Updates in pharmacological interventions for hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) direct from the dermatological conferences, including the latest data and insights from HS experts.
Dr Antonio Martorell reflects on developments discussed at EHSF 2024, covering personal highlights and how new developments may help to address the challenges faced in hidradenitis suppurativa. View transcript.
Dr Philippe Guillem discusses real-world studies presented at EHSF 2024, including new treatment classes. View transcript.
Updates from EHSF 2024
Selected data presented on pharmacological treatments at the 2024 European Hidradenitis Suppurativa Foundation conference.
Disease duration impact in BE HEARD I and II
Linnea Thorlacius (Zealand University Hospital, Roskilde, Denmark) presented post hoc analyses of the phase 3 BE HEARD I and II trials assessing the impact of disease duration on the efficacy of bimekizumab 320 mg in people with moderate-to-severe HS.
She stressed that diagnostic delay in people with HS often results in them having severe disease by the time of diagnosis.
In BE HEARD I and II, treatment in patients with a shorter disease duration resulted in higher response rates when compared with those with a longer disease duration
For example, the Hidradenitis Suppurativa Clinical Response (HiSCR)75 rates at week 48 ranged from 63.8% to 73.1% in participants in the lowest quartile for disease duration, compared with 50.0% to 55.1% among those in the highest quartile.
Bimekizumab has not yet been approved for use in HS; however, an application has been submitted to the relevant regulatory bodies.
Thorlacius concluded by stressing that, although bimekizumab was efficacious regardless of treatment duration, the findings highlight the importance of timely diagnosis and treatment to achieve the best results in people with HS.
What is the optimal dosing interval for secukinumab in severe HS?
Pierre-André Bécherel (Private Hospital Antony, Paris, France) focused on the challenge of how to select the most appropriate interval when using biologics in people with severe HS.
He presented a real-life study of 47 people with HS who received secukinumab 300 mg either every 2 weeks (n=24) or every 4 weeks (n=23).
At 6 months, 10 (43.4%) patients receiving treatment every 4 weeks improved, with their mean International Hidradenitis Suppurativa Severity Score System (IHS4) decreasing from 15.6 to 10.7. The other 13 patients worsened or remained stable, but six of these improved after being switched to treatment every 2 weeks, achieving a mean IHS4 score of 6.9 at 9 months.
Sixteen (66.6%) people with a 2-week dosing interval from the outset also improved by month 6, with their mean IHS4 score decreasing from 14.9 to 5.4. The rate of improvement was significantly greater than in the 4-week dosing group (P<0.001).
Results from this study suggest a 2-week interval is preferred for secukinumab; however, it is important to note that this study solely focused on people with severe HS and the findings cannot be applied to people with moderate HS.
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