Povorcitinib Shows Positive Outcomes For Hidradenitis Suppurativa in phase 2 trial

A recent study published in the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology found the potential benefits of povorcitinib, a selective oral Janus kinase 1 (JAK1) inhibitor for treating Hidradenitis Suppurativa (HS), a chronic skin condition marked by painful nodules and abscesses.

This placebo-controlled phase 2 study involved a total of 209 patients, povorcitinib exhibited significant promise in reducing both abscess and inflammatory nodule (AN) counts over a 16-week period. Patients were further randomized to receive varying doses of povorcitinib—15 mg, 45 mg, or 75 mg—or a placebo.

The findings revealed a notable decrease in AN counts compared to the placebo group. The least squares mean change from baseline in AN count for the povorcitinib groups were as follows: 15 mg (−5.2), 45 mg (−6.9), and 75 mg (−6.3), whereas the placebo group showed a change of −2.5. The results suggest that povorcitinib may effectively alleviate HS-associated inflammation.

Additionally, the study evaluated the percentage of patients achieving Hidradenitis Suppurativa Clinical Response (HiSCR) at Week 16. Povorcitinib-treated patients demonstrated a higher likelihood of achieving HiSCR compared to the placebo group: 15 mg (48.1%), 45 mg (44.2%), and 75 mg (45.3%) versus placebo (28.8%).

Importantly, this study did not find evidence of an increased incidence of adverse events among the povorcitinib-treated patients, with 60.0% and 65.4% of povorcitinib and placebo groups reporting adverse events, respectively.

While the results present an encouraging step forward in the quest for HS treatments, it is crucial to note the study's limitations, including mildly imbalanced baseline lesion counts between groups.

The potential of povorcitinib in alleviating HS symptoms marks a significant development in dermatological research. However, future research, including well-structured, large-scale clinical trials, will be necessary to solidify its efficacy and safety profile for widespread use.

Source: 

Kirby, J. S., Okun, M. M., Alavi, A., Bechara, F. G., Zouboulis, C. C., Brown, K., Santos, L. L., Wang, A., Bibeau, K. B., Kimball, A. B., & Porter, M. L. (2023). Efficacy and safety of the oral Janus kinase 1 inhibitor povorcitinib (INCB054707) in patients with hidradenitis suppurativa in a phase 2, randomized, double-blind, dose-ranging, placebo-controlled study. In Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology. Elsevier BV. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jaad.2023.10.034