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NCT04762277

A Study to Test Whether Spesolimab Helps People With a Skin Disease Called Hidradenitis Suppurativa

Completed Phase 2 Results posted Last updated 20 October 2025
What this trial tests

Phase 2 trial testing Spesolimab - solution for infusion in Hidradenitis Suppurativa in 52 participants. Completed in 21 April 2022.

Timeline
6 April 2021
Primary endpoint
19 January 2022
21 April 2022

Quick facts

Lead sponsorBoehringer Ingelheim
PhasePhase 2
StatusCompleted
Study typeINTERVENTIONAL
Allocationrandomized
Designparallel
Maskingquadruple
Primary purposetreatment
Enrollment52
Start date6 April 2021
Primary completion19 January 2022
Estimated completion21 April 2022
Sites25 locations across France, Italy, Netherlands, Belgium, Germany, Poland, Norway, Canada

Drugs / interventions tested

Conditions studied

Sponsor

Boehringer Ingelheim — full company profile →

Who can join

18 and older, any sex, with Hidradenitis Suppurativa. Patients with the condition only — healthy volunteers not accepted.

Results — posted to ClinicalTrials.gov

Per-arm endpoint measurements with 95% confidence intervals where reported. Source: trial results section.

Percent Change From Baseline in Total Abscess and Inflammatory Nodule Count at Week 12 Primary · MMRM included measurements from baseline (Week 0) and at Weeks 1, 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, and 12 after first drug administration. MMRM estimates of percent change from baseline to Week 12 is reported.

Percent change from baseline in total abscess and inflammatory nodule count at Week 12= \[(Total Abscess at Week 12 + Total Inflammatory Nodule at Week 12) - (Total Abscess at baseline + Total Inflammatory Nodule at baseline)\] \*100/ (Total Abscess at baseline + Total Inflammatory Nodule at baseline). Percent change from baseline in total abscess and inflammatory nodule count at Week 12 was modelled using mixed effects model for repeated measures (MMRM) accounting for the following sources of variation: fixed, categorical effects of treatment at each visit, the effect of stratum (stratificat

GroupValue95% CI
Placebo-34.7± 11.1
Spesolimab-38.8± 7.5
Percent Change From Baseline in Draining Fistula Count at Week 12 Secondary · MMRM included measurements from baseline (Week 0) and at Weeks 1, 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, and 12 after first drug administration. MMRM estimates of percent change in draining fistula from baseline to Week 12 is reported.

Percent change from baseline in draining fistula at Week 12 was calculated as: \[(total draining fistula at Week 12) - (total draining fistula at baseline)\] \* 100 %/ (total draining fistula at baseline). Percent change from baseline in draining fistula count at Week 12 was modelled using mixed effects model for repeated measures (MMRM) accounting for the following sources of variation: fixed, categorical effects of treatment at each visit, the effect of stratum (stratification according to tumor necrosis factor inhibitor (TNFi)-naive population vs. TNFi-failure population) and the fixed con

GroupValue95% CI
Placebo56.6± 23.0
Spesolimab-40.1± 16.8
Achievement of Hidradenitis Suppurativa Clinical Response (HiSCR) at Week 12 Secondary · At baseline (Week 0) and at Week 12.

HiSCR is defined as at least a 50% reduction in the total abscess and inflammatory nodule (AN) count with no increase in abscess count and no increase in draining fistula count relative to baseline. Proportion of patients with achievement of Hidradenitis Suppurativa Clinical Response (HiSCR) at Week 12 is reported. Proportion of patients with achievement of HiSCR at Week 12 was calculated as: number of patients with achievement of HiSCR at Week 12/number of patients analyzed. Proportions were rounded up to three decimal places.

GroupValue95% CI
Placebo0.176
Spesolimab0.314
Absolute Change From Baseline in International Hidradenitis Suppurativa Severity Score System (IHS4) Value at Week 12 Secondary · MMRM included measurements at baseline (Week 0) and at Weeks 1, 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, and 12 after first drug administration. MMRM estimates of absolute change in IHS4 from baseline to Week 12 is reported.

