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Tag: Young

  • The FDA Just Approved a Powerful Biologic for Children as Young as 6 with Severe Psoriasis or Psoriatic Arthritis

    The FDA Just Approved a Powerful Biologic for Children as Young as 6 with Severe Psoriasis or Psoriatic Arthritis

    Children as young as 6 years old with moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis or active psoriatic arthritis now have access to one of the most effective biologics in dermatology and rheumatology, following an FDA approval announced June 26, 2026.

    AbbVie announced that the FDA has approved risankizumab (Skyrizi) for children 6 years of age and older with moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis who are candidates for systemic therapy or phototherapy, and for active psoriatic arthritis in the same age group. A new 55 mg prefilled syringe was simultaneously approved to support weight-based dosing for patients weighing less than 40 kg, filling a critical gap in pediatric treatment access.

    Risankizumab is now the first and only interleukin-23 (IL-23) inhibitor approved in the United States for pediatric patients 6 years of age and older who weigh less than 40 kg with either plaque psoriasis or psoriatic arthritis.

    Why This Matters

    According to Drug Topics, approximately 30 percent of people who develop psoriasis first experience symptoms before age 18. For these patients, severe psoriatic disease can mean painful, visible skin lesions that affect school participation, social development, and mental health in addition to causing physical discomfort.

    Psoriatic arthritis in children — called juvenile psoriatic arthritis or psoriatic juvenile idiopathic arthritis — causes joint pain, swelling, and stiffness that can impair a child’s ability to walk, write, or participate in normal childhood activities. Before biologics in this class were available for children, treatment options were more limited, and some children were treated off-label with adult formulations in adult doses, which is not ideal from a pharmacokinetic standpoint.

    “Plaque psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis can affect much more than skin and joints — these conditions can shape daily life and disrupt important childhood experiences,” said Roopal Thakkar, MD, executive vice president of research and development at AbbVie.

    What We Know So Far

    Risankizumab is a humanized IgG1 monoclonal antibody that selectively blocks the p19 subunit of IL-23, a cytokine that drives the inflammatory cascade responsible for the skin plaques and joint inflammation in psoriatic disease. It was first approved for adults with moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis in 2019 and has since received approvals for adult psoriatic arthritis, Crohn’s disease, and ulcerative colitis.

    The pediatric approval is supported by data from the Phase 3 OptIMMize clinical trial program, which enrolled children and adolescents aged 6 through 17. Key findings from the trial:

    In adolescents aged 12 to 17: At week 16, 85.2 percent of risankizumab-treated patients achieved PASI75 (75% reduction in psoriasis severity), comparable to ustekinumab (85.7%). However, PASI100 (complete clearance) favored risankizumab at 40.7% versus 17.9% for ustekinumab.

    In children aged 6 to 11: Response rates at week 16 were high: PASI75 in 86.7%, PASI90 in 76.7%, and PASI100 (complete clearance) in 43.3%. Nearly all patients (90.0%) achieved a physician global assessment score of clear or almost clear.

    Durability: In adolescents who responded and continued treatment through week 52, approximately 95% maintained clear or almost clear skin — a strong durability finding for this age group.

    The safety profile in pediatric patients was consistent with the established adult safety profile, according to AbbVie and Contemporary Pediatrics.

    Who Qualifies for Skyrizi — Children and Dosing

    Age: 6 years and older

    Conditions: Moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis who are candidates for systemic therapy or phototherapy; OR active psoriatic arthritis

    Dosing by weight:

    • Children weighing less than 40 kg: 55 mg subcutaneous injection (new weight-based formulation)
    • Children weighing 40 kg or more: 150 mg subcutaneous injection (same as adult dosing)

    Administration schedule: An initial dose, followed by a dose 4 weeks later, then maintenance dosing every 12 weeks thereafter — the same schedule used in adults.

    The psoriatic arthritis approval for children 6 and older is supported by the OptIMMize psoriasis data plus population pharmacokinetic modeling from well-controlled adult PsA studies.

    What Doctors and Experts Say

    Amy S. Paller, MD, chair of dermatology and professor of pediatrics at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine and a lead OptIMMize study investigator, called the approval significant: “These clinical responses, combined with weight-based dosing for younger patients, may help physicians better support a broad range of children living with these conditions.”

