The campaign features patients living with moderate to severe plaque psoriasis who are sharing what it’s really like for them to live with the disease.

Bristol Myers Squibb is rolling out Clear Understanding, a campaign featuring patients living with moderate to severe plaque psoriasis who are sharing what it’s really like for them to live with the disease — from dealing with symptoms to navigating relationships with friends, family or co-workers to dispelling misconceptions about the condition. 

“I was young when I was diagnosed with moderate to severe plaque psoriasis, and it felt like my whole life revolved around my condition. After coping with symptoms for years, I began to recognize the compromises I was making in my daily life, like avoiding seeing my friends, quitting hobbies that I loved or missing new work opportunities, because of the severity of my symptoms,” says Nitika Chopra, founder of Chronicon, an organization dedicated to elevating the visibility of those living with chronic illness, and person living with plaque psoriasis, in a news release.  “This led me to feel empowered to face the stigma I’ve experienced, speak up about my own health and advocate for others to do the same.”

"We know from the psoriasis community that many patients can experience stigma due to their disease and as a result may make compromises in their daily lives,” adds Michael Braun, senior vice president, U.S. Immunology, Bristol Myers Squibb. “This insight drove us to launch the Clear Understanding campaign to recognize those concessions and encourage people living with moderate to severe plaque psoriasis to talk to their dermatologist about available treatment options."

“Many individuals living with moderate to severe plaque psoriasis are untreated or undertreated, with persistent, disruptive symptoms,” says Bruce Strober, M.D., Ph.D., board-certified dermatologist and clinical professor of dermatology at Yale University School of Medicine. “Being prepared to talk about your condition with your dermatologist can help inform a path forward, which may include exploring an oral treatment option, like Sotyktu, the only FDA-approved once-daily pill that selectively targets and blocks TYK2 signals.”

Photo Caption: Nitika, living with moderate to severe plaque psoriasis. Nitika is not taking Sotyktu.

Photo Credit: Bristol Myers Squibb)