Breakthroughs on the Horizon:
A Quarterly Update from Clinical Trials
Articles > Clinical Trials > Breakthroughs on the Horizon: Latest Developments in H.S. Research Q2 2024
Welcome to our April through June edition on Hidradenitis Suppurativa treatment development. Learn what’s happening to help H.S. patients receive more effective and convenient treatment options.
We are at the precipice of change.
Previously, Humira was the only approved treatment for Hidradenitis Suppurativa, which was granted in 2015. Now, most recently, the European Commission and the United Kingdom have approved Bemzelx and Canada approved Cosentyx. Both of these drugs target interleukin (IL) pathways 17A and Bemzelx works on IL17F as well.
By targeting critical inflammation pathways involved in HS, Bemzelx and Cosentyx offer new ways to control the disease and improve patient quality of life. These approvals also pave the way for treatments that can be customized to each patient’s unique condition.
For the first time, our treatment options are not only growing but also becoming more precise. This progress promises to ease the daily impact of HS, giving both patients and doctors new reasons to be hopeful about the future.
In addition, there are a large variety of drugs in the pipeline right now. Brensocatib, Ruxolitinib, and MC2-32 are all featured in updates for this quarter (May to June), with all of them performing well in their respective clinical trials. As dermatologists, and clinical researchers, we are inspired and motivated by these developments. When Hidradenitis goes from something we struggle to treat, to something that is easy to treat, the whole world will benefit.
Dive deeper into our May to June update to discover the latest breakthroughs and developments in the world of Hidradenitis research.
Drug Name: Brensocatib
Market Name: Not Announced
Clinical Trials: ASPEN
A drug being developed for bronchiectasis performed significantly well in its Phase III trials, and will enter clinical trials for H.S. later this year. Brensocatib would be the first drug approved for treatment of bronchiectasis and has a unique mechanism of action, which we absolutely love to report on. Any time there is a unique mechanism of action being researched it means more options and more possibilities for the future.
In trials Brensocatib saw a 20% delay to the patient’s first flare-up of symptoms which will contribute greatly to quality of life and comfort. As well, there was an increased chance of no flare-ups for an entire 52 weeks by 41%!
This is great news for bronchiectasis patients, but how does it relate to hidradenitis suppurativa? Brensocatib is being developed as an option for “neutrophil-mediated diseases”, which H.S. is. So while the testing right now is for bronchiectasis, it is expected to have applications for H.S. Neutrophils are a type of white blood cell involved in the immune system and inflammation response.
The mechanism of action, DPP1 inhibition (dipeptidyl peptidase 1) is similar to JAK inhibitors. It targets part of the immune system pathways to stop the creation of enzymes that lead to inflammation. One benefit is that it is suspected to have a relatively minimal effect on immune system suppression.
Drug Name: Ruxolitinib
Manufacturing Company: Incyte in Collaboration with Novartis
Market Name: Opzelura
Clinical Trials: Name Not Found
Mechanism of Action: JAK Inhibitor
First approved in 2011 for myelofibrosis, ruxolitinib has since been tested for eczema, psoriasis, and hidradenitis suppurativa. Reports from April of 2024 cite a Phase II clinical trial where ruxolitinib (also known as Opzelura), resulted in a reduction of abscesses and inflammatory nodules. Nearly 80% of volunteers saw a reduction of 50% by week 16, and there were also positive effects on itching and pain.
What’s cool about ruxolitinib is that it is steroid free, meaning you can avoid the side-effects of steroid creams. These trials are looking at ruxolitinib as a therapy for mild forms of H.S.
Doctors are very excited for the development of JAK inhibitors as they have so far proven to be highly effective for treating disease. In this article Matthew Zirwas, MD, director of the clinical trials and dermatitis center at Dermatologists of Greater Columbus, says he thinks that if we can get Jak inhibitors (like ruxolitinib) for HS, he thinks it will go from a very difficult to treat disease to a very easy disease to treat. Watch the video. It’s incredibly inspiring to see him talk about Jak inhibitors changing the future of hidradenitis. Link here
If you’re looking for positive news, by the way, HCPLive is a great site full of dermatologists talking about the future of skin disease treatment and it’s highly optimistic!
Drug Name: Bimekizumab
Clinical Trials: BE HEARD I and BE HEARD II
Mechanism of Action: Interleukin Inhibitor (targeting IL17A and IL17F)
Bimekizumab, marketed as Bemzelx, was recently approved by the European Commission and then the United Kingdom for treating H.S. Bemzelx is the first of its kind to target interleukin pathways 17a and 17f, offering a novel approach to treating severe cases of H.S.
In recent trial data from BE HEARD I and BE HEARD II, Bimzelx had notable improvements in skin pain and the reduction of draining tunnels. By week 48, up to 75.7% of patients experienced significant pain relief, and 79.4–88.7% saw sustained reductions in draining tunnels.
At this point in Hidradenitis research, when the exact way the disease works is still somewhat unknown, it is great to see more options being developed as some patients will respond to different drugs better than others.
Drug Name: MC2-32
Market Name: Not Announced
Drug Name: Secukinamab
Manufacturing Company: Novartis
Market Name: Cosentyx
Clinical Trials: SUNSHINE & SUNRISE
You may know about Cosentyx by now, it has become a leading option for treatment of HS due to its safety and effectiveness. Well, it was approved for use in Canada in May This is great news for those with mild to severe hidradenitis suppurativa who lacked effective and non-invasive treatment options in Canada. We look forward to hearing positive things about how cosentyx has helped patients with H.S.
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