Interpreting Baseline Profiles in HS

Dr. Martina Porter explains that the enrolled population closely mirrors real-world U.S. HS patients: median age in the mid‑30s, roughly two‑thirds female, and an average disease duration of ~10 years. Disease burden is substantial, with abscess–nodule counts around 11–13 and draining tunnels ~2.5–3 on average—likely even more severe than some prior HS phase 3 cohorts. Importantly, over one‑third of participants had prior biologic exposure, indicating a treatment‑experienced, often refractory group.

She also highlights the trial’s racial diversity, with >20% Black/African American participants—far higher than in many earlier HS trials. This representation is critical, they note, because Black patients are disproportionately affected by HS and frequently ask, “How does this work in people like me?”

The discussion then turns to subtle but potentially meaningful differences between STOP HS 1 and STOP HS 2. STOP HS 1 appears slightly more severe (slightly higher AN counts, somewhat higher proportion of women), while STOP HS 2 has more men. The panel explains that randomization was stratified by total lesion counts and prior biologic use, but not by sex; regional enrollment patterns (e.g., more male patients from certain regions) can influence the male–female mix and possibly modulate efficacy and safety signals. Overall, they conclude that both trials still reflect a clearly moderate‑to‑severe, clinic‑relevant HS population.

The next episode in this series features the panelists advancing their conversation on HS and focusing on evaluating the primary endpoint of the STOP-HS trials.