New Treatments & Clinical Trials for Hidradenitis Suppurativa

Hidradenitis suppurativa causes painful lumps, abscesses, and tunnels under the skin, usually in areas where skin rubs together. It affects about 1-2% of people and often starts after puberty. Current treatments include antibiotics, adalimumab (the only FDA-approved biologic), and surgery for severe cases.

What's actually going on in research

Trials are testing additional TNF blockers, JAK inhibitors, IL-17 and IL-23 inhibitors borrowed from psoriasis research, and complement inhibitors. Researchers are also studying laser treatments, new surgical techniques, and combinations of biologics with antibiotics or other drugs to address the complex inflammation driving HS.

What to know before you search

Eligibility typically depends on disease severity (Hurley stage), number of active abscesses or tunnels, body areas affected, and whether you've tried antibiotics or biologics before.

What types of trials are currently open

• Biologic trials — Testing injected antibody drugs that target specific immune pathways, often comparing them to adalimumab or testing them in people who didn't respond to adalimumab.
• Oral medication trials — Testing pills like JAK inhibitors or other immune-modulating drugs that may be easier to take than injections.
• Combination trials — Testing biologics or other drugs combined with antibiotics, laser treatment, or surgery to see if multiple approaches work better together.
• Procedural trials — Studies of laser treatments, new surgical techniques, or skin resurfacing methods to treat existing tunnels and prevent new ones.
• Natural history studies — Following people with HS over time to understand how the disease progresses, what triggers flares, and what factors predict treatment response.