New SkinBio Therapeutics psoriasis product AxisBiotix-Ps touted as affordable treatment for skin condition

29 Oct 2021 --- SkinBio Therapeutics has unveiled its food supplement AxisBiotix-Ps across the UK and US to mark World Psoriasis Day. The non-prescription product targets psoriasis and is available in powder form.

The launch comes as the International Federation of Psoriasis Associations (IFPA) says 60 million worldwide live with psoriasis, and four in five face discrimination due to visible skin symptoms. Many face barriers in getting treatment and 12% experience depression. 

“We maintain that this product is very accessible to all. It costs less than the price of a cup of coffee each day and is proven, through testimonials, to ease the symptoms of skin conditions like psoriasis,” Stuart Ashman, CEO of SkinBioTherapeutics, tells NutritionInsight.

Removing barriers to treatment
The UK-based company outlines that psoriasis manifests as itchy, flaky, red skin on any part of the body. Its AxisBiotix-Ps product aims to ease these symptoms by reducing inflammation in psoriatic patients.

When not addressed, the inflammation could lead to more serious health conditions, including psoriatic arthritis, as well as impacting the individual's emotional and mental health, relationships and more.

During COVID-19, 43% of people suffering from psoriasis saw their disease worsen. “Current treatment regimes tend to be topical (creams) and mostly steroid based. It is somewhat easy to miss hard-to-reach areas with topicals, and steroid-based solutions are not sustainable. Our product is natural and can be taken daily without any side effects,” Ashman highlights. 

The product can be taken with cold liquids and can easily be integrated into daily routine, the company notes. Additionally, it does not contain steroids, therefore suitable to be taken on a long-term basis, SkinBio Therapeutics notes.

Gut microbiome
According to the company, AxisBiotix-Ps was designed based on long-term scientific research into the role of the gut microbiome on overall health, including the immune system. 

SkinBioTherapeutics has been investigating the links between the gut microbiome and skin for a decade and used a combination of four strains of probiotic bacteria in the product directly selected for psoriasis.

Earlier in 2021, a customer study carried out by the company revealed that 76% of participants who self-identified as suffering from psoriasis and used the food supplement noticed a reduction in itchiness, and 73% reported less irritable skin. The microbiome has been flagged for its benefits to health, ranging from skin to gut.

Changing psoriasis perceptions
The company touts AxisBiotix-Ps as a product with a new approach, with its affordable price and easy use making it more accessible. 

“Psoriasis can be an excruciating condition, with many suffering with it for decades. After years of scientific research, we now want to support the psoriatic community with a new approach in addressing their symptoms, in the form of a non-prescription-based food supplement, which is straightforward to add to the daily routine,” Ashman says. 

The IFPA has launched a petition aiming to change the perception of psoriatic disease, ensure equal access to medicine, stop stigma, advance holistic care and prepare the workforce.

It aims to gather 200,000 signatures by the end of the year and consequently advocate for better psoriatic disease care at the national level.

“World Psoriasis Day is a powerful opportunity to mobilize advocacy all around the world. By coming together, we can call on health ministers, governments, and decision-makers to improve access to treatment. United, we can ensure that people living with psoriatic disease are supported,” says Frida Dunger Johnsson, executive director of IFPA.

The use of probiotics for skin health, including psoriasis, has also been previously flagged by ADM. 

As the role of the gut continues to become a key area of growing research, a study from the University of California Davis says unhealthy foods disrupt the gut and trigger psoriasis flares. 

Last year, AxisBiotix, a subsidiary of SkinBioTherapeutics, made an agreement with Dutch company Winclove Probiotics to develop and manufacture a probiotic food supplement to help manage symptoms of mild-medium psoriasis.

By Andria Kades