National Psoriasis Foundation Releases Consensus Statement on Management of Generalized Pustular Psoriasis (GPP)

Ridgefield, Conn., November 20, 2023 – The Medical Board of the National Psoriasis Foundation has issued a new consensus statement to provide standardized guidance on the management of generalized pustular psoriasis, or GPP. The statement, recently published in the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology, features five consensus statements that underscore the urgency with which GPP should be treated and offers additional insight into management of the disease for clinicians, payors, and patients.

GPP is a rare and potentially life-threatening chronic neutrophilic skin disease characterized by flares of widespread eruptions of painful, sterile pustules across the body. Flares greatly affect a person's quality of life and can lead to hospitalization with serious complications, including heart failure, renal failure, sepsis, and death. In addition to the acute distress of a GPP flare, living with the uncertainty of the impact of the next flare can have a significant emotional burden on patients.

The authors reached a high consensus on the statement that GPP is a life-threatening skin disease that needs to be treated as quickly as possible, acknowledging that half of patients affected by GPP will require hospitalization as a result of GPP flares. The consensus also states that while GPP should be diagnosed based on an assessment of clinical features, a skin biopsy should not be required for diagnosis, as it may delay timely treatment.

Among other guidance outlined in the paper includes a strong group consensus on the need for timely access to FDA-approved therapies for GPP. “Delays can increase the risk of mortality in patients with this rapidly progressing disease,” the statement reads. “Timely access to approved therapies is critical to reducing morbidity and mortality in patients presenting with GPP."

“As a rare disease, GPP often goes undiagnosed or misdiagnosed for many years. Even some dermatologists and healthcare providers are not familiar with its symptoms. Given what we know about the impact that GPP can have on patients’ physical and emotional wellbeing, having consensus on a standardized disease management and treatment approach that supports diagnosis and urgent treatment is vital,” said Claudia Beqaj, Executive Director, Dermatology Sales and Marketing, Boehringer Ingelheim.

Boehringer Ingelheim offers several helpful resources for physicians to navigate GPP care and diagnosis. To learn more, visit TalkGPP.com.

About generalized pustular psoriasis (GPP)
GPP is a rare, heterogenous and potentially life-threatening chronic neutrophilic skin disease, which is clinically distinct from plaque psoriasis. GPP is caused by neutrophils (a type of white blood cell) accumulating in the skin, resulting in painful, sterile pustules all over the body. The clinical course varies, with some patients having a relapsing disease with recurrent flares, and others having a persistent disease with intermittent flares. While the severity of GPP flares can vary, if left untreated they can be life-threatening due to complications such as sepsis and multisystem organ failure. This chronic, systemic disease has a substantial quality of life impact for patients and increased healthcare burden. GPP has a varied prevalence across different geographical regions and more women are affected than men.

GPP flares can lead to hospitalization with serious complications, including heart failure, renal failure and sepsis, and the unpredictability and severity of these flares greatly affect a person's quality of life.

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Boehringer Ingelheim
Boehringer Ingelheim is working on breakthrough therapies that improve the lives of humans and animals. As a leading research-driven biopharmaceutical company, the company creates value through innovation in areas of high unmet medical need. Founded in 1885 and family-owned ever since, Boehringer Ingelheim takes a long-term perspective. Around 52,000 employees serve more than 130 markets in the three business areas, Human Pharma, Animal Health, and Biopharmaceutical Contract Manufacturing. Learn more at www.boehringer-ingelheim.com.

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