Povorcitinib Demonstrates Meaningful Clinical Response in Anti-TNF–Experienced Hidradenitis Suppurativa Patients at 24 Weeks
Interim results from phase 3 STOP-HS trials suggest that povorcitinib, an oral JAK1 inhibitor, provides clinically meaningful improvements in patients with moderate-to-severe hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) who previously failed anti-TNF therapy—a population often characterized by more severe and refractory disease.
This pooled analysis included patients from the randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled phase 3 STOP-HS1 and STOP-HS2 trials. A total of 329 anti-TNF–experienced patients were analyzed, randomized to povorcitinib 45 mg, 75 mg, or placebo. The primary endpoint was Hidradenitis Suppurativa Clinical Response 50 (HiSCR50) at week 12, with additional assessments through week 24, including higher thresholds (HiSCR75/90) and pain reduction.
At week 12, both povorcitinib doses demonstrated higher response rates than placebo, with continued improvement through week 24. HiSCR50 responses reached 48.6% with 75 mg and 39.0% with 45 mg vs 21.4% with placebo. High-threshold responses also improved over time, with HiSCR75 and HiSCR90 increasing through week 24.
Pain reduction occurred early, with more patients achieving ≥3-point improvement in Skin Pain Numerical Rating Scale as early as week 3 and sustained through week 24.
Safety findings were favorable. Treatment-emergent adverse events were mostly mild to moderate, with low rates of serious adverse events and minimal laboratory abnormalities over 24 weeks.
“In HS patients with prior anti-TNF exposure, povorcitinib demonstrated clear and numerically higher response rates at week 12, with continuing improvements through week 24,” the authors concluded. “Overall, povorcitinib is a promising treatment option for anti-TNF–experienced patients who have recalcitrant HS and may have more severe disease.”
These findings position povorcitinib as a potential new systemic option for patients with difficult-to-treat HS, particularly those with prior biologic failure.
Reference
Sayed CJ, Martorell A, Porter ML, et al. Povorcitinib for moderate-to-severe hidradenitis suppurativa: week 24 interim phase 3 results in anti-TNF–experienced patients. Presented at: American Academy of Dermatology Annual Meeting; March 27–31, 2026; Denver, Colorado.
