![\"strober_office_24_cropped2Dr.](\"https:\/\/today.uconn.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/10\/strober_office_24_cropped2.jpg\")
<\/a>But Dr. Bruce Strober<\/a>, vice chair of UConn Health\u2019s Department of Dermatology<\/a>, says treatment of this common disease has experienced a \u201crenaissance\u201d in the past decade, with the development of more advanced therapies with minimal side effects.<\/p>\n Strober recently testified before the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) about a new medicine that could dramatically improve the lives of the nearly 7.5 million Americans with psoriasis.<\/p>\n \u201cThe reason these new injectable therapies represent a renaissance is that they effectively treat a high percentage of patients,\u201d explains Strober, who was recently recognized by the National Psoriasis Foundation<\/a> for his commitment to cure psoriatic disease. \u201cAnd more advanced therapies are in the pipeline.\u201d<\/p>\n Strober answered questions for the FDA about secukinumab \u2013 a novel medication for the treatment of adult moderate to severe psoriasis. In clinical trials, Strober found the drug highly effective \u2013 clearing or nearly clearing the skin of 80 percent of patients.<\/p>\n \u201cThis has really changed psoriasis therapy,\u201d says Strober. \u201cThese therapies have widened interest in medical dermatology in general, because the knowledge base that goes into using these medicines creates an environment and interest in all serious skin disease, not just psoriasis.\u201d<\/p>\n With psoriasis, it\u2019s not just a patient\u2019s skin that is inflamed but also often joints, ligaments, tissues, and organs, such as the liver and blood vessels. Unchecked inflammation throughout the body creates sticky blood vessels, which means a greater chance of clotting, and therefore an increased risk for heart attacks or strokes.<\/p>\n That’s one reason why people with moderate to severe psoriasis live an average of five years less than people in the general population, Strober says.”Patients come in and they’re focused on the risks of the medicines, and I tell them they need to focus on the risks of the disease when it’s untreated.<\/p>\n \u201cThese patients are suffering,\u201d Strober adds. \u201cThey become reclusive, they have high absenteeism. If they go to work they are not productive, because they\u2019re incredibly self-conscious and experience physical discomfort.\u201d<\/p>\n Yet, even while psoriasis medications are improving, there is a lack of information about the patients themselves, which is why Strober is also working on the development of a new registry for psoriasis patients.<\/p>\n<\/a>