The IHS4 assesses the hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) severity and the resulting IHS4 score is arrived at by= number of nodules \* 1 + number of abscesses \* 2 + number of draining fistula \* 4. A total score of 3 or less signifies mild, 4-10 signifies moderate and 11 or higher signifies severe disease. Absolute change from baseline in IHS4 value at Week 12 was modelled using mixed effects model for repeated measures (MMRM) accounting for the following sources of variation: fixed, categorical effects of treatment at each visit, the effect of stratum (stratification according to tumor necrosis

GroupValue95% CI
Placebo4.9± 4.7
Spesolimab-9.0± 3.2
Absolute Change From Baseline in Hidradenitis Suppurativa Area and Severity Index (HASI) Score at Week 12 Secondary · MMRM included measurements at baseline (Week 0) and at Weeks 1, 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, and 12 after first drug administration. MMRM estimates of absolute change from baseline in HASI score at Week 12 is reported in the table below.

HASI includes four domains to assess the severity of HS disease activity, which are erythema, induration, open ulcer and draining fistula and scored on a Likert scale 0 (none) to 3 (severe/extensive) for each predetermined body region. For body surface area (BSA) assessment, the number of palms (one palm indicates 1% of the patient's BSA) involved for each body region (head, right axilla, left axilla, anterior chest, back, anterior bathing trunk, posterior bathing trunk, other) is assessed and converted to a percentage of that region. An area score was assigned to each region using the approa

GroupValue95% CI
Placebo-3.8± 6.9
Spesolimab-23.6± 4.7
Achievement of Hidradenitis Suppurativa Physician Global Assessment (HS-PGA) Score of 0 or 1 at Week 12 Secondary · At Week 12.

HS-PGA documents the physician's assessment of the patient's HS at a given timepoint. The HS-PGA score ranges from 0 to 5, where: 0=clear - no abscesses, draining fistula, inflammatory nodules or noninflammatory nodules); 1=minimal - no abscesses, draining fistula or inflammatory nodules and the presence of noninflammatory nodules); 2=mild - no abscesses or draining fistula and 1-4 inflammatory nodules, or 1 abscess or draining tunnel and no inflammatory nodules); 3=moderate - no abscesses or draining fistula and ≥5 inflammatory nodules, or 1 abscess or draining fistula and ≥1 inflammatory nod

GroupValue95% CI
Placebo0.000
Spesolimab0.057
Achievement of at Least 30% Reduction From Baseline in Numerical Rating Scale (NRS30) in Patient's Global Assessment of HS Pain at Week 12 Secondary · At baseline (Week 0) and at Week 12.

The HS Pain Numerical Rating Scale (NRS) is an endpoint for the assessment of HS-related pain severity. Recall period is 24 hours and response is given by an 11-point scale ranging from 0 (no pain) to 10 (worst possible pain). For the analysis of pain, weekly average of daily assessment was calculated for each visit based on values prior to the visit. Missing daily values within a week were ignored if there are at least 4 reported values. Proportion of patients with achievement of at least 30% reduction from baseline in NRS30 in Patient's Global Assessment of HS Pain at Week 12. Proportion o

GroupValue95% CI
Placebo0.059
Spesolimab0.229
Occurrence of Complete Elimination of Draining Fistulas at Week 12 Secondary · Baseline (Week 0) and at Week 12.

Proportion of patients with occurrence of complete elimination of draining fistulas at Week 12 is reported. Proportion of patients with occurrence of complete elimination of draining fistulas at Week 12 was calculated as: number of patients with occurrence of complete elimination of draining fistulas at Week 12/number of patients analyzed. Proportions were rounded up to three decimal places.

GroupValue95% CI
Placebo0.067
Spesolimab0.250
Occurrence of at Least One Flare at Week 12 Secondary · At Week 12.

Proportion of patients with occurrence of at least one flare at Week 12. Flare was defined as at least 25 % increase in abscess and inflammatory nodule count with a minimum increase of 2 relative to baseline. Proportion of patients with occurrence of at least one flare at Week 12 was calculated as: number of patients with occurrence of at least one flare at Week 12/number of patients analyzed. Proportions were rounded up to three decimal places.

GroupValue95% CI
Placebo0.176
Spesolimab0.086
Absolute Change From Baseline in Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI) Score at Week 12 Secondary · MMRM included measurements at baseline (Week 0) and at Weeks 1, 4, 8, and 12 after first drug administration. MMRM estimates of absolute change in DLQI from baseline to Week 12 is reported.

