Hidradenitis suppurativa, also known as acne inversa is a chronic inflammatory disorder that affects hair follicles, significantly impacting the quality of life for patients. It is a painful skin disease characterized by inflammation, recurrent abscesses, painful nodules, scarring, and sinus tracts. This condition typically emerges after puberty and tends to affect intertriginous areas of the body, such as the axillae, inguinal, and anogenital regions. While there is still a lack of comprehensive evidence guiding the evaluation and management of patients with this condition, research in this area has seen significant growth over the past decade.

In this article, we will discuss the latest guidelines on hidradenitis suppurativa as outlined by the Hidradenitis Suppurativa Foundation, as well as a consensus statement for special patient populations. Additionally, we will highlight the three most recent medications that have been approved for the treatment of hidradenitis suppurativa. This article will focus on the guidelines and the FDA updates that have recently emerged.

Part 1 - Part 1 - Current Hidradenitis Suppurativa Guidelines

To start, here is a listing of the current hidradenitis suppurativa guidelines/consensus statements:

Part 2 - Recent FDA Approvals

Below, are the recent medications and therapies recently approved by the FDA that we anticipate being incorporated into future US guidelines:

  • BIMZELX® (bimekizumab-bkzx) injection
    • UCB, Inc.
    • FDA approved for hidradenitis suppurativa on November 25, 2024
    • BIMZELX is a humanized interleukin-17A and F antagonist indicated for the treatment of moderate to severe plaque psoriasis (PSO) in adults who are candidates for systemic therapy or phototherapy, adults with active psoriatic arthritis (PsA), adults with active non-radiographic axial spondyloarthritis (nraxSpA) with objective signs of inflammation, adults with active ankylosing spondylitis (AS), and adults with moderate to severe hidradenitis suppurativa.

  • SIMLANDI® (adalimumab-ryvk) injection
    • Teva Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
    • FDA approved for hidradenitis suppurativa on February 23, 2024
    • Simlandi is a biosimilar of Humira used to reduce pain, inflammation, and skin symptoms in autoimmune conditions plaque psoriasis, Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis, rheumatoid arthritis, juvenile idiopathic arthritis, psoriatic arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, hidradenitis suppurativa, and uveitis in certain patients.

  • COSENTYX® (secukinumab) injection,
    • Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation
    • FDA approved for hidradenitis suppurativa on October 31, 2023
    • Cosentyx is a selective interleukin-17A (IL-17A) inhibitor for the treatment of plaque psoriasis, ankylosing spondylitis, psoriatic arthritis, non-radiographic axial spondyloarthritis, enthesitis-related arthritis, and hidradenitis suppurativa.

Thank you for taking the time to review the current hidradenitis suppurativa guidelines/consensus, as well as the recent major changes and FDA approvals that have recently occurred. We value your feedback and would like to hear your suggestions for future topics to be covered in our guideline series. Please feel free to contact us with any ideas or questions you may have.

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