Cream shows promise for hidradenitis suppurativa treatment
A new study suggests a cream could eventually fill the gap in treating mild to moderate hidradenitis suppurativa (HS), a condition with limited topical treatment options. The strongest treatments for HS, including injectable biologics, are designed for moderate to severe disease.
The phase 2 trial, published in the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology, tested ruxolitinib 1.5% cream in 69 adults with mild to moderate HS. Participants applied either ruxolitinib or a cream without the active ingredient twice a day.
By week 16, 79 percent of people using ruxolitinib had at least a 50 percent reduction in inflamed bumps and abscesses, with no increase in abscesses or draining tunnels. In the comparison group, 50 percent had the same response.
Melinda Gooderham, MD, a dermatologist from Peterborough, Ontario, Canada, and senior author of the study, said: “This phase 2 study is important because it moves the HS treatment conversation earlier in the disease course. For patients with Hurley I/II disease without draining tunnels, ruxolitinib cream showed reductions in inflammatory lesions, fewer flares, sustained benefit, and a reassuring safety profile.”
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The cream was generally well tolerated in this small trial, with reported side effects including upper respiratory infections and reactions where the cream was applied. No major cardiovascular events were reported.
Ruxolitinib takes a different approach to treating HS, targeting inflammatory signaling as a JAK inhibitor. It may eventually offer another option for people with milder HS, although it isn’t approved for HS yet and phase 3 trials are underway.
For people managing milder HS, the findings could mean an additional treatment option. Dr. Gooderham noted that the study supports further investigation of topical JAK inhibition as a targeted, nonantibiotic approach for milder HS.
The study’s findings are a step forward in the treatment of HS, and they highlight the need for more research into topical treatments for the condition. Melinda Gooderham, MD and her team are continuing to investigate the potential of ruxolitinib cream as a treatment for HS, and their work could lead to new hope for people with the condition.
