speed up the growth cycle of skin cells. Psoriasis can occur on any part of the body and generally appears as patches of raised, red skin covered by a flaky, white buildup of dead skin cells, called scale. 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.

Treating psoriasis is challenging because it is unpredictable. While there is a range of treatments currently available, no single treatment works for everyone.

• Biologics , which suppress inflammation in a systemic, non-specific way, can be successful at managing flare-ups, but because they can cause significant side effects, they may be problematic for long-term use; other barriers for broad use include:
  
  • High price tag (often more than $20,000 per year) 
  • Must be administered in a doctor’s office
    
    
• Broad oral systemic immunosuppressants are often repurposed treatments
  
  • Significant toxicities
  • Limited efficacy in psoriasis
    
    
• Creams/ointments have limited efficacy, and patients who use them are often undertreated

Thus, there is a widespread need for a specific, targeted oral controller medication to manage psoriasis and other chronic inflammatory diseases.

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 psoriasis patients and their families.

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