The fight for a cure for psoriasis has gone global

Dear Members of Congress,

October 29, 2009, is World Psoriasis Day, which is a global effort to raise public awareness about psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis and the seriousness of these diseases. Over 125 million individuals worldwide are affected by psoriasis - a chronic, painful and disabling disease of the immune system that appears on the skin. There is no cure for psoriasis and limited effective, safe and affordable treatment options to manage the condition. Psoriasis is the most prevalent autoimmune disease in the U.S., with as many as 7.5 million Americans affected.

As your constituent, I wish to express to you my concern that too many people suffer needlessly from psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis due to incorrect or delayed diagnosis, inadequate treatment options and insufficient access to care. It is my hope that someday soon, a cure for psoriasis will be discovered. Until that time, it is important to raise awareness around the globe and in our own country about the need for further research toward a cure. In honor of World Psoriasis Day, I ask that you co-sponsor H.R. 930/S. 571, the Psoriasis and Psoriatic Arthritis Research, Cure and Care Act of 2009. This legislation will expand psoriasis research efforts in order to understand the causes of psoriatic diseases, improve access to care and find a cure. Thank you for your support.