Hidradenitis Suppurativa in 2025: Year in Review

Throughout 2025, a broad array of significant developments in hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) space were covered by HCPLive, including key regulatory moves by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the publication of pivotal clinical data expanding the evidence base for existing and emerging therapeutic options in this chronic inflammatory skin condition.

Several video series and podcast episodes have, alongside these regulatory and research advances, focused on HS management, highlighting new insights and expert discussions on disease diagnostic issues, HS’s pathophysiology, and evolving approaches to treatment. In this Year in Review summary article, the editorial team has brought together some of the most impactful HS-related coverage and expert perspectives included on the HCPLive platform, allowing for a consolidated retrospective of the year’s major milestones.

FDA News

FDA Approves Adalimumab-aaty (Yuflyma) Pediatric Indications in Hidradenitis Suppurativa, Uveitis

The FDA’s approval of adalimumab-aaty (Yuflyma) was announced in 2025 by Celltrion, expanding adalimumab-aaty’s indication along with its unbranded version to include the treatment of adolescent patients ≥ 12 years of age with HS and treating uveitis (UV) in pediatric patients ≥ 2 years of age. This recombinant fully human anti–tumor necrosis factor α (anti-TNFα) monoclonal antibody has been designated by the FDA as an interchangeable biosimilar in a prefilled syringe and autoinjector.

Adalimumab-aaty was designed as a high-concentration, low-volume, and citrate-free adalimumab biosimilar approved for the treatment of those living with rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritis, juvenile idiopathic arthritis, Crohn's disease, ankylosing spondylitis, ulcerative colitis, plaque psoriasis, UV, and HS.

Trial Updates and New Guidelines

New Phase 3 Findings Demonstrate Efficacy of Povorcitinib for HS Treatment

Incyte announced new positive topline findings on povorcitinib following the pivotal phase 3 STOP-HS clinical analysis of povorcitinib, an oral small-molecule Janus Kinase (JAK) 1 inhibitor’s safety and efficacy in adult patients aged ≥18 years with moderate to severe HS. The drug is being evaluated in phase 3 research for different dermatologic conditions such as vitiligo, prurigo nodularis, and HS. Within the STOP-HS trial program, this new pair of phase 3 trials titled STOP-HS1 (NCT05620823) and STOP-HS2 (NCT05620836) was conducted to assess povorcitinib’s implementation in adult patients with moderate to severe HS.

Bimekizumab Long-Term Hidradenitis Suppurativa Data Support Efficacy, Safety Profile

In February 2025, new data from the 14th Conference of the European Hidradenitis Suppurativa Foundation (EHSF) were released regarding bimekizumab (Bimzelx), with the drug being linked to sustained disease control for up to 2 years in HS. These long-term data resulted from the BE HEARD studies, and findings suggest bimekizumab use for up to 96 weeks was associated with a low rate of HS flares, reduced symptoms of HS, and improved health-related quality of life among those with moderate to severe disease. Bimekizumab demonstrated sustained efficacy in the reduction of disease symptoms and quality of life improvement over 96 weeks in BE HEARD.

HS-OBTAIN: Brivekimig Achieves Positive Results in Hidradenitis Suppurativa

Brivekimig was an HS treatment led to clinically meaningful improvements among biologic-naïve patients with the disease compared to those given a placebo at the 16-week mark, according to data presented from the HS-OBTAIN phase 2a study. The analysis demonstrated significant efficacy for this medication, with 67% of patients attaining HiSCR50 compared to 37% on placebo. These findings were released at the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology (EADV) 2025 Congress in Paris.

Feature Content/Podcasts

Skin of Color Savvy: HS Management in Skin of Color, with Tiffany Mayo, MD, Steven Daveluy, MD, Jasmine Ivanna Espy

In an episode of Skin of Color Savvy: The Art and Science of Treating Patients of Color, host Tiffany Mayo, MD, spoke in a discussion about HS and its treatment in patients with diverse skin types. Mayo was joined by dermatologist Steven Daveluy, MD, and patient advocate Jasmine Ivanna Espy. Together, the 3 speakers highlighted their own perspectives, framing HS not only as a medical challenge but also a quality-of-life, public health, and equity concern in the dermatology landscape.

Evolving the HS Treatment Paradigm, Long-Term Outcomes with IL-17 Inhibition

HS is a condition known to develop through a combination of genetic predisposition and environmental exposures, involving multiple factors such as metabolic influences, immune system dysfunction, mechanical forces in body folds, and altered responses related to patient wound healing. In this video series, the panelists involved highlighted how IL-17 inhibitors have emerged as first-line treatment options for moderate to severe HS. They pointed to long-term data demonstrating sustained efficacy over 2 years.

Embracing IL-17 A/F Inhibition for Hidradenitis Suppurativa, Dermatologic Conditions

During this 5-part, expert-led video series, 2 dermatologists spoke about how the FDA approval of bimekizumab and its effect on the treatment landscape of HS. One speaker, Martina Porter, MD, vice chair of Research at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, spoke with Colleen Cotton, MD, director of the Multidisciplinary Pediatric HS Clinic at Children's National Hospital, to cover the FDA’s recent approval of bimekizumab for moderate to severe HS. Their video discussion was aimed at the various challenges of managing this heterogeneous skin condition and the implications of bimekizumab as a newly approved option for treatment.