The DLQI is a patient-administered, ten-question, quality of life questionnaire that covers six domains: symptoms and feelings, daily activities, leisure, work and school, personal relationships and treatment. Response categories include "not relevant" (score of 0), "not at all" (score of 0), "a little" (score of 1), "a lot" (score of 2) and "very much" (score of 3). DLQI total score is calculated by summing the scores of each question resulting in a range of 0 to 30 with higher scores indicating greater health-related quality of life impairment. Absolute change from baseline in DLQI score at

GroupValue95% CI
Placebo-2.8± 1.8
Spesolimab-2.8± 1.2
Absolute Change From Baseline in Hidradenitis Suppurativa Quality of Life (HiS-QoL) Total Score at Week 12 Secondary · MMRM included measurements at baseline (Week 0) and at Weeks 1, 4, 8, and 12 after first drug administration. MMRM estimates of absolute change in HiS-QoL from baseline to Week 12 is reported.

HiS-QoL is a patient-administered, 17-item instrument to measure HS-specific quality of life in clinical trials with a 7-day recall period. The 17-item HiS-QoL included four symptom items, eight activity-adaptation items and five psychosocial items. The item scores are summed to create a total ranging from 0 to 68, with higher scores indicating more severe impact on health-related quality of life. Absolute change from baseline in HiS-QoL total score at Week 12 was modelled using MMRM accounting for the following sources of variation: fixed, categorical effects of treatment at each visit, the

GroupValue95% CI
Placebo-4.5± 3.2
Spesolimab-5.8± 2.4
The Occurrence of Treatment Emergent Adverse Events (TEAEs) Secondary · Up to 12 weeks for patients who did roll-over to the open-label extension (OLE) trial (trial number 1368-0067 (NCT04876391)) and up to 28 weeks who did not roll-over to the OLE trial. For details please see description.

Percentage of patients with occurrence of Treatment Emergent Adverse Events (TEAEs) is reported. Percentage of patients with occurrence of Treatment Emergent Adverse Events (TEAEs) was calculated as: number of patients with occurrence of TEAEs / number of patients analyzed. Percentages were rounded to one decimal place. Time Frame: From first drug administration until 16 weeks after last drug administration, up to 28 weeks for patients who did not to roll-over to the open-label extension (OLE) trial (trial number 1368-0067 (NCT04876391)). From first drug administration until Week 12 for pati

GroupValue95% CI
Placebo87.5
Spesolimab77.8

Adverse events — posted to ClinicalTrials.gov

Time frame: From first drug administration until 16 weeks after last drug administration, up to 28 weeks for patients who did not to roll-over to the open-label extension (OLE) trial (trial number 1368-0067 (NCT04876391)). From first drug administration until Week 12 for patients who did roll-over to the open-label extension (OLE) trial (trial number 1368-0067 (NCT04876391)).. Reporting threshold: 5%. Adverse-event reports describe events observed during the trial — not all are caused by the drug.

Placebo
Serious: 1/16 (6%)
Deaths: 0/16
Spesolimab
Serious: 0/36 (0%)
Deaths: 0/36

Serious adverse events (1 terms)

ReactionSystemPlaceboSpesolimab
Suicidal behaviourPsychiatric disorders
Other adverse events (46 terms — click to expand)

ReactionSystemPlaceboSpesolimab
NauseaGastrointestinal disorders
FatigueGeneral disorders
Injection site erythemaGeneral disorders
HeadacheNervous system disorders
Injection site painGeneral disorders
NasopharyngitisInfections and infestations
DiarrhoeaGastrointestinal disorders
Upper respiratory tract infectionInfections and infestations
Urinary tract infectionInfections and infestations
Back painMusculoskeletal and connective tissue disorders
SciaticaNervous system disorders
AnxietyPsychiatric disorders
AcneSkin and subcutaneous tissue disorders
HidradenitisSkin and subcutaneous tissue disorders
PruritusSkin and subcutaneous tissue disorders
ArrhythmiaCardiac disorders
TachycardiaCardiac disorders
VertigoEar and labyrinth disorders
KeratitisEye disorders
Angular cheilitisGastrointestinal disorders
Chest painGeneral disorders
Injection site noduleGeneral disorders
Injection site papuleGeneral disorders
PainGeneral disorders
COVID-19Infections and infestations
FolliculitisInfections and infestations
Pilonidal cystInfections and infestations
RhinitisInfections and infestations
TonsillitisInfections and infestations
Animal biteInjury, poisoning and procedural complications
Head injuryInjury, poisoning and procedural complications
Bacterial test positiveInvestigations
Platelet count increasedInvestigations
Pain in extremityMusculoskeletal and connective tissue disorders
Disturbance in attentionNervous system disorders
DizzinessNervous system disorders
TremorNervous system disorders
DysuriaRenal and urinary disorders
Breast discomfortReproductive system and breast disorders
Intermenstrual bleedingReproductive system and breast disorders

Most-reported serious reactions: Suicidal behaviour.

