''Innerstate'' is a 2007 documentary film on the "inner states" of three adults living with chronic diseases of the immune system: psoriasis,

Crohn's disease Crohn's disease is a type of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) that may affect any segment of the gastrointestinal tract. Symptoms often include abdominal pain, diarrhea (which may be bloody if inflammation is severe), fever, abdominal distension ...

, and rheumatoid arthritis. The film was produced and directed by Chris Valentino and was funded by

Centocor Janssen Pharmaceuticals is a pharmaceutical company headquartered in Beerse, Belgium, and wholly-owned by Johnson & Johnson. It was founded in 1953 by Paul Janssen. In 1961, Janssen Pharmaceuticals was purchased by New Jersey-based American ...

Inc., a biomedicines company. According to the ''New York Times'', the film is "an unusual form of soft-pedal marketing of a blockbuster drug, Remicade". Remicade ( Infliximab) is a medication used to treat

autoimmune diseases An autoimmune disease is a condition arising from an abnormal immune response to a functioning body part. At least 80 types of autoimmune diseases have been identified, with some evidence suggesting that there may be more than 100 types. Nearly a ...

made by Centocor, a unit of

Johnson & Johnson Johnson & Johnson (J&J) is an American multinational corporation founded in 1886 that develops medical devices, pharmaceuticals, and consumer packaged goods. Its common stock is a component of the Dow Jones Industrial Average and the company i ...

Production

The ''New York Times'' hypothesized that ''Innerstate'' was probably the first film to be both originated by and entirely funded by a drug company, although previously drug companies had helped fund other documentaries on diseases. Despite this, the film does not mention Centocor or Remicade. Not mentioning the drug means it does not have to conform to strict U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulations that require detailed explanation of the health risks of therapies.

Synopsis

The film's subjects are Jason Knott, diagnosed with psoriasis, Janie Feliz, diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis, and Ray Ciccarelli, diagnosed with

, all diseases of the immune system, which may be characterized by immune deregulation,

chronic inflammation Chronic systemic inflammation (SI) is the result of release of pro-inflammatory cytokines from immune-related cells and the chronic activation of the innate immune system. It can contribute to the development or progression of certain conditions s ...

and tissue damage. Through the film’s progression, first-hand accounts are intertwined to show how Jason, Janie and Ray, people with different illnesses and from different backgrounds, are linked by their illnesses. Each subject is introduced individually, their stories of diagnosis, treatment and living, told first-person as well as by friends, family and physicians. Although the film was funded by a pharmaceutical company, the participants were not paid.

Promotion

The film was promoted through doctors' offices, and then presented through online screenings. There were also 14 theatrical screenings that included live question and answer sessions with doctors.

Reception

''Innerstate'' premiered on February 21, 2007, at the Directors Guild of America Theater in

New York New York most commonly refers to: * New York City, the most populous city in the United States, located in the state of New York * New York (state), a state in the northeastern United States New York may also refer to: Film and television * '' ...

, NY. The National Psoriasis Association approved of the film, calling it "a great way to get the word out about the disease" and "fair and balanced". They had previously distributed a film, ''My Skin's on Fire'' by Fred Finkelstein, which was part-financed by another pharmaceutical company,

Genentech Genentech, Inc., is an American biotechnology corporation headquartered in South San Francisco, California. It became an independent subsidiary of Roche in 2009. Genentech Research and Early Development operates as an independent center within R ...

References

{{reflist Documentary films about health care American documentary films