**Dermatologic and Ophthalmic Drugs Advisory Committee**

**and**

**Drugs Safety and Risk Management Advisory Committee**

## July 12, 2004![](media/image1.jpeg){width="0.9263888888888889in" height="1.3138888888888889in"}

![](media/image2.wmf){width="7.920138888888889in" height="0.4in"}

DODAC/DSRMAC, July 12, 2004

Statement of Tyrone Gorre

Page 2

Since I had bad psoriasis for a long time and had known a dermatologist
that helped with research studies, he asked me if I wanted to
participate in a study of this new drug oral tazarotene.

I thought about it seriously. At the time, I had a nephew who was
beginning to show signs of psoriasis. He was about the same age I was
when my psoriasis started getting bad. This was the extra motivation I
needed to join the study. I was willing to do it because I wanted to
answer questions about psoriasis for myself, for my family, and for
other families too.

During the first part of the study I am 99% sure I received a placebo.
There was zero effect. During the second part of the study, I received
the drug. The only side effect I noticed was peeling skin. After about
week six, I noticed the thickness of the plaques shrinking dramatically.
I certainly did not notice any depression. I was excited!

Within about four months I was 95% clear and just had tiny little areas
of affected skin. The research clinic said I went from having 25% of my
body affected to 4%. That was a pretty good improvement, and it felt
like more than that.

At the point the study ended, I had only a few patches of red skin here
and there, smaller than the size of a quarter. For the first time in my
life, I was virtually clear of psoriasis. It was amazing!

I was wearing sandles and open-toed shoes. I was even wearing a black
suit, which is amazing! A while ago, for the first time in 28 years, I
wore a tuxedo with a silk collar, with confidence. For the first time in
my life, I went to Calistoga hot springs with confidence. At my health
club, I go to the shower and do not worry about it at all.

I used to feel bad. The amount of mental pressure that this has released
is just huge. The confidence that [not]{.underline} having psoriasis
brings is amazing. It is so rewarding to [not]{.underline} have to worry
so much.

There are three huge things this study changed for me: One, with
psoriasis you can't sleep because of the itching. I can sleep all night
now. Two, you are so self-conscious and the psoriasis eats at your
confidence all the time. All that changed too. Three, the constant pain
and stinging of psoriasis are incredible. It just consumes a huge part
of your life. That was gone too.

I will live with psoriasis for the rest of my life. I am really glad I
got involved in the study because it gave me hope and it should give
other people with psoriasis hope too. After more than 20 years
struggling with psoriasis, I feel like a new man using this drug. This
medication has not only improved my physical health, it has given me
back my self-confidence.

One thing I hope is that this committee will do what it can to make this
drug available to patients who need it. This was definitely the least
threatening oral medicine I have tried for psoriasis. It has worked for
me. I did it for myself and for my family and for the thousands of
people just like me.

Thank you very much.