    Medscape’s analysis noted that this is the first IL-23 inhibitor to reach the under-40 kg pediatric population, distinguishing Skyrizi from other biologics in this class that have not yet reached this weight category in children.

    What the Evidence Shows — and What It Does Not

    MedicalDaily Evidence Check

    • Study type: Phase 3 randomized controlled trial (OptIMMize psoriasis program) — active-controlled in adolescents; single-arm open-label in children 6 to 11
    • Participants: Children and adolescents aged 6–17 with moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis; PsA approval additionally supported by adult data plus PK modeling
    • Published in: Journal of Investigative Dermatology (conference data); FDA review completed June 26, 2026
    • What it found: High rates of PASI75, PASI90, and PASI100 at week 16 with durable responses through week 52
    • Key limitation: The psoriatic arthritis approval for children is partially supported by adult study data extrapolation through PK modeling rather than a dedicated pediatric PsA efficacy trial
    • Safety limitation noted: Detailed pediatric adverse event rates and serious adverse event rates were not publicly released in the press announcement

    What You Can Do Now

    • If your child has moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis or psoriatic arthritis that has not been adequately controlled with topical therapies, ask your pediatric dermatologist or pediatric rheumatologist about risankizumab at your next appointment.
    • Before starting any biologic, standard screening includes tuberculosis testing, hepatitis B testing, and a review of current infections — discuss these with your child’s specialist.
    • The European Commission approved risankizumab for pediatric plaque psoriasis (ages 6 and up) on June 23, 2026 — just days before the U.S. approval — making this a global regulatory milestone for pediatric psoriatic disease.

    Cost and Access: What Patients Should Know

    Skyrizi is a biologic specialty medication. Insurance coverage and prior authorization requirements vary by plan. AbbVie has a patient support program — myAbbVie Assist — for eligible patients who need help with access or cost. Contact your specialty pharmacy or AbbVie’s patient support team for current assistance program details.

    The Bottom Line

    Skyrizi (risankizumab) is now FDA-approved for children 6 and older with moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis or active psoriatic arthritis — making it the first and only IL-23 inhibitor available for the under-40 kg pediatric population in the United States. Clinical trial data showed high rates of complete skin clearance in both adolescents and younger children, with durable responses through a year of treatment. Families of children with severe psoriatic disease should ask their pediatric specialist whether risankizumab is appropriate.

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  • Think You’re Too Young To Worry? Habits That May Harm Your Health By 30s

    Think You’re Too Young To Worry? Habits That May Harm Your Health By 30s

    Many people believe they have time to quit smoking, heavy drinking, or other unhealthy habits, but new research suggests the damage may start much earlier than expected. Although it’s never too late to change, researchers now caution that these vices could begin affecting your health as early as 36.

    For those who keep postponing their decision to take up a healthy lifestyle, the latest study published in the journal Annals of Medicine could be an eye-opener.

    “Non-communicable diseases such as heart disease and cancer cause almost three-quarters of deaths worldwide. But by following a healthy lifestyle, an individual can cut their risk of developing these illnesses and reduce their odds of an early death,” said lead author Dr Tiia Kekäläinen in a news release.

    Researchers tracked the physical and mental health of hundreds of people over more than 30 years and found how risky habits like smoking, heavy drinking, and lack of exercise can take a serious toll on their health, often earlier than one would expect.

    The analysis showed that people with all three unhealthy habits: smoking, heavy drinking, and inactivity, had significantly worse physical and mental health compared to those who avoided them altogether.

    When examined individually, each habit took a unique toll. While lack of exercise was strongly tied to poorer physical health, smoking was linked mainly to worse mental health and heavy drinking was associated with declines in both. The more shocking reveal was the health effects started showing by the time individuals reached their mid-30s.

    The study also noted that the more unhealthy habits people had — and the longer they held onto them — the worse their health became. Over time, these habits affected their mental well-being, poorer self-rated health, and a buildup of metabolic risk factors that can lead to chronic diseases.

    “Our findings highlight the importance of tackling risky health behaviors, such as smoking, heavy drinking and physical inactivity, as early as possible to prevent the damage they do to from building up over the years, culminating in poor mental and physical health later in later life,” said Dr Kekäläinen.

