Hidradenitis Suppurativa 2024 Review
Whatever way one chooses to look at it, 2024 was a good year for #HidradenitisSuppurativa (HS). It has been a significant year for #patients and people with HS (#pwHS), their families and carers, and many others including #doctors, #dermatologists, #nurses, #surgeons, and all other #HealthcareProfessionals (HCPs) treating pwHS. Below are our highlights from 2024:
1. Publication of the first Global Report on Hidradenitis Suppurativa
The First Global Report on Hidradenitis Suppurativa
Early 2024 witnessed the publication of the first Global Report on Hidradenitis Suppurativa, a joint publication from the Global Hidradenitis Suppurativa Atlas (GHiSA) and the International League of Dermatological Societies. The report was authored by a global team comprising medical HS specialists and pwHS and presents data on HS diagnosis, epidemiology, and treatments. The report is available for (free) download here. A delegation presented this report to the World Health Organization (WHO) at their offices in Geneva, Switzerland. Phase I of the GHiSA project is complete and moves into phase II.
2. New Treatment Option Approved for Moderate-to-Severe HS
New Treatment Option for Moderate-to-Severe HS
It is widely acknowledged that more effective treatments are required for HS. Or, as HS specialist Dr. Barry Resnik quipped, “Some of the things work in some of the people some of the time” (source). During 2024, a new option for treating moderate-to-severe HS, BIMZELX® ( = tradename; international non-proprietary name = bimekizumab), was approved by relevant authorities in Europe, the US, and is currently under review elsewhere.
This approval comes following review of data from the relevant clinical trials (plain language summaries of the trials here and here). This recent approval comes after the 2023 approval of Cosentyx® (= tradename; international non-proprietary name = secukinumab; summary of trial results here), bringing to a total of three approved treatment options (in Europe and the US) for moderate-to-severe HS. While these are all welcome developments, note that there are still a lack of approved treatments for people clinically classified with ‘mild’ HS, who typically comprise ≥ 50% of populations of pwHS.
3. HS-Specific Conferences Record Largest Attendances to Date
13th Conference of the European Hidradenitis Suppurativa Foundation e.V.
Symposium for Hidradenitis Suppurativa Advances 2024
Two HS-specific conferences, the 13th Conference of European Hidradenitis Suppurativa Foundation (EHSF) e.V. (Lyon, France; February) and the Symposium for Hidradenitis Suppurativa Advances (SHSA) (Austin, Texas, USA; October) recorded their largest numbers of attendees ever, reflecting the growing interest in HS. My thoughts on the 13th EHSF conference here and SHSA2024 here.
4. European Guidelines for Treating HS
Title Page of the European S2k Guidelines for Hidradenitis Suppurativa/Acne Inversa Part 2: Treatment
HS treatment algorithm. (a) Therapy of active (inflammatory) HS, (b) Therapy of inactive (non-inflammatory) HS.
The much anticipated new European S2k guidelines for HS were published (#openaccess) in December 2024. The previous S1 guidelines were published in 2015 and much has been learned about HS in the interim, new treatment options have been approved, and more besides. These new guidelines were a consensus-based collaboration involving medical HS specialists and others including patient representatives (from Denmark, France, Germany, Ireland), while the previous S1 guidelines involved physicians only). The EHSF led the new guidelines development process and sincere thanks to all who worked hard to produce these new guidelines.
5. Record Number of HS Publications
Number of HS Publications by Year (Source: PubMed)
The growth in HS research continues and 2024 witnessed the largest number of HS publications per year with more publications about HS than in any other year to date, per the PubMed database (performed using the search term “hidradenitis suppurativa”). While quantity and quality are separate, it is encouraging nonetheless to witness the growth (and interest) in HS.
Thanks to everyone who has worked hard to make 2024 a great year for HS.
Lots done, more to do!
References:
Global Report on Hidradenitis Suppurativa; 2023 The Global Hidradenitis Suppurativa Atlas (GHiSA), [online], available at: https://www.ghisa.org/en/explore/reports, [accessed 01/JAN/2025].
ResnikSkinInstitute, ‘Be Your Best Advocate for Hidradenitis Suppurativa’, , available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H2PqQRxlyS0, [accessed 01/JAN/2025].
UCB Plain Language Summaries of Results: HS0003 – A Phase 3, Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled, Multicenter Study Evaluating the Efficacy and Safety of Bimekizumab in Study Participants With Moderate to Severe Hidradenitis Suppurativa; available at: https://www.ucb.com/innovation/clinical-studies/clinical-studies-index/plain-language-summaries, [accessed 01/JAN/2025].
UCB – Plain Language Summaries of Results: HS0004 – A Phase 3, Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled, Multicenter Study Evaluating the Efficacy and Safety of Bimekizumab in Study Participants With Moderate to Severe Hidradenitis Suppurativa; available at: https://www.ucb.com/innovation/clinical-studies/clinical-studies-index/plain-language-summaries, [accessed 01/JAN/2025].
Novartis – New results show sustained long-term effect of Cosentyx® (secukinumab) in adults with hidradenitis suppurativa; available at: https://www.novartis.com/sites/novartis_com/files/secukinumab-sunny-trials-in-hidradenitis-suppurativa-16-52-week-data-infographic.pdf, [accessed 01/JAN/2025].
Zouboulis CC, Bechara FG, Benhadou F, Bettoli V, Bukvić Mokos Z, Del Marmol V, Dolenc-Voljč M, Giamarellos-Bourboulis EJ, Grimstad Ø, Guillem P, Horváth B, Hunger RE, Ingram JR, Ioannidis D, Just E, Kemény L, Kirby B, Liakou AI, McGrath BM, Marzano AV, Matusiak Ł, Molina-Leyva A, Nassif A, Podda M, Prens EP, Prignano F, Raynal H, Romanelli M, Saunte DML, Szegedi A, Szepietowski JC, Tzellos T, Valiukevičienė S, van der Zee HH, van Straalen KR, Villumsen B, Jemec GBE. European S2k guidelines for hidradenitis suppurativa/acne inversa part 2: Treatment. J Eur Acad Dermatol Venereol. 2024 Dec 19. doi: 10.1111/jdv.20472. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 39699926. OPEN ACCESS, available at: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/jdv.20472, [accessed 01/JAN/2025].
