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WHAT IS GPP?

If you or someone you care for have been diagnosed with generalized pustular psoriasis (GPP)—or think you may have it—it’s natural to have questions. Here, you can find answers. Learn more about GPP—the symptoms, how it’s different than plaque psoriasis, and why treating GPP is so important. 

Mature Woman Researching GPP

UNDERSTANDING YOUR DIAGNOSIS

WHAT IS GPP?

GPP is a rare, lifelong skin disease that can cause unpredictable flares. Flares can appear suddenly or slowly and are characterized by red, painful, pus-filled bumps (pustules) that often cover large parts of the body.

GPP symptoms are both unpredictable and highly variable. Some GPP patients may experience mild, but chronic symptoms. Others may experience extremely severe GPP symptoms. Some patients may experience multiple flares per year, where others may only experience a flare every few years.

A GPP flare could last for weeks—even months—and may be followed by periods where the skin partly or completely clears up. The most common triggers for GPP flares are stress, infection, steroid withdrawal, and pregnancy.

What are common symptoms of GPP?

GPP symptoms may include:

Pustules

PUSTULES

Painful Skin

PAINFUL SKIN

Dry And Scaly Skin

DRY, SCALY SKIN

Severe Itching

SEVERE ITCHING

Joint Pain

JOINT PAIN

Extreme Tiredness

EXTREME TIREDNESS

Fever And Chills

FEVER AND/OR CHILLS

What causes GPP?

While the root cause of GPP is not understood, a ripple effect that starts inside your body leads to GPP. Genetic and environmental factors, such as infection and withdrawal from corticosteroids, could trigger an inflammatory process in your immune system that could lead to a flare.

The inflammation that causes GPP is believed to be driven by a pathway in the immune system called the interleukin-36 (IL-36). When the pathway works as it should, it supports necessary inflammation. When it is out of balance, it could lead to a GPP flare.

 


 

THE IMPORTANCE OF TREATING GPP

WHY TREAT GPP?

A GPP flare can lead to hospitalization and even become life-threatening. Because of the serious complications associated with GPP—including acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), sepsis, cardiovascular septic shock, high-output cardiac failure, and renal failure—it is important that patients experiencing a GPP flare receive prompt medical attention.

GPP flares may come and go throughout a person’s life and continue to occur unpredictably. However, regular treatment may help reduce the risk of a flare occurring.

WHAT MAKES GPP DIFFERENT

IS GPP THE SAME AS PLAQUE PSORIASIS?

No. While there are some similarities, it’s important to note that GPP is different from plaque psoriasis. Both appear as large areas of red, itchy, very dry, scaly, or cracking skin. However, they are two distinctly different diseases and are related to different processes in the body. These two diseases require distinct approaches to management and treatment. As a result, treatments for plaque psoriasis may not work for GPP.

Knowing the difference between GPP and how it differs from plaque psoriasis can be an important step in helping people with GPP get diagnosed more quickly and get the prompt treatment they need.

GPP IS DIFFERENT FROM PLAQUE PSORIASIS

GPP Affects 1 in 10,000 People

GPP is a rare, lifelong skin disease that affects 1 in 100,000 people in the world.

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plaque psoriasis is the most common form of psoriasis

Plaque psoriasis is the most common form of psoriasis and affects about 1 in 100 people in the world.

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GPP flare icon

GPP can cause unpredictable flares marked by painful, pus-filled bumps (pustules).

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Plaque psoriasis icon

Plaque psoriasis is marked by patches of raised, inflamed red skin covered with silvery white scales. On darker skin, the patches may be purplish with gray scales.

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Silhouette of a woman

Although GPP symptoms can occur in children, they often start in adults between ages 40 and 50. GPP is more common in women than men.

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Silhouette of two people

Plaque psoriasis symptoms often start between ages 15 and 25. Plaque psoriasis affects both men and women equally.

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Interleukin 36 (IL36) Pathway

The inflammation that causes a GPP flare is believed to be driven by an immune system pathway called the 
interleukin-36 (IL-36).

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Interleukin 23 (IL23) Pathway

The inflammation that causes plaque psoriasis is believed to be driven by a different pathway known as the 
interleukin-23 (IL-23).

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Initiated By Neutrophils

GPP is characterized by innate responses initiated by neutrophils. Neutrophils are white blood cells that fight infection.

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Antigen Specific T Cells

Plaque psoriasis is characterized by adaptive responses initiated by 
antigen-specific T cells. 
Antigen-specific T cells help the body fight germs and infection.

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Hospital icon

GPP can cause other medical problems in the body that can lead to hospitalization and even become life-threatening.

