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THE LEADERIN NEWSANDMEETINGCOVERAGE
Ustekinumab’s NextPsoriasis Stop: FDA
BY SHARON WORCESTER
Southeast Bureau
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— Long-term,continuous use ofustekinumabfor maintenance therapy in pa-tients with moderate to severeplaque psoriasis is efficaciousand generally well tolerated, ac-cording to phase III study find-ings reported at the annualmeeting ofthe American Acad-emy ofDermatology.The results ofthe PHOENIX Itrial—a randomized, double-blind,placebo-controlled crossover trialofthe human monoclonal anti- body against interleukins 12 and23—showed that treatment re-sponse was better maintained at76 weeks in responders who re-ceived 45 mg or 90 mg ofustek-inumab every 12 weeks, comparedwith those who discontinuedtreatment at 40 weeks, Dr. Ken-neth B. Gordon ofNorthwesternUniversity, Chicago, reported dur-ing a poster session. Just days after the data werepresented, the drug’s manufac-turer (Centocor Inc.) announcedthat its Biologics License Appli-cation for ustekinumab (CNTO1275) had been accepted for re-view by the Food and Drug Ad-ministration.The results ofanother phase IIIstudy (PHOENIX II) ofustek-inumab, which were reported inOctober at the World CongressofDermatology in Buenos Aires,showed that ustekinumab waseffective and safe in more thantwo-thirds of1,230 patients withmoderate to severe disease whoreceived two subcutaneous dosesofthe drug. A 75% improvementin the psoriasis severity area indexscore (PASI 75) was achieved in67% ofpatients randomized toreceive 45-mg doses, 76% of those randomized to receive 90-mg doses, and 4% ofthose in theplacebo group, the investigatorsreported.For the current study, 766 pa-tients were randomized to re-
BY JOHN R.BELL
Associate Editor
S
AN
A
NTONIO
— The Amer-ican Academy ofDermatology’sSeal ofRecognition programcontinued to raise concernsamong some dermatologists atthe Academy’s annual meeting.Since the program was ap-proved in July 2006, two prod-ucts have been selected to carrythe seal: Aveeno ContinuousProtection Sunblock Lotion SPF55 and Aveeno Baby Continu-ous Protection Sunblock LotionSPF 5, according to the AAD.The Seal ofRecognition is alsoavailable for cosmetics/moistur-izers, clothing, hats, laundry ad-ditives, shade structures, andwindow films/tints that meet ev-idence-based criteria for reducing sun exposure. At the AAD’s annual meeting,Dr. A. Bernard Ackerman sub-mitted to academy officials a pe-tition signed by 80 members op-posed to the program; that actioncaused a special meeting of members to be held on Feb. 4.The meeting was open to all AAD members; 97 voting mem- bers were present and 80 voted ina closed ballot straw poll, ac-
Emphasis is placed on EMRs, e-prescribing.
Melanoma QualityMeasures DroppedFrom Medicare P4P
Controversy Lingers OverSunscreen Seal Program
BY ROBERT FINN
San Francisco Bureau
T
hree melanoma measuresthat were added to thePhysician Quality Report-ing Initiative in mid-2007 have been eliminated, leaving derma-tologists with limited opportuni-ties to qualify for bonus pay-ments from the Center forMedicare and Medicaid Servicesthat could have totaled up to1.5% ofMedicare billings.Like physicians in other spe-cialties, dermatologists can stillqualify by using certain electron-ic medical record (EMR) and e-prescribing systems. The e-pre-scribing measure can be reportedalone and appears to be the mostsuitable for dermatology prac-tices, according to Dr. Mark D.Kaufmann. A smoking cessation measurealso exists, but reporting it makesdermatologists subject to report-ing a cluster ofpreventive caremeasures. Many dermatologistsare not satisfied with these limit-ed opportunities.“It’s clear to me, and it has beenfor several years now, that thegovernment has convinced itself that we are going to save billionsofdollars by going electronic, andI think that’s where the push is go-ing to be from now on,” Dr. Kauf-mann said in an interview. And, ata talk during the 2008 American Academy ofDermatology meet-
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About 75% of patients in the 90-mg group had psoriasis rated as“cleared or minimal,” according to Dr. Kenneth B. Gordon.
Mohs Nose
Tissue-sparing techniquemay be best for criticalanatomic sites.
PAGE 23
BotoxNews
FDA issues warning;injections show promise as Raynaud’s treatment.
PAGE 13
Hands Off
Even after diarrhea resolves,
C. difficile
spores remain on patient’s body.
PAGE 42
See
Ustekinumab
page 7
CASE OF THE MONTH
INSIDE
B
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P
ROPOSES
2009 M
EDICARE
, M
EDICAID
C
UTS
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PAGE
61
Skin & Aller
gy
News
V
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The Leading Independent Newspaper for Medical, Surgical, and Aesthetic Dermatology
M
ARCH
2008
See
P4P
page 61See
Controversy
page 10
www.skinandallergynews.com
A
66-year-old fisherman with a history ofchronic sun expo-sure presents with a 2-month history ofa slowly growing plaque that began as a bump and grew into a ring. The lesionwas completely asymptomatic. He has no known allergies or anyother pertinent history, except for hypertension. Physical examreveals a nontender, nonscaling annular plaque on his right fore-arm. No other similar lesion is observed. The lesion is KOH neg-ative. What’s your diagnosis?
See
Case of the Month,
page 75.
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