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  • Too Young For Alzheimer’s? Easy To Dismiss Symptoms 41-Year-Old Had Before Diagnosis

    Too Young For Alzheimer’s? Easy To Dismiss Symptoms 41-Year-Old Had Before Diagnosis

    At 41, most people are juggling careers, families, and future plans, not bracing for a diagnosis of Alzheimer’s. But that’s exactly what happened to a dad from Australia, who is now spreading awareness of a little-known reality: Alzheimer’s is not just a disease of old age.

    Fraser was diagnosed with young-onset Alzheimer’s, a form of dementia that strikes earlier in life, before the age of 65. He now regularly shares videos on YouTube chronicling his journey, revealing that his symptoms began as early as two and a half years before the shocking diagnosis.

    As many people would do, Fraser initially kept dismissing his memory issues as something related to stress. In one of the videos, he recalled the shock of realizing his memory issues were getting out of hand, particularly when he started forgetting details about the people closest to him, like what his teenage daughters had planned for the day.

    Fraser shared one incident where he nearly called the police, convinced his daughter was missing, only to find out she was at the movies, just as she had told him multiple times. Now, his family helps him stay on track, his kids text him their schedules and repeat plans, knowing he might not remember the first time.

    Another surprising symptom that Fraser began noticing was the changes in his sleep pattern and the quality of his rest. He recalled that during periods when his mental health declined, his sleep noticeably worsened. Although some of that has improved, he admits that certain aspects of his nighttime rest still have not fully returned to normal.

    “I tend to get my full night’s sleep in again. I do wake up sometimes throughout the night though, a bit more than I probably used to. But I can still fall asleep all right. What I have noticed though, is that I sleep now during the day. I have to sleep during the day now, because I just feel exhausted,” he said in a video.

    Fraser’s channel captures several candid moments that reveal what it’s truly like to forget details. One clip shows him staring off into the distance multiple times, struggling to recall specifics from a recent golf outing with friends. He later admits how he had trouble remembering names and specifics: “It just becomes very foggy, even when I’m motivated to speak, even when I want to speak – I just can’t,” Fraser explained.

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  • Healthy Young Man Nearly Dies From Stroke After Violent Sneeze Ruptures His Neck Artery

    Healthy Young Man Nearly Dies From Stroke After Violent Sneeze Ruptures His Neck Artery

    A fit and healthy young man in California is now facing a long and difficult recovery after suffering a major stroke, which nearly claimed his life. The stroke occurred after a seemingly harmless natural response—sneezing—caused a rupture in one of his neck arteries.

    Ian Applegate, a 35-year-old from Santa Cruz started experiencing alarming symptoms of stroke on Feb 9, after sneezing while sitting inside his car with his wife and their four-year-old son. It was Applegate’s first day back at work after being down with flu for a week.

    “I had just started the car and was getting ready to drive. I sneezed three times, then the third time it caused this blinding headache and made everything spin,” he recollected.

    Applegate suddenly felt an excruciating, blinding headache, intense dizziness that felt like the world was spinning, and severe shooting pain that radiated from his neck to the back of his head and left eye. Soon, he sensed pins and needles across his body and the entire left side including his face went numb.

    “The pain was excruciating. I was very disoriented and throwing up,” he said.

    Suspecting a stroke, he was quickly rushed to the Dominican Hospital in California. Doctors discovered that his violent sneeze had caused a vertebral artery dissection, which led to a blockage and interrupted blood flow to his brain, triggering the stroke.

    Vertebral artery dissection can occur without any clear cause but most likely occurs in people with certain health conditions, such as smoking, high blood pressure, or genetic disorders like Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (issues of connective tissues). It can also result from neck injuries such as from car accidents, heavy weightlifting, or even sneezing. Other risks include yoga, chiropractic adjustments, or any situation involving sudden or prolonged neck movements.

    Applegate was immediately put on blood-thinning medication to prevent further clotting and reduce the risk of additional complications. However, the severe stroke left him with significant damage to his left side, leaving him unable to swallow or walk without assistance, even a month after the incident.

    “It was a pretty hard sneeze but I’ve never experienced anything like this in my life. I never thought this was possible. I’m scared to sneeze now. My wife is eight months pregnant and I want to be there for the delivery.”

    “I can tell I’m going to struggle to take care of myself and the baby. I just want to be home in time for the baby’s birth. I’m trying to stay positive and continue my exercises until I get better,” he said.

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