Your Health

(NAPSI)—Skin diseases ranging from acne to psoriasis, as well as melanoma and infections, are more common than most people know. And they come with not only a medical, but also a financial burden.

Fortunately, new medicines are being developed that may effectively treat the skin disorders that now affect more than 100 million Americans. The more than 277 new medicines now being tested or under review by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration include:

• 74 for skin cancers, including 63 for melanoma, which affects more than 68,000 Americans each year and is the most common form of cancer in the U.S;

• 60 for skin and soft tissue infections, which account for nearly 14 million outpatient visits each year;

• 41 for psoriasis, which affects about 7.5 million people in the U.S., and is the most prevalent auto-immune disease in this country;

• 14 for dermatitis (eczema), where 90 percent of sufferers get the disorder before the age of 5. Worldwide, 10−20 percent of children have dermatitis;

• Nine for rosacea, which affects more than 14 million Americans.

These diseases affect people of all ages, racial and ethnic populations, and economic status.

“Advances in our understanding of the skin and the diverse disorders that affect it have allowed America’s pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies to conduct the cutting-edge research needed to reduce the toll on the wide range of people afflicted with skin disorders,” said John J. Castellani, president and CEO of the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (http://phrma.org), which represents the country’s leading biopharmaceutical research companies.

“Some people have referred to 2011 as ‘the year of melanoma.’ Because of promising research, there is great momentum in the field,” said Wendy K. D. Selig, president and CEO of the Melanoma Research Alliance. “As these advances continue, we look forward to the day when all stakeholders can declare it ‘the year of the melanoma cure.’”

PhRMA companies are working on medicines that help patients to live longer and healthier lives. Last year, PhRMA members alone invested an estimated $49.4 billion in discovering and developing new medicines. Industry-wide research and investment reached a record $67.4 billion.

For more information, visit www.phrma.org, on Facebook at www.facebook.com/PhRMA, at their blog: www.phrma.org/catalyst, via Twitter at www.Twitter.com/ PhRMA and www.Twitter.com/ PhRMApress, and via You Tube at www.youtube.com/PhRMApress.

For information on how innovative medicines save lives, visit www.innovation.org. For information on the Partnership for Prescription Assistance, visit www.pparx.org. For information on ensuring the flow of medicines during public health emergencies, visit www.rxresponse.org.