Rome, March 15 (beraking latest news Health) – Coming from Janssen, a pharmaceutical company of the Johnson & Johnson Group, two important innovations for people with plaque psoriasis and for dermatological specialists. The device for self-administration of guselkumab ‘One-Press’ and the JPso Calculators App are available in Italy and mark an important step forward in the management of the therapy of patients suffering from psoriasis. One-Press is a pre-filled pen that allows patients with moderate to severe plaque psoriasis to be fully autonomous in administering guselkumab. The JPso Calculators app, downloadable for free for Ios and Android, allows the doctor to calculate three different indices useful in monitoring therapy and disease: the Pssd (diary of signs and symptoms of patients with psoriasis), the Pasi (Psoriasis Area Severity Index) and the BMI (body mass index).
Psoriasis – Janssen recalls in a note – is a chronic relapsing skin disease that affects about 2.5 million people in Italy. It is caused by an immune-mediated inflammation and is characterized by erythematous-desquamative skin lesions that can occur in some limited areas or extend over the whole body. In addition, more than half of people with psoriasis live with other diseases, such as diabetes, psoriatic arthritis, certain heart conditions and depression. There is no specific cure, but there are therapies thanks to which it is possible to keep the clinical manifestations of the disease under control, even for long periods of remission.
“Janssen’s commitment to immunology has deep roots, starting with the introduction of targeted biological therapies. We have always pioneered research to identify new and more effective ways to transform the course of autoimmune diseases. Today, our discoveries have enabled to improve the lives of millions of people around the world “, says Loredana Bergamini, Medical Director of Janssen Italy. “Ours is a constant commitment that goes well beyond drugs. We collaborate with patient associations, scientific societies, health personnel, institutions, regulatory authorities and all interlocutors in the health system to ensure that patients can live a better life and benefit from the most appropriate treatments when they they need”.
One-Press – the company recalls – is a device, controlled directly by the patient, for the self-administration of guselkumab in the treatment of moderate to severe plaque psoriasis. The technical characteristics of the product allow it to be used in total independence, also allowing you to decide the injection speed of the drug; a simple click alerts you when the injection is complete. It has been designed in such a way as to minimize the possibility of accidental needle sticks with the needle not visible.
“The advantages of this pre-filled pen are numerous”, comments Gabriella Fabbrocini, Director of the Complex Unit of Dermatology and Director of the School of Specialization in Dermatology and Venereology, University of Naples Federico II. “First of all, it is ergonomic, extremely easy to use and hold correctly. This minimizes the risk of incorrect administration, a possible leakage of the drug from the device or a failure to inject the entire quantity of the drug. Furthermore, it does not expose the needle to the patient’s sight, thus making the administration event less psychologically stressful. This is especially good in the Covid-19 pandemic, which in itself entails a significant psychological burden on patients and manifests an even more devastating impact on psoriasis, a class already more labile and / or at greater risk of psychological implications than the general population. “.
The One-Press device was tested in the Phase 3 ‘Orion’ study, a multicenter, double-blind, placebo-controlled study that evaluated the efficacy, safety and pharmacokinetics of subcutaneous guselkumab administered with this new device in patients with moderate to severe plaque psoriasis. “The study – concludes Fabbrocini – in addition to confirming once again the high degree of efficacy of guselkumab which is coupled with an equally remarkable safety with a very low rate of significant adverse events, also highlights the great satisfaction of patients with the use of this new pre-filled pen. This study has a double importance because it highlights the need to evaluate and consider the opinion and expectations of patients, and because it represents one of the few studies available for the evaluation of psoriatic patient satisfaction with the characteristics and the type of therapy delivery tool “, he concludes.