Data from ClinicalTrials.gov NCT04762277 adverse events section.

Sponsor's own description

This study is open to adults with a chronic inflammatory skin disease called hidradenitis suppurativa. The purpose of this study is to find out whether a medicine called spesolimab helps people with moderate to severe hidradenitis suppurativa. Participants are put into 2 groups by chance. One group takes spesolimab. The other group takes placebo. Every participant has twice the chance of being in the spesolimab group than in the placebo group. Participants get spesolimab or placebo as an infusion into a vein every week for the first 3 weeks. Afterwards, they get spesolimab or placebo as injections under the skin every 2 weeks. Placebo infusions and injections look like spesolimab infusions and injections but do not contain any medicine. Participants are treated in the study for about 3 months. During this time, they visit the study site about 9 times. After completing this part of the study, participants are offered to join another clinical study in which all participants get spesolimab. Participants who cannot join the other study, stay in this study for about 4 more months. During this time, participants do not take spesolimab nor placebo but they visit the study site 2 times to have their health checked. At study visits, doctors thoroughly check the skin of participants to count lumps (nodules) and boils (abscesses). The results between the spesolimab group and the placebo group are compared after 3 months of treatment. The doctors also regularly check the general health of the participants.

Publications & conference data

8 peer-reviewed publications reference this trial (live from Europe PMC):

  1. Antibodies to watch in 2022.
    Kaplon H, Chenoweth A, Crescioli S, Reichert JM. · · 2022 · cited 245× · PMID 35030985 · DOI 10.1080/19420862.2021.2014296
  2. Hidradenitis Suppurativa: Where We Are and Where We Are Going.
    Scala E, Cacciapuoti S, Garzorz-Stark N, Megna M, et al · · 2021 · cited 85× · PMID 34440863 · DOI 10.3390/cells10082094
  3. Spesolimab: First Approval.
    Blair HA. · · 2022 · cited 61× · PMID 36418672 · DOI 10.1007/s40265-022-01801-4
  4. New perspectives on the treatment of hidradenitis suppurativa.
    Amat-Samaranch V, Agut-Busquet E, Vilarrasa E, Puig L. · · 2021 · cited 47× · PMID 34840709 · DOI 10.1177/20406223211055920
  5. New and Emerging Targeted Therapies for Hidradenitis Suppurativa.
    Markota Čagalj A, Marinović B, Bukvić Mokos Z. · · 2022 · cited 46× · PMID 35409118 · DOI 10.3390/ijms23073753
  6. IL-1 Family Cytokines in Inflammatory Dermatoses: Pathogenetic Role and Potential Therapeutic Implications.
    Iznardo H, Puig L. · · 2022 · cited 44× · PMID 36012744 · DOI 10.3390/ijms23169479
  7. Clinical Implementation of Biologics and Small Molecules in the Treatment of Hidradenitis Suppurativa.
    Aarts P, Dudink K, Vossen ARJV, van Straalen KR, et al · · 2021 · cited 37× · PMID 34283386 · DOI 10.1007/s40265-021-01566-2
  8. Insights into the Pathogenesis of HS and Therapeutical Approaches.
    Rosi E, Fastame MT, Scandagli I, Di Cesare A, et al · · 2021 · cited 27× · PMID 34572354 · DOI 10.3390/biomedicines9091168

Verify or expand the search:

Other trials of Spesolimab - solution for infusion

Trials testing the same drug.

Other recruiting trials for Hidradenitis Suppurativa

Currently open trials in the same condition.

Other Boehringer Ingelheim trials

Trials by the same sponsor.

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Data sources for this page

Drug Landscape aggregates and links these public records for informational use only. Always verify against the primary source before clinical or regulatory decisions. Canonical URL: https://druglandscape.com/trial/NCT04762277.

Primary sources · FDA · ClinicalTrials.gov · EMA · SEC EDGAR · ChEMBL · Wikidata · full sourcing