Almirall launches "Shedding Light on Psoriasis" campaign to raise awareness on World Psoriasis Day

Almirall, a global biopharmaceutical company focused on skin health and an active partner of the International Federation for Psoriasis Associations (IFPA) launched the campaign “Shedding Light on Psoriasis” in support of World Psoriasis Day 2021, which is celebrated on October 29th, to raise awareness about the daily challenges faced by people living with psoriasis and to highlight the importance of ensuring their wellbeing.

Psoriasis is one of the world's most prevalent skin diseases, affecting about 60 million people worldwide[i]. Almirall’s campaign “Shedding Light on Psoriasis” aims to point out the need to shed light on a condition with high unmet needs.

VIDEO: https://vimeo.com/user24524635/review/642634412/140d377279

More information can be found at www.almirall.com/world-psoriasis-day

Almirall is also a proud sponsor of IFPA’s World Psoriasis Day campaign in 2021, “United - Now act”, aims to unite the psoriatic disease community to demand action in order to change the perception of the condition, ensure equal access to treatment, stop stigmatization, advance holistic care, and prepare the health workforce to manage this complex and chronic condition. With the launch of this initiative, the IFPA concludes its three-year campaign “Connected, Informed, United” that began in 2019.

The hidden face of psoriasis: its impact on wellbeing

There is a well-established relationship between psoriasis and mental health comorbidity. Psoriasis represents a significant burden in the daily life of 71% of patients[i] and it is also reported that it affects the overall emotional wellbeing of 88% of patients.[ii] They perceive their relationship with healthcare professionals to be linked not only to the management of their disease, but also to their happiness and wellbeing^[iii].Furthermore, the visibility of psoriasis can cause social rejection and a sense of stigmatization that can negatively affect the person’s work life and his or her social relationships.

People living with psoriasis may find that symptoms such as itching, scaling, and discoloration worsen during times of stress. Furthermore, the COVID-19 pandemic, which, in the case of psoriasis led into cancelled appointments and an initial hesitancy to start immunomodulatory therapy, may result in long-lasting consequences. According to recent data published in the Journal of The European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology, 43% of people living with psoriatic disease report that their condition has worsened during the COVID-19 pandemic.

About Psoriasis Vulgaris

Psoriasis is a common, non-contagious, chronic skin disease, with no clear cause or cure. The negative impact of psoriasis on people’s lives can be immense as it affects the appearance of the skin with red, scaly plaques. Psoriasis affects people of all ages, and in all countries. The reported prevalence of psoriasis in Europe varies from 0.6% to 6.5% with an average of approximately 3% of the population^[iv],[v], making psoriasis a serious global problem with about 60 million individuals affected worldwideⁱⁱⁱ. The flares of psoriasis can be unpredictable and significant comorbidities are common, including arthritis, cardiovascular diseases, metabolic syndrome, inflammatory bowel disease and depression.

About Almirall

Almirall is a global biopharmaceutical company focused on skin health. We collaborate with scientists and healthcare professionals to address patient’s needs through science to improve their lives. Our Noble Purpose is at the core of our work: “Transform the patients' world by helping them realize their hopes and dreams for a healthy life”. We invest in differentiated and ground-breaking medical dermatology products to bring our innovative solutions to patients in need.

The company, founded in 1943 and headquartered in Barcelona, is publicly traded on the Spanish Stock Exchange and is a member of the IBEX35 (ticker: ALM). Throughout its 78-year history, Almirall has retained a strong focus on the needs of patients. Currently, Almirall has a direct presence in 21 countries and strategic agreements in over 70, through 13 subsidiaries, with about 1,800 employees. Total revenues in 2020 were 814.5 million euros.

[i] Parisi R, Iskandar I Y K, Kontopantelis E, Augustin M, Griffiths C E M, Ashcroft D M et al. National, regional, and worldwide epidemiology of psoriasis: systematic analysis and modelling study BMJ 2020; 369 :m1590 doi:10.1136/bmj.m1590
[ii] National Psoriasis Foundation 2008 Survey Snapshot. Available from: http://www.psoriasis.org/docum...
[iii] Armstrong AW, Schupp C, Wu J, et al. PLoS One. 2012;7(12):e52935; 2. National Psoriasis Foundation 2008 Survey Snapshot. Available from: http://www.psoriasis.org/docum....; 3. Krueger G, Koo J, Lebwohl M, et al. Arch Dermatol. 2001;137(3):280-284.
[iv] Source: International Federation of Psoriasis Associations. Oct 2021. https://ifpa-pso.com/
[v] Chandran, V., and S.P. Raychaudhuri. 2010. 'Geoepidemiology and environmental factors of psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis', J. Autoimmune, 34: J314-J21
[vi] Schafer, T. 2006. 'Epidemiology of psoriasis. Review and the German perspective', Dermatology, 212: 327-37