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Medical issues icon

Plaque psoriasis does not typically cause other medical problems and rarely requires hospitalization.

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IS GPP INTERFERING WITH YOUR LIFE?

Learn more about SPEVIGO® (spesolimab-sbzo) injection, the first and only FDA-approved prescription medicine used to treat generalized pustular psoriasis (GPP) in adults and children 12 years of age and older who weigh at least 88 pounds (40 kg). It is not known if SPEVIGO is safe and effective in children under 12 years of age or who weigh less than 88 pounds (40 kg).
Why SPEVIGO

STAY INFORMED WITH SPEVIGO

Sign up to receive updates and information about SPEVIGO. Get GPP resources designed to help you move forward and take control of your care.

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What is SPEVIGO?

SPEVIGO is a prescription medicine used to treat generalized pustular psoriasis (GPP) in adults and children 12 years of age and older who weigh at least 88 pounds (40 kg). It is not known if SPEVIGO is safe and effective in children under 12 years of age or who weigh less than 88 pounds (40 kg). 

Important Safety Information

Do not receive SPEVIGO if you or your child have had a severe or life-threatening allergic reaction to spesolimab-sbzo or any of the ingredients in SPEVIGO.  

What is the most important information I should know about SPEVIGO?

SPEVIGO may cause serious side effects, including:

  • Infections. SPEVIGO may lower the ability of your or your child’s immune system to fight infections and may increase your or your child’s risk of infections. Your healthcare provider should check you or your child for infections and tuberculosis (TB) before starting treatment with SPEVIGO and may treat you or your child for TB before you begin treatment with SPEVIGO if you have a history of TB or have active TB. Your healthcare provider should watch you or your child closely for signs and symptoms of TB during or after treatment with SPEVIGO. Tell your healthcare provider right away if you or your child have an infection or have symptoms of an infection during or after treatment with SPEVIGO, including:
    • fevers, chills, or sweats
    • muscle aches
    • cough
    • shortness of breath
    • blood in your phlegm (mucus)
    • burning when you urinate
    • urinating more often than normal
  • Allergic reactions and infusion-related reactions. Serious allergic reactions may happen during or after your or your child’s SPEVIGO injection. If you or your child have a serious allergic reaction, your healthcare provider will stop treatment with SPEVIGO. If you or your child are given SPEVIGO in a vein (intravenously) and have an infusion-related reaction, your healthcare provider will stop your or your child’s SPEVIGO infusion and treat your or your child’s symptoms and may restart SPEVIGO at a slower infusion rate. Tell your healthcare provider or get emergency medical help right away if you or your child get any of the following symptoms during or after your or your child’s SPEVIGO injection: 
    • feeling faint, dizzy, or lightheaded
    • swelling of your face, eyelids, lips, mouth, tongue, or throat
    • trouble breathing or throat tightness
    • fever
    • mouth sores
    • chest tightness
    • hives or skin rash that is different than the rash from generalized pustular psoriasis (GPP)
    • itching
    • swollen lymph nodes
Before you or your child receive SPEVIGO, tell your healthcare provider about all of your medical conditions, including if you or your child: 
  • have an infection that does not go away or that keeps coming back.
  • have TB or have been in close contact with someone with TB.
  • have recently received or are scheduled to receive an immunization (vaccine). You or your child should not receive live vaccines during and for at least 16 weeks after treatment with SPEVIGO. You or your child should be brought up to date with all vaccines before starting SPEVIGO.
  • are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. It is not known if SPEVIGO can harm your or your child’s unborn baby. 
  • are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed. It is not known if SPEVIGO passes into your breast milk. Talk to your healthcare provider about the best way to feed your or your child’s baby during treatment with SPEVIGO. 

Tell your healthcare provider about all the medicines you or your child take, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements. 

What are the possible side effects of SPEVIGO?

The most common side effects of SPEVIGO given in a vein (intravenously) for GPP flare treatment include: 

  • feeling tired or weak
  • nausea and vomiting
  • headache
  • itching or itchy bumps
  • a collection of blood under the skin at the infusion site or bruising
  • urinary tract infection

The most common side effects of SPEVIGO when given under the skin (subcutaneously) for treatment of GPP when not experiencing a flare include:  

  • redness, pain, swelling, hardening, hives, or warmth at the injection site 
  • joint pain  
  • urinary tract infection 
  • itching

These are not all of the possible side effects of SPEVIGO. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects.

You are encouraged to report negative side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA. Visit www.fda.gov/medwatch or call 1-800-FDA-1088.

CL-SPG-100004 03.18.2024

SPEVIGO is a registered trademark of and BI SOLUTIONS PLUS is a service mark of Boehringer Ingelheim International GmbH, used under license.