Why carry out this study?

Hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) is a chronic, immune-mediated, inflammatory skin condition that can cause pain, functional impairments, and diminished quality of life.

Therapeutic options for HS are currently limited and needed; this study evaluated the efficacy and safety of risankizumab, an interleukin 23 inhibitor, for the treatment of HS.

What was learned from the study?

Improvements in HS symptoms, pain, and quality of life were similar across the risankizumab and placebo treatment groups; the primary endpoint was not met, and the study was terminated early.

No new safety findings were observed in patients with HS; the safety profile was consistent with the safety profiles observed in clinical studies of risankizumab for other indications.

Risankizumab does not appear to be an efficacious treatment for HS; a better understanding of the molecular mechanisms causing HS development and progression is needed to develop improved therapies.