A Study of Bermekimab in Patients With Hidradenitis Suppurativa

Percentage of participants achieving HiSCR at Week 12 was reported. For this score participants were defined as achievers or non-achievers. The positive HiSCR score was defined as a greater than or equal to (>=) 50% reduction in inflammatory lesion AN count (sum of abscesses and inflammatory nodules), and no increase in abscesses or draining fistulas in hidradenitis suppurativa compared with the lesions counted on visit 1 (baseline).

An enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was developed to specifically measure bermekimab levels in human plasma. The blood samples were collected at each pharmacokinetic (PK) collection time point for PK analysis.

Change from baseline in VAS score for disease was reported. The VAS is a validated, subjective measure for participants disease impression. Disease impression scores were recorded using a similar scale, with 0 representing "not at all severe" and 10 representing "extremely severe".

Change from baseline in VAS score for pain was reported. The VAS is a validated, subjective measure for acute and chronic pain. Pain scores were recorded by marking a number on a scale from 0 to 10, 0 representing "no pain" and 10 representing "extremely painful".

The DLQI is a 10-item, validated questionnaire used in clinical practice and clinical trials to assess the impact of disease symptoms and treatment on Quality of life (QOL). The format is a simple response (0 to 3 where 0 is "not at all" and 3 is "very much") to 10 questions, which assess QOL over the past week, with an overall scoring system of 0 to 30; a high score is indicative of a poor QOL.

PGA is a physician's assessment of the severity of disease based on a 6-point scale (Clear [0], minimal [1], mild [2], moderate [3], severe [4], more severe [5]) ranging from 0-5. Higher score indicated more severity of disease.

The DAS is the sum of scores of all affected areas of each participant. Each area was evaluated by the following formula: (the sum of the two largest diameters in each affected area in millimeter [mm]) * (Total number of lesions in the anatomic area multiplied by the degree of inflammation of each lesion on a scale of 0 to 3). A minimum score of 0 and there is no maximum score range. Higher scores indicate more disease activity.

mSS is used to quantify severity of HS. Points are awarded for 12 body areas (left-right axillae, left - right sub/inframammary areas, intermammary area, left - right buttocks, left-right inguinocrural folds, perianal area, perineal area and other): points were awarded for nodules (2 points each);abscesses (4points);fistulas (4points);scars (1point); other findings (1 point); and longest distance between two lesions (no active lesion or only 1 lesion equal to [=]0 points, less than [<]5cm=2points, 5-10cm=4points, greater than [>]10cm 6points) and if lesions are separated by normal skin (yes-0 points; no-6points). Total mSS is sum of the 12 regional scores. Change from baseline in mSS was not reported as the electronic data capture (EDC) system erroneously requested data for this endpoint to be input in centimeters versus millimeters and conversion was not possible because it was given in ranges. Therefore, there was not enough valid data to sufficiently perform this endpoint analysis.

Change from baseline to Week 12 in inflammatory lesion (abscesses and inflammatory nodules) count was reported. The sum of abscesses and inflammatory nodules was measured for each participant to assess change in inflammatory lesion counts.

The HADS is an instrument for screening anxiety and depression in non-psychiatric populations; repeated administration also provides information about changes to a patient's emotional state. The HADS consisted of 14 items, 7 each for anxiety and depression symptoms; possible scores range from 0 to 21 for each subscale. The following cut-off scores were recommended for both subscales: 7 to 8 for possible presence, 10 to 11 for probable presence, and 14 to 15 for severe anxiety or depression.