Infection-free Clinical Response Among Patients With Hidradenitis Suppurativa Who Were Treated With Adalimumab: Results from Two Phase 3 Studies

The objective of this study is to assess the rates of infection-free achievement of hidradenitis suppurativa clinical response (HiSCR) using integrated data from 2 phase 3, placebo-controlled trials, PIONEER I and II. Analyses from the first 12 weeks of both studies were examined. Patients were randomized to receive adalimumab (ADA) or placebo, and they then were assessed in the clinic at weeks 0, 2, 4, 8, and 12. All reports of an adverse or serious adverse event and infection were classified as treatment-emergent adverse events (TEAEs). The HiSCR was evaluated as the primary endpoint; infection-free HiSCR was also evaluated. Treatment-emergent adverse events were observed in 55.4% of the ADA group and 64.4% of the placebo (P < .023). The rates of serious TEAEs and infection-related TEAEs were slightly less in the ADA group compared with the placebo group. A significantly higher percentage of ADA-treated patients achieved HiSCR at week 12 compared with placebo (P < .001). At each visit during the study's 12 weeks, a greater proportion of ADA-treated patients achieved infection-free HiSCR compared with patients treated with placebo (P < .001). Mean durations of HiSCR and infection-free HiSCR were significantly longer in ADA-treated patients when compared with placebo-treated patients (P < .001). Results of this integrated analysis indicate that patients with hidradenitis suppurativa who received a short duration of ADA treatment experienced better combined efficacy and similar safety compared with placebo. Further studies investigating longer ADA treatment may demonstrate further improvements in duration of infection-free clinical response.