Merck's Tulisokibart Shows Promise in Treating Hidradenitis Suppurativa

Merck has announced positive results from a Phase 2b trial evaluating the efficacy of tulisokibart in treating hidradenitis suppurativa (HS). The study met its primary endpoint, with 72% of high-dose patients and 64% of medium-dose patients achieving Hidradenitis Suppurativa Clinical Response 50 at week 16. In comparison, only 35% of the placebo group reached this milestone.

The results also showed that 41% of high-dose patients, 40% of medium-dose patients, and 29% of low-dose patients achieved Hidradenitis Suppurativa Clinical Response 75 at week 16, compared to 15% in the placebo group. The Dermatology Life Quality Index demonstrated mean reductions from baseline of -5.62 for high-dose and -3.50 for medium-dose groups, compared to -2.46 for placebo.

While tulisokibart was generally well-tolerated, adverse events occurred in 42.9% of high-dose, 47.6% of medium-dose, and 52.4% of low-dose participants, compared with 40.9% in the placebo group. Serious adverse events were observed in 2.4% of both high- and medium-dose groups, 4.8% of the low-dose group, and 2.3% with placebo.