Hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) is a chronic inflammatory skin disease characterized by painful nodules, abscesses, and tunnels in skin folds including the armpits, groin, and buttocks. It is frequently misdiagnosed and underestimated in severity, causing significant pain, scarring, and profound effects on quality of life, and is associated with metabolic syndrome, inflammatory bowel disease, and depression.
What's actually going on in research
Adalimumab, a TNF inhibitor, became the first approved biologic for HS and reduces flares in many patients, but a large proportion do not achieve adequate control. Secukinumab, an IL-17A inhibitor, has also received approval for moderate-to-severe HS. Trials are now testing IL-1 inhibitors, JAK inhibitors, and complement-targeting drugs. Surgical approaches for advanced tunneling disease are also being studied in combination with systemic therapy.
IL-17 and IL-1 pathway blockade
Secukinumab is now approved for HS, and bimekizumab (an IL-17A/F inhibitor) and IL-1 inhibitors such as bermekimab and lutikizumab are in late-stage trials, targeting key inflammatory cytokines.
JAK inhibitor therapy
Oral JAK inhibitors including povorcitinib and other selective JAK1 blockers are in trials for HS, offering a convenient oral option for patients seeking an alternative to injectable biologics.
Complement pathway blockade
Avacopan and other complement inhibitors are being tested in HS based on evidence of complement activation in HS lesions, providing a novel mechanistic approach to reducing neutrophil-driven inflammation.
What to know before you search
Eligibility depends on HS severity (Hurley stage), lesion location, prior biologic use, and associated conditions such as inflammatory bowel disease.
What types of trials are currently open
- Biologic therapy trials — Testing IL-17, IL-1, and TNF blockers with varying mechanisms to control HS flares and scarring.
- JAK inhibitor trials — Evaluating oral small molecules targeting JAK pathways as alternatives to injectable biologics.
- Complement inhibitor trials — Testing drugs that block complement activation to reduce neutrophil-driven inflammation in HS.
- Surgical and combined modality trials — Studying surgery, laser therapy, and their combination with systemic drugs for tunneling disease.
- Quality of life trials — Assessing pain control, psychological impact, and outcomes measures specific to HS.
Recently added Hidradenitis Suppurativa trials
SAR447971 First-in-human Study
SAD20411 is a single-center, first-in-human, double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled, sequential single ascending dose study in healthy male and/or female participants with a pilot food effect investigation. MAD20412 is a single-center, double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled, sequential multiple ascending dose study in healthy male and/or female participants. MAD24339 is an open-label, sequential multiple ascending dose study in hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) male and/or female participants. Number of participants - The total expected number of healthy participants is approximately 94 and the total number of HS participants is expected to be approximately 20. * SAD20411 will enroll up to 46 participants * MAD20412 will enroll up to 48 participants * MAD24339 will enroll up to 20 participants Duration of study - The anticipated study duration per participant is up to approximately 10 weeks in SAD20411 and MAD20412, and up to approximately 12 weeks in MAD24339.
Share your treatment data to help advance hidradenitis suppurativa care
The aim of this study is to generate real-world evidence to fill knowledge gaps regarding the response to secukinumab in patients with moderate to severe HS, its treatment patterns, the clinical characteristics of patients on secukinumab, healthcare resource utilization and the economic impact of HS in Italy.
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