News
Video
Future Research, Opportunities in Hidradenitis Suppurativa
Author(s):
Key Takeaways
- Early and aggressive treatment in adolescents with HS is crucial to prevent irreversible damage and improve long-term outcomes.
- Combination therapies, including adjunct treatments, can enhance patient care in real-world settings, beyond clinical trial limitations.
In the fifth and final video from this series, experts discuss future research priorities and opportunities in hidradenitis suppurativa.
In the final installment of this HCPLive News Network, Martina Porter, MD, a dermatologist at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, and Colleen Cotton, MD, a dermatologist with National Children's Hospital, delve into the recent approval of bimekizumab (Bimzelx) for treating hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) and the broader landscape of HS management, including emerging treatment options, dosing considerations, and practical clinical insights.
Adolescent and Early Treatment Considerations
Cotton emphasizes the excitement surrounding ongoing clinical trials focused on adolescents with HS, an age group where over half of patients report the onset of symptoms. She highlights the importance of early intervention, as aggressive treatment can significantly improve long-term outcomes for patients. Unlike psoriasis or atopic dermatitis, where delayed treatment doesn’t necessarily hinder disease management, HS is progressive, making early and aggressive treatment crucial to preventing irreversible damage and scarring.
Porter adds that while biologics can lead to skin normalization in conditions like severe psoriasis or eczema, HS patients often experience persistent symptoms such as itching and scarring even when their inflammatory burden is controlled. This highlights the ongoing need for early and sustained treatment strategies in HS management. She also underscores the growing pipeline of treatments, providing hope for future improvements in disease control and patient quality of life.
Combination Therapy and Clinical Practice Considerations
Both experts recognize the potential benefits of combining therapies in real-world settings, which are not typically explored in clinical trials. Porter mentions that patients might benefit from adjunct therapies—such as interlesional steroid injections—while awaiting the full effects of biologic treatments. Cotton agrees, emphasizing that dual therapies and managing comorbidities like blood glucose control will be integral to optimizing patient care.
A critical point raised by Cotton pertains to dosing discrepancies between HS and psoriasis treatments with the same biologics. She explains that HS dosing, typically higher and more frequent, differs from psoriasis regimens and stresses the importance of ensuring that patients receive the correct dosing to maximize efficacy. She also notes that insurance challenges often arise when transitioning from the loading phase to maintenance dosing, a problem that could be mitigated by the extended 16-week loading dose period for bimekizumab.
Looking Ahead
The conversation concludes with both experts expressing optimism about the future of HS treatments. While they anticipate some challenges in getting the optimal dose for certain patients, the introduction of bimekizumab as a new option brings renewed hope to clinicians and patients alike. With multiple therapies now available, dermatologists have more flexibility to tailor treatments based on individual patient needs, improving the overall outlook for those living with HS.
Relevant disclosures for Porter include Abbvie, Bristol Myers Squibb, Janssen, Eli Lilly, Novartis, Pfizer, UCB, Trifecta Clinical, Incyte, and Anaptys Bio. Relevant disclosures for Cotton include Leo Pharma, Novartis, Avita Medical, and others.
