Novo Nordisk's Wegovy (semaglutide) has demonstrated promising benefits in treating hidradenitis suppurativa (HS), a chronic skin condition, according to a study by researchers at St Vincent’s University Hospital, Ireland. The findings, presented at the 2024 European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology (EADV) Congress, suggest a potential new treatment avenue for this challenging condition.
Reduced Flare-Ups and Improved Quality of Life
The study involved patients with obesity, a common comorbidity with HS, who received 0.8mg of Wegovy once weekly for an average of 8.2 months. Results indicated a notable reduction in HS flare-up frequency, decreasing from once every 8.5 weeks to once every 12 weeks. Furthermore, patients reported improvements in their quality of life, as measured by the Dermatology Life Quality Index (DQLI).
Dr. Daniel Lyons, the lead researcher, commented, "Our findings suggest that semaglutide, even at modest doses, can offer substantial benefits in managing HS. While the drug’s role in promoting weight loss is well-established, what’s particularly exciting is its potential to also reduce the frequency of HS flareups, contributing to the notable improvements observed in patients’ quality of life."
Weight Loss and Metabolic Effects
As expected, given Wegovy's approval for obesity treatment, the study participants also experienced weight loss. The average BMI of patients decreased from 43.1 to 41.5, and their mean weight dropped from 117.7kg to 111.6kg. Approximately one-third of the patients lost 10kg or more during the study period.
Implications and Future Research
Hidradenitis suppurativa, characterized by painful abscesses and scarring, affects approximately one in 100 people, with women being disproportionately affected. Effective treatment options are limited, highlighting the unmet medical need in this patient population. These encouraging results suggest that semaglutide could offer a valuable addition to the HS treatment landscape.
Dr. Lyons emphasized the need for larger randomized controlled trials to validate these findings and further explore the potential of semaglutide in HS management. The study's results may represent a breakthrough in HS treatment, warranting further investigation into the drug's efficacy and safety in a broader patient population.
Current Market Landscape
Novo Nordisk’s semaglutide, a glucagon-like peptide receptor agonist (GLP-1RA), is marketed as Wegovy for obesity and Ozempic for type 2 diabetes. GlobalData predicts combined sales of Wegovy and Ozempic to reach $41.84 billion in 2030. The GLP1-RA market is heavily dominated by Novo Nordisk’s Wegovy/Ozempic and Eli Lilly’s Zepbound/Mounjaro (tirzepatide), with ongoing investigations into other indications beyond cardiology and metabolic disorders.
