Dermatol Ther

Secukinumab demonstrates sustained pain relief in hidradenitis suppurativa

May 28, 2025

Study details: This post hoc analysis pooled data from the SUNSHINE (NCT03713619) and SUNRISE (NCT03713632) phase 3 trials, which evaluated secukinumab, an IL-17A inhibitor, in patients with moderate to severe hidradenitis suppurativa (HS). Patients were randomized to receive secukinumab 300 mg either q2wks (SECQ2W) or q4wks (SECQ4W), or placebo through week 16. After that, placebo recipients switched to one of the secukinumab regimens, while original treatment groups continued through week 52. Pain was measured using a numeric rating scale for worst skin pain, and baseline scores were divided into quartiles to define pain severity. Additional outcomes included quality of life and use of pain medications.

Results: At week 16, secukinumab led to greater reductions in skin pain than placebo, with improvements sustained through week 52. Patients who switched from placebo to secukinumab also showed similar benefits. Among those with severe baseline pain, 20% (SECQ2W) and 12.7% (SECQ4W) reached minimal pain levels. Lower pain scores were associated with better quality of life, and fewer patients in the secukinumab groups required pain medication over time.

Clinical impact: These findings support secukinumab as a durable, non-opioid option for managing chronic pain in HS, a condition often associated with significant physical and psychological burden. The sustained pain relief may improve quality of life and treatment adherence in this challenging patient population.

Source:

Ingram JR, et al. (2025, May 15). Dermatol Ther (Heidelb). Assessing Long-Term Pain Reduction with Secukinumab in Moderate to Severe Hidradenitis Suppurativa: A Post Hoc Analysis of the SUNSHINE and SUNRISE Phase 3 Trials. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40372667/